Networks of Housemaids and Sex Workers Associations

Following the decision made on the Regional Workshop of Women, Children and Youth Affair Departments and Women Associations on June 20/2011, the Amhara Regional Bureau of Women, Children and Youth Affair (BWCYA) in collaboration with CVM regional Project has started working to establish regional, zonal and Woreda networks both for housemaids and sex workers associations, organizing a team. The team has planned to establish the regional networks in two months, and start establishing zonal and Woreda once respectively. It has also planned to establish new association in the areas where there is no.

The establishment is aimed to build the capacity of the associations through strong partnership, coordination and networking. As a first step, the team has given orientation for the 6 zones housemaids and sex workers associations’ representatives who were attending the 7 day Leadership and Management Training organized by CVM in collaboration with BWCYA, to improve their understanding on the importance and procedures of network establishment.
In the orentation program, Ato Awoke, the leader of the team, said the main mandate of the BWCYA was facilitating such kind of women structures which is an important base for the straggle against women and girls problem. Therefore, he said “we are happy to strength your association establishing networks at different level and providing all necessary supports.”

Of many questions raised on the orentation program, the role of BWCYA and its respective departments in the establishment process was the most pertinent.  Regarding this, Ato Awo-
ke explained that the team togther with Zone and Woreda departments would be involved in
every process of the establishment. Following this, the associations’ representatives
exchanged their address with the team for future collaboration.

In order to prepare all necessary documents and manuals for the networks, the team has started collecting data regarding the associations. In line with this,  CVM Regional Ofice has been requested to bring the administration manuals of the associations found in West Amhara.

Betre Yacob

(CVM Regional IEC Department)