Sayari Warmi Center (Stand Up, Women)

Sayari Warmi Center Background 

The Sayari Warmi (Stand Up, Women) Center was established in Oruro, Bolivia in 1997 by the Sister of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. The sisters’ mission was to offer integral care to female victims of domestic violence and their children. The sisters’ focus was not only to offer emergency support, through legal and psychological assistance, but also to tackle the root causes of social and economic discrimination in the community.  

Problem

Oruro is a predominant rural and mining area with a population of around 280,000. For the most part this is an indigenous people working in silver and tungsten mines. According to the UN, 94% of the Oruro population is considered to be poor, of which 68% live in extreme poverty. The people of Oruro lack basic services including transportation, access to portable sanitation and water, health services, education, adequate housing, and basic infrastructure. A deeply rooted phenomenon, that plagues the region is female domestic violence due to gender inequality. Women suffer not only from physical, psychological, and sexual violence, but also from social isolation and the lack of specialized support.  

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, with their lay collaborators, approached the problem systemically, culture being a big barrier. The staff assist these woman in the context of their families and their society.  

Objectives

• Offer a wholistic  service delivery system to these women victims of domestic violence in Oruro;
• Legally assist these women to acknowledge their rights both as individuals and members of Bolivian society;
• Offer personalized psychological assistance to help these women overcome their sense of fear and shame, increase their self-esteem and self respect and enable them see their value and dignity as individuals, mothers and members of a community;
• Provide appropriate training to help these women gain the necessary skills to become economically independent
• Disseminate literature and offer educational  programs at local schools to increase awareness of women’s rights.
  

Program Services

• Care and Attention to Cases- Consists of an interdisciplinary group including a social worker, a woman lawyer, a psychologist and a Good Shepherd Sister to address  interfamilial violence.
• Prevention and Education- Ensures information, educational materials, and pertinent literature on human rights, gender equality, and the laws protecting women from domestic violence are given to the women. To reach a broader community, the center organizes campaigns through the local radio and television stations, group sharing seminars, and training and forums in schools.
• Shelter Care- Provides shelter for women together with their children who have been driven out of their homes; for battered women who have escaped their home in need of protection; and for women who have decided to end the discrimination and abuse through proper court proceedings.
• Vocational Training- As part of the women’s empowerment process, the Centre offers vocational training courses in sewing, knitting and weaving, and cooking. The courses are taught with the aim of enabling women to take responsibility for their future by starting an income-generating activity.
• The centre also runs a well known Soup Kitchen for indigenous people and a Development Program for children of indigenous and indigent families.
  

Progress/Results

• The centre is currently training three women in income generating activities: sewing clothes and preparing marmalades.
• Since 2007 the items produced have been sold locally and internationally, through Handcrafting Justice, the fair trade network. Established by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Province of New York.
• For more information on Handcrafting Justice visit handcraftingjustice.org.

2008 Results:

• The quality of the services provided to the local population by the centre has highly improved, especially for the administrative and legal procedures
• The centre has increased the number of children and youth who are served daily meals, from 64 in 2007 to 211.
• The number of volunteers helping to run programs has increased
• The number of youth and parents who actively participate in the centre’s awareness raising programs has also shown a considerable increase.

The Good Shepherd Sisters give special thanks to the following donors for their generosity in helping to fund this project: Mary's Pence (New Jersey, USA) and Christian Brothers Foundation (Illinois, USA)