|
"Breaking
Traditional Molds in Bosnia"
In
Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the rural areas of this mostly
rural country, many women play a traditional role. This usually
means being responsible for cooking, cleaning and looking after
the children. Some women, however, are ready to break with this
tradition and begin learning skills that have usually belonged to
men. As Women for Women International in Bosnia provides women with
an opportunity to learn such skills as shoe repair, carpentry and
upholstery, some women are not only willing to try something different,
but are welcoming such an opportunity.
 Through
Women for Women International's ReneWLS Program, which has been
active in Bosnia for six years as part of the Sponsorship Program,
beneficiaries take 12 months of technical skills training. Each
beneficiary chooses a skill they would like to learn; some learn
traditional skills, such as weaving, knitting or embroidery, while
others choose a non-traditional skill, such as shoe repair, upholstery
or carpentry. Being part of a traditional society, women in Bosnia
have tended to enroll in traditional as opposed to non-traditional
courses, but over the past few years, greater numbers of women have
been enrolling in the non-traditional skills training.
Women for Women International was offering their beneficiaries something
new: skills training in a trade that has traditionally been seen as "men's
work". Some women said they were surprised when they first heard
that these non-traditional courses were being offered, but soon became
very interested in learning more about them. Others jumped at the opportunity
to learn a skill such as shoe repair, carpentry or upholstery.
 I
spoke to women in the Upholstery and Carpentry courses to find out why
they had chosen a non-traditional course and how they were finding it.
The women enrolled in both courses were in the tenth month of their twelve-month
course, and so they had a good idea about what the course involved and
how their new skills could be used in the future. When asked why they
chose a non-traditional course, most women said they were keen to learn
something new; many had learned traditional skills such as sewing and
weaving when they were young, and they now welcomed the opportunity to
learn a skill that was both new and challenging. They had never had the
opportunity to learn a skill such as upholstery or carpentry. Some had
relatives who didn't believe they could learn such a skill and asked them
why they weren't taking a course such as sewing or embroidery.
One beneficiary,
Alma, said: "I decided to take the Upholstery course because a non-traditional
skill like this one is more useful in finding work or starting a small
business." She recognized that in Bosnia, where people have little
money for new products such as shoes and furniture, there is work in the
field of repairing such products.
Alma also
said she and another woman from her group were planning to start their
own upholstery business after they completed their course. She said they
would start off small, with friends and relatives as their initial clients,
and then build their business from there.
Another beneficiary,
Krista, enrolled in the Carpentry course, said she first had decided to
take the Sewing course. But Krista became more curious about the Carpentry
course and even though her husband had told her she wouldn't be able to
learn carpentry, she changed her mind and enrolled in this non-traditional
course. Ten months later she is very happy with this decision. She said
that after her husband had seen what she had made in the course, he changed
his mind. She even plans to work with him in his upholstery business.
Amela, also
in the Carpentry course, said she was so happy when her husband asked
for her opinion on a kitchen table that needed repair. She was able to
tell him what could and what could not be done to fix the table.
 Nazmiji,
who says she joined the ReneWLS Program and enrolled in the Upholstery
course "to escape the kitchen" is thrilled to have this one
day a week for herself. She says that her family and friends know that
Tuesdays are "her day" and that she is more complete for taking
this course. Her main motivation is always her son, who is handicapped,
and Nazmija wants to begin a business in which he can work. Because Bosnia
does not have the social services that most Western countries have, she
must always worry about providing for and looking after her son.
Another women
in this group, Razija, said that she also planned to start her own small
business after she completed the course. She is planning to join Women
for Women International's Microcredit Lending Program to take a loan to
start a business with her husband. She said they have the space in their
home to start such a business and: "I already have ideas of the clients
I hope to reach: I will make cushions and pillows and go to restaurants,
hospitals, anywhere that uses these items. I have so many ideas!"
Ten months
into the course, the women in the Upholstery course are able to upholster
such pieces of furniture as stools, sofas and armchairs. In the Carpentry
course, the women are proud to have made wooden stools, trays, ottomans
and small windows. Acquiring these new skills increases their chances
of income-generation; some women have been told that as soon as they receive
their certificates at the end of the course they would be hired at a local
furniture factory. Just as important, the courses also improves how the
women feel about themselves. They all said that enrolling in these courses
had changed their lives. Some said their self-confidence has increased
dramatically, others said it was the first time they have really thought
about doing something for themselves. They are also encouraging their
friends and relatives to take a chance and do something different, not
to assume they are committed to doing what has traditionally been seen
as "women's work".
Dienne
Miller
Staff Member, Women for Women International - Bosnia
|
