The Fairtrade NAPP Gender Leadership School- the first flagship program of NAPP has successfully completed its 03 phases of training and convocation program in all the 03 regions of Asia and Pacific ( Central, Southeast, and South Asia).

After the convocation of  Central Asia and Southeast Asia in 2021, 15 participants from Sri Lanka and India ( 12 physical, 03 virtual) came together for a refresher training and to complete their GLS Mini project proposals under the leadership school. They successfully completed their 3^rd phase which was delayed since 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The program was funded by the European Union!

The 1^st day of the training began with the introduction of the participants and their briefing on the work they had accomplished among young women and youth after the first two phases of the Gender Leadership School. The introduction was followed by a refresher training on  Human and Gender rights from the first module.  The participants referred to 30 excerpts from various newspapers and explained their own understanding of the articles.

There were afternoon discussions on the Fairtrade Gender Strategy and the goals of empowering women and young girls in Fairtrade.  The participants felt that when women become leaders, they have better negotiation terms, both for themselves and for their families which in turn can bring a transformative approach to gender mainstreaming in the Fairtrade system.

The participants also shared their experiences on how they were able to recognize ‘equality’ in their own families and workplace and in the process have learned that when women are given opportunities, they prosper and take care of their families. With better mobility, they also have access to markets and learn to negotiate.

The second day was filled with refresher training on digital and financial literacy.  The participants identified various sources of money such as loans from SHG groups and banks, Fairtrade premiums, other schemes, etc., and discussed ways to make the money grow through profitable means.  They spoke about recurring and non-recurring expenditure and stepwise planning of income generation and sustainability.

Post lunch the participants prepared their proposal for the Small Entrepreneurships Projects (GLS Mini Projects) with a budget of 1000 Euros.

On the 3^rd day, all the participants presented their proposals to the evaluation team which was followed by a final convocation program led by Sheena Susan Varghese, President of High range Organic Fairtrade Farmers Association. The participants during their sharing spoke about the various ways in which the program was beneficial to them. 

“The training was beneficial in building my capacities as a leader, and my exposure to strong women like Sonia Dominica  from Fairtrade NAPP,  has helped me to build a strong personality,” said Dharshani Raja Manikkam; Gender Leadership School Participant

” GLS South Asia Convocation was one of the successful events for the participants who could manage to complete the 3 modules with sheer intensity and focus. Despite multiple challenges such as COVID restrictions, and delay in organizing the meetings, the efforts shown by the participants during the final phase of GLS was commendable. Altogether 13 members completed their GLS journey through participation and learning, resulting in an opportunity of creating their own ventures in the future. The skill acquired by them through the training was evident and they did go with additional confidence to take this mission forward of gender leadership. The last phase of the GLS is to set up the enterprise they dreamt of during the Convocation day and I sincerely wish them all the best to fulfill the same. NAPP would be happy to be a facilitator till they reach their goals.” Amit Das; Program Consultant – India