Posted Date: May 20, 2001
Mildred Robbins Leet Awards Presented to Childreach, CEDPA
Mildred Robbins Leet Awards Presented to Childreach, CEDPA
Childreach and The Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) received Mildred Robbins Leet Awards at this year’s InterAction Forum, honoring their progress toward greater gender equity in programs and management.
Childreach, the US member of PLAN International, is a leader in gender mainstreaming. Over the past five years, Childreach has had a significant impact on promoting gender equity in its own structures as well as in PLAN and its programs worldwide. Childreach and PLAN partners have allocated over half a million dollars for expanding and deepening their gender integration efforts.
In its overseas work, Childreach has integrated gender into all programs utilizing many mechanisms: gender advisors, training workshops, manuals, focus groups, project pilots, and case studies. Childreach also funds programs with a specific gender focus, such as support for girls who have been forced into sex trafficking and policy reform for girls’ education. Within Childreach as an organization, the Board is well on its way to achieving its goal of 50/50 gender balance, also with significant ethnic diversity. A range of work and management styles has been embraced, and job descriptions have addressed gender issues. Family friendly policies include up to six months paid maternity and paternity leave.
"While these gains are all impressive," said Peggy Curlin, who presented the award to Childreach staffpersons. "Childreach stands head and shoulders above many other organization in one area in particular: its commitment of resources for mainstreaming gender."
CEDPA is the first women’s organization to receive the LEET award. While it may seem obvious that a women’s organization would promote women’s advancement, CEDPA is unique in two ways. First, CEDPA has taken a special approach to women’s and girls’ empowerment, which blends promoting self-esteem, providing services, and policy advocacy. Second, CEDPA works directly on gender roles and relations.
"CEDPA truly has been a trailblazer for effective and practical approaches to gender and development," said Steve Moseley, President/CEO of the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Moseley presented a "surprise" award to Peggy Curlin, President of CEDPA. "We look forward to CEDPA’s continuing leadership, particularly in the area of women’s and mens’ leadership and organizational change.
CEDPA initially offered training for women in leadership and management. Now, CEDPA works with partner NGOs in large-scale development programs addressing various facets of gender inequality. In addition to its focus on women, CEDPA takes male roles and gender relations into account. In Nepal, CEDPA was one of the original sponsors of "Condom Day." The needs of adolescent boys are recognized in CEDPA’s training manual, Choose a Future: Issues and Options for Adolescent Boys. CEDPA has also made a special contribution to InterAction members and other development agencies, by providing materials that demystify gender and gender analysis.
|
 |
|
|
|
