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Maureen Fordham BSc PhD Northumbria University Disaster and Development Centre Maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk

Excerpt from: “Learning from Women for a World in Crisis” Newcomb College Institute 2007 Summit: Educating Women for a World in Crisis February 8-11, 2007. Tulane University, New Orleans. Maureen Fordham BSc PhD Northumbria University Disaster and Development Centre

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Maureen Fordham BSc PhD Northumbria University Disaster and Development Centre Maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk

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  1. Excerpt from:“Learning from Women for a World in Crisis”Newcomb College Institute 2007 Summit: Educating Women for a World in CrisisFebruary 8-11, 2007. Tulane University, New Orleans Maureen Fordham BSc PhD Northumbria University Disaster and Development Centre Maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk

  2. Let’s begin here… Why show a picture of donkeys?

  3. Let’s begin with a story • given to me by Tess Sprayson, who is a vet (and a student with our MSc) who has just carried out a needs assessment in Samburu District in Kenya VetDMI -Veterinary Disaster Management International

  4. Tess’ story • Tess: I went to the village elders to ask permission to be in their territory, no problem. Discussed with men and elders problems in donkey health etc. • The Men: Yes, some problems. Yes, we lost a few donkeys... • Tess: I went to the women ... • The Women: Yes, we've had a terrible time. • Tess: Where are the donkeys? Working? • The Women: They're all dead. We have lost them all during the famine and then as the rains came. • Tess: But the men said you only lost a few • The Women: What do the men know? They haven't even realised that all the donkeys have been dead for the last six months. We are now the donkeys.

  5. So what is the relevance to our topic? • The donkeys, and the work they do, were invisible to the men and to the outside humanitarian aid workers • This is largely due to the donkeys’ association with women, who are also often invisible • As Tess says: It is not really surprising interventions go wrong or are inappropriate when nobody asks the people who are primarily involved! http://www.animaltraction.com/4_3experiences_.htm

  6. Women, doing the donkey work • Women – in many parts of the world – walk many miles, carrying heavy loads to fetch water for the household’s use • This ‘invisible’ work supports the livelihoods and the very existence of the household • Without the donkeys, women will have to take time out from other productive activities • This situation is all too common http://www.itdg.org/?id=ideas_for_life

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