06. June 2007
The Tsunami and the Women. Connecting Women and Children for Hope!
Project and Filmpresentation, June 8th 2007, KulturCafe (ORF Radio Kulturhaus, Argentinierstrasse 30a, 1040 Wien)
The Tsunami disaster in December 2004 not only stole human lives and washed away houses and boats, but also swept up rules and regulations, assurances and patriarchal traditions. Yet out of this came new opportunities: a new role for women in disaster management and in living together with the authorities and men in their villages.
Together with our Indian partners Women without Borders in cooperation with the SWI developed the unique pilot project "Connecting Women and Children for Hope!" in the south Indian villages Venpurusham and Kokilimedu. The project was supported by the Austrian Ministry for Social Affairs, Generations and Consumer Protection and the Austrian Ambassador to India, Dr. Jutta Stefan-Bastl.
Corner stones of the project
Formation of women´s cooperatives
Health camps and health information campaigns
Involvement of the men through sensibilisation
Opening of non-traditional areas for women through driving training
Official Opening
Dr. Erwin Buchinger, Minister for Social Affairs
On the Podium
Dr. Edit Schlaffer/ Women without Borders
Archana Kapoor/ SMART, Project partner in India
Dr. Jutta Stefan-Bastl / Austrian Embassador in Delhi