Background.“Unë,
Gruaja” is a
non-for profit, non-political
and non-religious
organization. It was
registered under Albanian
law as local association
in the year 2003.
The activities
include:
counseling services,
training, public
awareness raising,
information dissemination,
encouraging women
to actively participate
in decision-making,
monitoring local
government decisions
from a gender perspective,
and leading advocacy
and lobbying campaigns
at the local and
national levels.
The association
closely collaborates
with all-important
stakeholders including:
local government,
local organizations,
national and cross-border
organizations, local
media, local and
national businesses,
by establishing
and maintaining
effective communication
systems and effectively
sharing resources
and information.
The organization’s
experience and expertise
has grown. The staff
of the organization
has professional
capacity in project
design, management
and organizational
skills, face to
face and group counseling;
training and technical
assistance skills;
facilitation skills;
mobilization skills;
community development
skills; leadership
skills; capacity
building skills;
project design and
management skills;
community assessment
skills; public relations
skills; strategic
communication skills;
lobbying and advocacy
skills and monitoring
local government
performance.
The organization
is actively supported
by the community.
Community has witnessed
a high level of
motivation, commitment,
professionalism
and readiness in
service delivery
and project management
by offering services
with high quality
to the community
members.
To support and
empower women in
the rural areas
UG has trained 30
contact persons
and has started
6 mini-centers.
These are structures
UG is working to
empower and make
independent in the
future which will
further enhance
the sustainability
of the organization.
These mini-centers
have been an integral
part of UG since
2000. A mini-center
is a structure,
more than a place.
To make them more
concrete UG has
specific locations
where publications,
books, magazines,
and newspapers are
kept. The locations
are selected based
on the proximity
to the most committed
and active contact
women working with
UG for the rural
areas. These women
organize activities
with groups of women
from their community,
interact with the
active women in
their regions, with
students at schools
and maintain the
mini-centers.
“Une, Gruaja”
is part of the Albanian
Women’s Empowerment
Network –
AWEN (June2009).
UG was involved
with Human Right’s
Network Korca &
Pogradec; CRCA,
KRIK Albania and
UG is member of
the Local Council
Against Domestic
Violence.
The association
“Une, Gruaja”
is contributing
very hard toward
improving the social
and political equality
between women and
man. The strategy
of the association
for the years 2008-2011
targets the following
areas:
Strengthening
women leadership
- Through women
leadership program
and initiatives
women participants
are imbued with
a stronger sense
of purpose and self-efficacy
and are able to
apply their new
skills effectively.
Building
advocates and coalitions
- articulate and
forceful advocates
can draw added public
interest and media
coverage to key
issues
Mobilize
women to vote and
run for elections
- Women candidates
for elections face
difficult hurdles.
Providing them with
necessary information
and skills to become
effective candidates
can help them to
build a base of
support, especially
among women voters.
Holding
public officials
accountable -
regular contacts
with elected officials;
maintain pressure
for policy change
and for implementing
existing reforms.
The association
is promoting and
developing strategies
as well as means
and tools for public
participation and
mobilization focusing
not only those under
served but also
those with a potential
for leadership.
