Paper/Proposal Title
Transforming Gender Norms in Rural Mali by Opening Spaces for Action
Location
M2380
Start Date
11-2-2023 5:00 PM
End Date
11-2-2023 6:15 PM
Keywords
Gender Norms, Malian linguistic association, transnational collaboration, locally-led transformation
Abstract
Communities in the Tommoguiné Region of Mali are actively pursuing development despite economic challenges, insecurity, and isolation from many opportunities. Historically, the marginalization of women and girls has held back some of these efforts and denied certain rights to some of the population. Currently, a transformation of norms surrounding women’s roles in public life and of practices harmful to women and girls is taking place, inspired by a Women’s Literacy, Leadership, and Enterprise program generated through a transnational collaboration between local communities, a Malian linguistic association, and The Tandana Foundation, a Dayton-based non-profit organization. Instead of reinscribing colonial dynamics, this partnership opens spaces for action that enable communities to change norms and practices on their own terms. Women who have participated in this program are making their voices heard in local decision-making fora in ways that were not accepted before, disrupting economic exploitation by exercising new literacy and numeracy skills, and leading transformations of marginalizing practices, such as early, forced marriage. By focusing on opening spaces for action, rather than attempting to fabricate social reality to fit a preconceived vision, this program avoids the dangers inherent in approaching human affairs as if they could be made, as mainstream development has so often done. It embodies an alternative approach that allows the opportunities of action--expressiveness, the remedy of forgiveness, allowance of the unexpected, inclusiveness, flourishing of human relationships, and emergence of meaning—to enable genuine and durable changes. This form of transnational collaboration offers an example of educational, economic, civic, and cultural engagement that supports locally-led transformations that increase inclusion and expand opportunities. In this panel discussion, two Malian practitioners will share their experiences supporting transformations at the grassroots level, an American practitioner-scholar will connect philosophical insights with concrete practices, and a Mexican simultaneous interpreter will facilitate immediate bilingual comprehension.
Author/Speaker Biographical Statement(s)
François Chauvet, Language Consultant, The Tandana Foundation: Born in Mexico City, François Chauvet grew up in a bilingual household, accustomed to switching rapidly between languages. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Mount Angel Seminary and entered the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1984. In addition to serving as a priest, he has worked as a simultaneous interpreter in Spanish, French, and English for more than 40 years. He has interpreted for the Mexican Senate, the Diplomatic Corps in Mexico City, and the French Embassy among other institutions. Based in Paris, he currently works as interpreter for the Society of Mary in Europe and is pursuing a master's degree in theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris while also serving as The Tandana Foundation’s Language Consultant. François will provide simultaneous interpretation between English and French during this panel discussion.
Kessia Kouriba, Literacy Instructor and Program Assistant, The Tandana Foundation: Born in Boundou, Mali, Kessia Kouriba is committed to being a role model and leader for other women in her region. She has been an integral part of the Women’s Literacy, Leadership, and Enterprise Program, which Tandana sponsors in partnership with a Malian linguistic organization, Alpha Formation Traduction et Conception Documentaire au Pays Dogon (AFCTD-PD), that has reached more than 2,700 women and been a catalyst for enhancing women’s abilities to operate independently, to participate in local decision-making processes, and to assert their priorities in family and village life. In addition to serving as a literacy instructor since 2014, Kessia has assisted in leading women’s leadership workshops and training sessions for project management committees. Prior to working for Tandana, Kessia earned her baccalaureate in human science from Lycée Hamadou Dicko in Sevaré and spent two years working for the Evangelical Development Agency of Mali as a teacher for the Strategic Program for Accelerated Schooling/Gateway Program. She has also participated in workshops to create a syllabary for the Tommo So language through SIL. Kessia is based in the village of Kansongo, Mali. She speaks Tommo So, Bambara, and French.
Anna Taft, Founding Director, The Tandana Foundation: After graduating from high school in Ohio, Anna Taft spent four months in Panecillo, Ecuador, where she taught at an elementary school and built the connections that inspired her to create The Tandana Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the achievement of community goals through caring intercultural relationships that embody mutual respect and responsibility. For sixteen years, The Tandana Foundation has partnered with 100 communities in Mali and 25 in Ecuador on initiatives that respond to local priorities in food security, water resources, education, health, environmental conservation, income generation, and community infrastructure. Anna earned a bachelor’s degree from Whitman College with honors in politics and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Skidmore College, with a focus on morality in a pluralistic world. As an independent scholar, she has published two book chapters and has a book about her philosophy of transnational engagement under submission with Brill for its Philosophy of Peace series. Based in southwest Colorado, Anna speaks English, Spanish, French, Kichwa, and some Tommo So.
Hawa Yalcouyé, Mali Scholarship Coordinator, The Tandana Foundation: Originally from Nalou, Mali, Hawa Yalcouyé attended primary school in Kilegou, secondary school in Ningari, and high school in Bandiagara. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the Faculty of Letters, Languages, and Human Sciences in Bamako. Hawa became a literacy instructor for The Tandana Foundation in 2019, both teaching and sharing the value of education through her example. In 2021, she became Coordinator of Tandana’s new scholarship program in Mali. In this role, she supports students in achieving education and gaining skills that are needed in their communities, so that not only their families but also the Tommoguiné region can benefit from their knowledge. Hawa has also served on the selection committee for enterprise proposals from women’s associations as part of the Women’s Literacy, Leadership, and Enterprise Program and participated in ceremonies to present startup funds to the winning associations. She speaks Tommo So, Bambara, French, and a little bit of English. Hawa is based in Bandiagara, Mali.
Moussa Tembine, the Tandana Foundation: As Mali Program Manager for The Tandana Foundation, Moussa applies his deep familiarity with the languages, culture, customs, and social organization of Bandiagara District to the coordination of successful projects. Before joining Tandana at its inception, he worked for over 10 years with a wide variety of development NGOs, including Action Mopti, Amprode Sahel, and PRBP (Projet de Rehabilitation des Barrages et Pistes), in addition to serving the government of Mali as a Superior Agricultural Technician. As he completed a bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Moussa wrote a thesis on the challenges, successes, and determining factors of grain banks in Wadouba Township. He has led the development of Tandana's Women's Leadership, Literacy, and Enterprise Program since it began in 2012.
Panel Moderator: Kelly Bohrer, University of Dayton
Transforming Gender Norms in Rural Mali by Opening Spaces for Action
M2380
Communities in the Tommoguiné Region of Mali are actively pursuing development despite economic challenges, insecurity, and isolation from many opportunities. Historically, the marginalization of women and girls has held back some of these efforts and denied certain rights to some of the population. Currently, a transformation of norms surrounding women’s roles in public life and of practices harmful to women and girls is taking place, inspired by a Women’s Literacy, Leadership, and Enterprise program generated through a transnational collaboration between local communities, a Malian linguistic association, and The Tandana Foundation, a Dayton-based non-profit organization. Instead of reinscribing colonial dynamics, this partnership opens spaces for action that enable communities to change norms and practices on their own terms. Women who have participated in this program are making their voices heard in local decision-making fora in ways that were not accepted before, disrupting economic exploitation by exercising new literacy and numeracy skills, and leading transformations of marginalizing practices, such as early, forced marriage. By focusing on opening spaces for action, rather than attempting to fabricate social reality to fit a preconceived vision, this program avoids the dangers inherent in approaching human affairs as if they could be made, as mainstream development has so often done. It embodies an alternative approach that allows the opportunities of action--expressiveness, the remedy of forgiveness, allowance of the unexpected, inclusiveness, flourishing of human relationships, and emergence of meaning—to enable genuine and durable changes. This form of transnational collaboration offers an example of educational, economic, civic, and cultural engagement that supports locally-led transformations that increase inclusion and expand opportunities. In this panel discussion, two Malian practitioners will share their experiences supporting transformations at the grassroots level, an American practitioner-scholar will connect philosophical insights with concrete practices, and a Mexican simultaneous interpreter will facilitate immediate bilingual comprehension.
Comments
Panel will take place in a hybrid format.