Unit 1.4, Women Association

Women Empowerment Group

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MODULE 1: How to start a local women empowerment group or a Women Association

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The main difference between informal Women’s Empowerment groups and a Women’s Associations is that the first can operate freely of legal formalization, while the women’s associations are incorporated legally. To be able to apply for different funding (mainly European or International funding) your group needs to be formalized and incorporated most of the time.Also a women's association needs to have an incorporation act, a statute and a very clear governance. Difference in governance of a women’s group and women’s associations:-Women’s groups are not subjected to any rules and regulations, and the women members of this group willingly belong to this group. There are no explicit guidelines that govern the operations of an informal group. -A formal women's association is formed when women come together to accomplish specific goals and objectives. An official women association has particular structures and roles where responsibilities of members of the group are defined. Activities carried by a formal association have specific guidelines, which members of the group are supposed to adhere to and follow to ensure good coordination.

Unit 1.4. How to decide if you want to run a local women group or a formal women association

Relationship in women associations and women local groups In an association, the relationship between women members is professional because the association is created to achieve a specific task or goal that is controlled by the management of the organization. Moreover, professional relationships between members are brought about by the fact that some members are senior in the organization. In a local women group, the relationship between members is personal. Women members of a local group know each other at a personal level thus making their relationship to be guided by personal aspects. Additionally, there is no seniority in the group, which means that any member can assume a leadership position. Size of associations and size of the local women groups Associations are usually smaller or larger because they are formed with the purpose of ensuring that they can achieve goals that measure the success of the mission they have. Members of an association have skills and competencies to handle official activities on behalf of the organization. Local women groups are comparatively small because close friends or people who know one another on a personal level form them. This makes it challenging to assemble many members since not all persons in an organization know one another at a personal level. Behavior and Leadership of women associations and local women groups The practice of members of an association is governed by specific rules and regulations, which are usually formulated at the inception of the association. All members of the organization are supposed to adhere to the rules and guidelines that define the association. Moreover, women associations have a defined leadership structure where there is an official leader who ensures that the organization is in line to achieve its goals while at the same time enforcing rules among women members. The behavior of a local women group is governed by the expression of women members, norms, beliefs, and the values that members hold dear. There is no official leader of the group to enforce nonexistence rules and regulations as members do what is necessary to them instead of what is imposed.

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Clarify Who You Want to Help Similar to a for-profit business, a nonprofit women association must have a target audience. You cannot serve everyone. It is essential to go beyond gender and look at things such as age, belief system, income bracket, education background, physical location, marital status, and other characteristics that will help narrow down who you want to help. Different groups have different needs, therefore, it is important to know whose you are trying to meet. After you decide who you want to help, consider how you want to help them. Even if you start off with a good, specific idea of who it is you're trying to help, going through this exercise will sharpen your focus. Best Way to Help A good starting point for choosing how to help is to look at your life experiences. A person who has had personal or professional experience in an area is usually better prepared to assist another person with that issue. Once you know who you want to help and how you want to help them, consider how you can best help - do you want to provide services, counseling or information? Be as specific as possible in formulating how your nonprofit will make a difference

Main steps to start a women’s association:

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Look for Similar Programs It may be that other individuals in your community who want to help women have a fully operating organization. Research whether there are already similar services in your local area. If another program is currently in place, there may be an opportunity to work with the established group instead of starting something new. Another possibility is to bring your program under the structure of the older organization if your idea has some unique qualities that the other group is missing.There are three major benefits to combining resources. First, your combined efforts could mean more people are being helped. There is strength in numbers. Second, you may have the chance to learn from a veteran how to successfully operate a nonprofit. Third, you do not have to deal with finding money to start your program. If there currently are no services in your local area, and you decide to start your own, you must have a plan to pay for it. Fundraising and Budget All businesses require funds to operate. Consider whether you have the financial resources to fund the project, if you have partners who are contributing money, or if you will be soliciting donations or grants. Research the availability of grants that apply to your proposed association. . Consider whether you will need to hire a professional fundraiser for your nonprofit, often called "director of development. Develop a proposed budget for your organization and come up with an overall fundraising plan.

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MODULE 1: How to start a local women empowerment group or a Women Association

You have successfully completed Unit 1.4!