Pilot Project: Access to Training for Poor Women Experiencing Social Exclusion (Uruguay)

Reledev secured AusAID support to help people experiencing social exclusion in Uruguay. The project aims to provide women with access to opportunities of economic development and reintegrate them into society by providing training that can lead to income generating activities (ie a home-based micro enterprise suitable for women). The project is implemented by Asociación Cultural y Técnica (ACYT).

An estimated 12% of urban population of Uruguay live in slums or shantytowns in the peripheral areas around Montevideo. These zones are characterized by a high concentration of unsatisfied basic needs, low levels of education, high unemployment, gender discrimination, area stigma, territorial isolation, violence and insecurity. Approximately 48% of Uruguayan children are now born into poverty. Beginning at age 13, school attendance rates for the poor fall dramatically. Secondary school does not adequately train students with skills to enter the labour market.

One of the factors linked to poverty is an increase in social exclusion of the poor from the rest of society. Social exclusion includes: economic (hindering individuals from gaining financial resources through labour markets, basic services, land); political (not having access to education and information to empower them to take full rights under the law); socio-cultural (isolation through education, ethnicity) and geographic (rejection of individuals and geographic polarization of the poor).

Through the project, 80 women completed sessions in motivation, leadership and the basics of small business management. ACYT also provided skills training sessions in carpentry to 26 women, wood finishing to 58 women, and furniture restoration to 61 women. For those who started small businesses, support in the form of an accessible revolving fund and weekly supervision was also provided through the project.