About the Project

This is TCDT's longest running project, originated in 1978 and known as Village Women Development (VWD). It is a grass-root development program that work closely with small village-based women development groups. The program encourages women to work together in small groups to achieve common development needs. The program is now focusing its effort in the outer islands of Vava·u, Ha'apai and 'Eua which are more disadvantaged by their geographical isolation and distance from the main government administration and commercial centre in Nuku'alofa.

Aim:

To empower women, their families and communities to achieve equitable share and human rights in all aspects of national development.

Expected Outcomes:

Women's groups are empowered and are contributing to the following outputs:

Logo of Christian World Service with a green globe icon and the text "ACTION AGAINST POVERTY" and "act alliance" below.
Group of people in a vegetable garden with cabbages

• improved food security and nutrition for families - promote vegetable gardening, domestic chicken and pig farming

• improved home environment - encourage flower gardening, proper waste management, and preservation of traditional women knowledge and skills

• improved family health - construct rainwater catchments and sanitation facilities

• improved capacities and skills - conduct training workshop on various skills needed for home/community development

• transferred and preserved traditional skills, such as, pelu koloa, healthy diet, etc

• disadvantaged families are self sufficient (ala tonu)

• womens groups are collectively engaging on small investment to fund some of their immediate needs.

• group members are working more collaboratively and contribute to the peace and security of their families and communities

People sitting on a mat inside a room

Current Activities:

Proudly supported by:

• conduct leadership and governance training

• conduct meetings to develop group's action plan, ongoing advise, provide support for funding proposals, and monitoring to ensure achievement of targets

• provide seedlings and encourage organic home gardening for improved diet for families

• conduct training on traditional skills, such as, pelu koloa (folding of fine mats for different social events)

• train women groups on becoming a member of Credit Union to encourage small investment

• conduct awareness program on related issues related to current activities of the program

(television, radio and newsletter )