Lake Sebu, South Cotabato – The Women Accessing Support for Indigenous and Rural Communities and the Environment towards Development (WOMEN ASCEND) Forum took place from November 18 to 20, 2024. Organized collaboratively by the Samdhana Institute, The Asia Foundation (TAF), Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI), and Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), the event focused on advancing the roles of women in indigenous and rural communities as leaders and stewards of the environment.
Day 1: “Setting the Stage”
The opening day featured an introduction of delegates, during which participants shared overviews of their organizations, programs, funding mechanisms, and operational challenges. Discussions centered on experiences in supporting women partners and addressing the difficulties they face in their respective communities.
Day 2: “The Experience”
On the second day, delegates visited the Lake Sebu Indigenous Women Weavers Association Inc. (LASIWWAI) community and participated in a series of workshops structured as “World Cafés.” These sessions delved into three key areas of women’s roles and contexts:
- Personal Level: Women’s individual experiences and challenges.
- Organizational Level: Women as leaders within organizations.
- Community Level: Women as stewards of the environment.
Each group shared insights and responses to guide questions, fostering a deeper understanding of the roles and contributions of women at various levels.
Day 3: “The Forum”
The final day focused on gathering and reflecting on stories shared by indigenous and rural women participants. Delegates identified specific areas for collaboration and proposed initiatives to address women’s challenges at personal, organizational, and community levels. Topics included human rights, access to basic services, leadership development, economic opportunities, and environmental conservation.
The forum aimed to meet the women where they are, listen and try to appreciate their context and situation, including their poverty and exclusion, and foster dialogue among participants to identify new ways of working that provide access and inclusion for women and indigenous communities.
Since its partnership with the Investing In Women (IW) program supported by the Australian Government which began in 2020, FSSI has been actively seeking out to support established and mature women-owned and women-led social enterprises (WSEs) through providing financial services and tailored capacity building measures. FSSI has also recently opened a new window to support start-up WSEs.
Interested WSEs may sign up through our website at https://fssi.com.ph/sign-up
