Role of Women in Environmental Conservation
Role of Women in Environmental Conservation
Role of Women in Environmental Conservation implemented by Phuentsholing Women's Association (PWA) in Chukha Dzongkhag to create awareness and cleaning campaigns amongst the Phuentsholing residence.

Phuentsholing falls under Chukha District, which is located on the Southern foothills, adjoining the international border with the Indian state of West Bengal. It is home to approximately 40,000 inhabitants. This area is threatened by landslides, flood and small scale industries polluting the environment including the human activities.

The Phuentsholing Women's Association was formed in 1999 as a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization aiming to create awareness on environmental values among the local people and involve them in the work of creating a clean and healthy environment as one of their objectives as an NGO.

The project carried out the following activities:
1. involved local people, especially women and youth by providing workshops and seminars to develop skills and knowledge for campaigning and created awareness on the environmental values;
2. created mass awareness on health and hygiene and the impact of clean environment to have clean water and fresh air for maintaining good health and long life.
3. Organized environmental education workshops and street demonstrations.

Through the above activities, the PWA created awareness amongst the Bhutanese communities on the importance of clean and healthy environment. It also involved in organizing other activities such as cultural, social and games and sports to encourage the local stakeholders in participating in the works of sustainable developments.

On December 16, 2005 along with representatives from UNDP GEF SGP, Sectoral Heads and PWA inaugurated the project "Role of Women in Environmental Conservation" in Phuentsholing, funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme.

During the inauguration, the working committee handed over ten numbers of dust bins made of wire mesh to the City Corporation, Phuentsholing.

On 22nd July 2006, the PWA in collaboration with city corporation, Phuentsholing conducted cleaning campaign. All the students from various schools, shopkeepers, and the local people participated in the campaign cleaning their respective areas.

22 students from Phuentsholing Lower Secondary School had been nominated as "Field Monitors" for collecting plastic bottles from residents of Phuentsholing. The main objective of the campaign was to involve and encourage the youths to take full participation and being responsible in keeping the environment clean. This activity was carried out during the 'Sundays.'

On 28th July 2006, the PWA, executive members and the working committee members conducted a workshop on "Environmental Education." All sector heads, students, local women and women from organizations participated in the event. During this event, guest speakers from different organizations like Health, School, Residents and City Corporation , Phuentsholing were invited. The Managing Director of M/s Bhutan Beverages graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

Permanent metallic Sign Board reading the Four R's of Waste Management was erected in the Park in Town.

The Clean Up Campaign included cleaning drains, gathering and disposing wastes, and cutting grass within the core area of phuentsholing town. The city officials said that apart from raising awareness on a clean environment, the campaign was held to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.
 
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Project Snapshot

Grantee:
Phuentsholing Women's Association
Country:
Bhutan
Area Of Work:
Biodiversity
Grant Amount:
US$ 8,442.72
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 2,736.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
BHU/04/06
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Gender Focus
It is a project implemented by a Women's Assiociation "Phuentsholing Women's Association (PWA)"; therefore, women plan a major role in all its activities, recognizing disadvantaged groups like women and children in the utilization of natural resources. It is a gender oriented approach that can achieve sustainable, environmentally friendly development. It also gives a platform for women to express their thoughts and display their capacity for running an organization. The project PWA is being implemented in Phuentsholing which lies in the industrial region of the country. Women and men are likely to be affected differently by industrial pollution because their tasks and work patterns differ. The Toorsa River and Dhoti River pose a threat of landslides and flooding every year during the rainy season. If such natural calamities were to ensue then, the effect on women would be more immense than on men as women are generally perceived as care givers to children, the old and the injured or the sick. PWA have been creating awareness on women, children, youth and other civil society on the importance of mental and physical health, and HIV/AIDS.
Notable Community Participation
Many stakeholders from multi-disciplinery grounds have been involved and have participated in the project "Role of Women in Environmental Conservation in Phuentsholing.
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SGP Country office contact

Ugyen Lhendup
Email:

Address

UN House, Peling Lam (Street), Kawajangsa, Thimphu, P.O. Box No. 162
Thimphu, Bhutan, 11001