Africa Youth for Peace and Development Organization AYPAD
Organizing, Empowering and Creating Opportunities for Youths
Africa Youth for Peace and Development organization was formed 1995 and was finally registered in the year 2000 under the ministry of youth and sport in Sierra Leone, as a voluntary, youth development organization that aims at organizing, empowering and creating opportunities for youths and Youths groups that are in difficult circumstances.The organization ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Oct 17, 2007
Updated: Sep 03, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
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Project Women Empowerment Trees was formed
in 2006, when LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals People) and PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations) Trust met
with women from two villages (kampungs) from the Pitas district in the
Malaysian state of Sabah, at the northern tip of Borneo. This area has
experienced major loss of forest, watershed degradation and disempowerment of
women communities and families due to loss of economic and social structures,
as large numbers of the rural populations (mostly men and young people) move to
cities for work and livelihood. The result of the discussion with the women was
agreement to participate in an initiative which aimed to share experiences,
knowledge and resources, with a vision of international collaboration and local
action – in the name of women’s empowerment, ecological sustainability, social
responsibility and economic viability. This initiative was thus formed by LEAP,
PACOS and women from the two villages as well as with agreement from the
official Village Council Chairmen and Village Heads.
The mission of the group is to create and implement a programme to plant indigenous trees to restore impoverished land, improve critical watersheds and provide economically viable crops. In this way, the revitalising of the Pitas district of Sabah by the comunities themselves, in particular the women, through reforestation and reclaiming of village reserves and watershed or riparian reserves, and also by re-energising indigenous wisdom and traditions, will create viable economic mechanisms that encourage self-determination and self reliance and enable the sustainability of livelihoods.
The main activities of the group involve establishing nurseries to plant trees on 500 hectares of degraded land under a reforestation plan. This comprises seedling tending and tree planting, followed by fruit harvesting and sale, harvesting and sale of other economic crops, planting of craft making plants (eg bamboo) and craft production.
The women and girls involved in this project are from the Rungus ethnic community and are amongst the lowest income groups in Malaysia. Many are struggling to eke out an existence on highly degraded land and without their menfolk who have mostly left the area to look for work in the towns. Despite having very little formal education, they are resilient and eager to learn, and are keen to take practical measures to improve their livelihoods. Access to health care and other support services is limited and the women have to tend for their children and the elderly without much support and with very little or no financial resources.Top priorities for the next two years are to move forward with the nursery establishment and the planting of approximately 500 trees per hectare on 500 hectares of land, covering native Customary Reserves, Village Reserves and Riparian Reserves. The types of tree that will be planted include indigenous species, fruit trees, rubber, Agarwood (gaharu) and other economically viable, sustainable trees that will enable the community to generate income long term through the sales of produce (eg fruit, rubber, bamboo, medicinal plants) and products (eg crafts, food products and incense). Funding is needed for year 2008 and 2009. If you are interested in sponsoring one of the villages or making a donation to this project, please contact LEAP www.leapspiral.org.
