WHO WE ARE
RWM was initiated in 1998 and was officially launched in 2000. RWM grew out of the need to address gender inequalities in a post-Apartheid South Africa. RWM works to enable women to access, own, control, use, and manage land and natural resources in their own right. RWM works predominantly with indigenous, poor, rural landless women. RWM is made up of over 500 women’s community-based org-anizations with a total membership of over 50,000 women. Their ages range from 16 to 78 years of age.
WHERE WE ARE
RWM is based in KwaZulu Natal, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. About 50% of the rural population lives below the poverty line. KwaZulu Natal has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country, particularly among women and girls, who also face high levels of gender based violence.
OUR MISSION
The RWM is an independent non-profit rural women’s land rights organization that seeks to eliminate poverty through programs designed to provide training on women’s land and property rights, and enhance women’s participation in local governance. We advocate for women’s independent land and property rights and lobby for public policy changes. We also provide training on how to respond strategically to the AIDS pandemic. While nurturing orphaned children’s capacity to deal with the loss of their parents, we also strive to deepen children’s commitment to pro-social values such as personal responsibility, helpfulness, respect for others and kindness – qualities we believe are essential to leading humane and productive lives in a democratic society.
RWM ACTIVITIES
-Encouraging and enabling women to participate in local governance
-Lobbying government and authorities for policies that are informed by poor women’s experiences
-Educating women about their independent rights to land, and property
-Building strong working relationships with our sister organizations, both at national and international level
-Training trainers in WASH education and implmentation of rainwater harvesting technologies
