- Aims
- Administration
- History
- Member Countries
- Associated Associations
- Community Initiatives in Inclusion - Recent News
Over 70 years of Friendship, Understanding and Co-operation
between women of Asian countries and the United Kingdom.
Over 30 years of joint fund raising to train women working in child welfare.
Now focuses on the care of the disabled child in community education.
Supported by Patrons from 25 Asian Embassies and High Commissions at the Court of St. James.
Membership of the Women's Council is open to any woman who is interested in the Council's Aims, like-minded women's organisations or women's sections of mixed organisations. To join or find out more please contact us.
AIMS OF THE WOMEN'S COUNCIL
To raise funds in the United Kingdom for the further training of women in Asia and Asia Pacific already working with disabled children and their families. This is done through continuing friendship, understanding and co-operation between women of Asian countries and the United Kingdom.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNCIL
Administration of the Council is undertaken by a team of volunteers who, together with Patrons, wives of the Heads of Missions to the Court of St. James or their representatives, attend regular executive meetings.
Financial responsibility is exercised by an elected board of trustees.
HISTORY
One of the first speakers to address The Council was Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1931 at the time of the first Round Table Conferences on the future of India a number of British women who had lived in India encouraged 18 leading London organisations to co-operate with India's emerging women's movements through delegates to the Conferences.
The first President of what eventually became The Women's Council was Lady Irvine, wife of the then Viceroy.
After 1947 The Women's Council gradually expanded.
TODAY THE COUNCIL INCLUDES 25 ASIAN AND ASIAN PACIFIC COUNTRIES
ASSOCIATED SOCIETIES
Other women's organisations in the United Kingdom co-operating with The Women's Council:
- ASSOCIATION of SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) Ladies Society
- Country Women of the World
- Australian Women's Association
- Commonwealth Countries League (CCL)
- Corona Worldwide (CWW)
- Fawcett Society
- Federation of International Women's Associations in London (FIWAL)
- International Social Services of Great Britain
- Japanese Women's Association
- National Council of Women of Great Britain
- Overseas Women's Club
- Zonta Club of London
- Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland
- Welcome Clubs International
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN INCLUSION
RECENT NEWS
The 2008 Course in Mumbai has now been completed. The candidates selected to participate came from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Tajikistan. A Report on the course will be available in due course.
Participants at the Inauguration
Inauguration Ceremony 2007
Walking to the rural school at Narshingdi
A physical training session at rural inclusive school run by the Gram Bikash Shahayak Shanshtha
At a parent meeting in an inclusive school in the rural area in Dhaka
One initiative of the Women's Council is a programme to evaluate the impact of the courses. Dr. Frances Moore, the Council's Hon. Training Adviser, has recently conducted such an evaluation and her report follows.
"An Evaluation of the Community Initiatives in Inclusion (CII) Course held annually in Mumbai took place in Mongolia in October 2007 and Bangladesh in January 2008. A senior member of the Training team from ADAPT (formerly Spastics Society of India) who conduct the three month Course accompanied Dr Frances Moore for the two Evaluation visits. All former students from both countries who had attended CII Courses were contacted and interviewed along with the organisations with whom they work. The feedback from both the former students and their organisations was extremely positive in both countries. The former students are particularly valued for their training skills on Inclusion, and are instrumental in raising awareness about inclusion and developing community participation in inclusion. The CII Course is fulfilling the Women's Council motto "train one train a hundred" and meeting the needs of thousands of children with disabilities. The CII Training team at ADAPT should be congratulated on the success of this Course."
Children with and without disability in the inclusive school of the Gram Bikash Shahayak Shanshtha
In addition to its scholarships for participants on the Community Initiatives in Inclusion Courses, the Women's Council also provides scholarships in connection with the SETI Centre. The Women's Council's Hon. Treasurer has provided the following report.
SETI CENTRE - 5th PAN ARAB REGIONAL CBR COURSE
The Women's Council was delighted that in spite of the difficulties of travel in the Middle East, the SETI Centre was able to put on their 5th four week Pan Arab Regional Course for Planners and Managers of Community Based Rehabilitation Services in June/July 2OO7. This was held in Alexandria and Cairo with 16 participants from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen. Of these, the Women's Council provided scholarships for 6 women working with disabled children and their families: Khouloud and Ezdehar from Jordan, Sawsan, Rana and Raghda from Palestine and Amal from Syria. They would not otherwise have been able to participate; nor would the Course have been viable without this overall number of participants. Thus the Women's Council was able to support the core costs of the training from which all the participants will benefit and which they will use to train co-workers and ultimately benefit many thousands of disabled children and their families and communities and importantly to recognise and support the key role played by women in community development. AD