WEP Election Activities:

IF Empowers Iraqi Widows During the Iraq's National Election!
February and March, 2010

As part of the Iraq Foundation's (IF) Widows Empowerment Project (WEP), IF has conducted numerous activities to better the lives of Iraqi widows. The WEP 4th and final training cycle in Baghdad, which began in January 2010, coincided with the Iraqi elections in Iraq. Electoral lectures were presented to the widows on February 25, 2010. These lectures covered myriad of election-related topics, including election procedures, role of citizens, civic participation, the importance of election, techniques to verify the background of a candidate and how to elections make government accountable to its citizens. A vast majority of the WEP program participants participated in the election in Baghdad. In the run-up to the election, widows were highly enthusiastic about the training. Notably, two widows took training materials home after each lesson and began giving trainings to women from their local communities. Two other widows were asked by their employers to present lectures about women’s rights to fellow employees. In addition, staff also printed and distributed 600 copies of IF-Manual on Democracy and Women Rights, a manual IF created detailing the rights of women and the democracy process, and women participation in the elections. 50 of these Manuals were presented to the PRT-Diwaniya to use on educating women on democracy and women rights prior to the election. Multiple entities requested this manual to adopt using it when educating women on their rights and democracy and elections.

Working in Basra, IF has already completed the educational training component, which included democracy education. Currently, IF’s WEP staff is working to mentor the widows who received this training. During this reporting period, IF held a series of follow-on sewing trainings aimed to further develop participating widows sewing skills, which were conducted throughout this reporting period. The training sessions focused on patterning and techniques to improve marketability of the widow’s products in local markets. We are pleased to announce that this mentoring has resulted in a contract with a local vendor for widows to produce 100 sets of aprons, pot holders and other sewn kitchenware. IF was able to provide participants in Basra with donated fabric and additional sewing supplies thanks to generous donations. IF surveyed 52 participants from the WEP training program in Basra regarding the elections. We are pleased to report that 43 participated in the election. Based on initial surveys prior to the program’s start, this is a vast improvement for the political empowerment of widows from these rural communities. As for some of the widows that did not participate, many claimed that this was due to a clan problem.

Quotes:
When asked the reason behind voting and their choice of a particular candidate, one widow exclaimed, “I chose her after I realized that she was dedicated to helping Iraqi women, especially widows.” Another claimed:

Election means democracy. I was positively influenced by the lectures I received from the Iraq Foundation, which helped change my ideas about elections. Before, I planned to boycott the elections, but after I attended the trainings held by the Iraq Foundation, realized the importance of participating.

In addition to this political empowerment of Iraqi widows in Baghdad, WEP – IF staff continues it is efforts to find jobs for graduated widows in Baghdad, and have successfully found job opportunities for 33 widow, 8 during this reporting period. WEP staff also presented mentoring lectures to widows on how to draft their personal resumes, and interview techniques.