Leadership, gender and youth: Reviewing the old and experimenting with the new

Gender had long been a priority in INTRAC’s programme to strengthen NGOs supporting self-help movements in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The self-help activities successfully included women, particularly those in rural areas. Women were also being assisted with micro-credit which was having some impact on poor families. However, we were becoming concerned that these activities were not impacting upon pervading gender power relations.

Traditional gender roles were not changing or being challenged. Many women were experiencing increasing pressure to fulfil their responsibilities and role in the home and family. We were also concerned about the role of young people in communities, particularly after the violence in Kyrgyzstan in April 2010. Young people had been visibly involved in the violence but they had also been active in efforts to restore stability. They had an important role to play in their communities and we wanted to support this through the self-help movements.