Women's Resource and Outreach Factsheet
- Founded in 1993
- WfWP member since 2008
- Mission: To create and sustain an environment which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women through personal, social and economic development, thereby enabling their active participation in family, community and national development
- Focus area: Jamaica
- Level: Local, national, regional
- Main themes: water, sanitation, environment, agriculture, gender, sustainable development research and advocacy
Milestones
People in Jamaica generally live below the poverty line with the majority of the households being headed by women. Fluctuating levels, but almost continuous experiences of violence, further characterize the communities. These and other issues such as high rates of unemployment and weak support systems impact families negatively. Despite this, there are women and young people who have continued to fight against the odds, taking advantage of available opportunities through interventions by WROC.
WROC currently concentrates its primary outreach in three programme areas in urban areas of Jamaica: health & wellness, community capacity building and research and advocacy & communications.
Up to 2013, WROC’s work included rural livelihoods development. Through sponsorship from the European Union/Christian Aid, Forestry Conservation Fund and Digicel, implemented activities included: reforestation, promotion of best farming practices to mitigate the effects of landslides, building the capacity of community organizations, construction of eight check dams and the establishment of two greenhouses. These activities in the communities went hand in hand with training of and assistance to farmers to develop small businesses.
For more information visit the WROC website: www.wrocjamaica.org
