Local Women's Groups Research Articles

Penguatan Ekonomi Masyarakat Desa Melalui Pembuatan Pupuk Kompos Organik di Desa Sudipayung

Sudipayung Village, Ngampel District, Kendal Regency, is an area with a growing agricultural sector, particularly in rice and tobacco production. The need for fertilizers that support agriculture is crucial, while household waste management has become a significant issue. This article discusses training on making organic compost as an effort to improve the community's economy through the management of organic waste. The training, which involves members of the local women's group (PKK), uses a simple decomposition method with ingredients such as shrimp paste and palm sugar as substitutes for EM-4. The resulting compost helps improve soil fertility, reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, and create a greener and healthier environment. Additionally, this program contributes to reducing the volume of waste sent to the final disposal site (TPA), thus supporting environmental cleanliness. This training provides a double positive impact: increasing community knowledge about recycling waste and offering economic opportunities through the production of organic fertilizers.

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: The Transformative Power of Tourism in Empowering Women in Munsiyari, India

Summary In the picturesque village of Munsiyari, India, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, a group of local women found a way to turn tourism into a powerful tool for social change. Domestic violence was a pervasive issue in the community, with many women suffering in silence due to social stigma and lack of support for years until Malika Virdi, an avid mountaineer and social activist, came to their aid. The local women, with the guidance of Malika, took a bold step towards empowering themselves and ending domestic violence through the establishment of Maati Sangathan . Although the Sangathan was founded with the primary aim of promoting gender equality and eradicating the pervasive issue of domestic violence that had plagued the community for years, the women have successfully leveraged eco-tourism and handicrafts as ways to enhance their economic independence while also raising awareness about gender-based violence. This case study utilizes secondary published data to demonstrate the effectiveness of Sarmoli’s Himalayan Ark, a community homestay program started under the aegis of Maati Sangathan that incentivizes the conservation of the Himalayan Ecosystem. The program has notably contributed to the restoration of high-altitude lakes, forests, and local communities, ultimately leading to its recognition as a thriving ecotourism model in Uttarakhand. Information © The Author 2023

Embodiment of feminine subjectivity by women of a tourism destination

Research on women/gender in host communities has shifted towards a feminist perspective. In line with this trend, this paper further explores women's self-awakening and self-growth in a host community by considering feminine subjectivity based on Foucault's perspective, which is a critical feminism topic. This paper presents the case of the Cheongsam Sisters, a local women's group that participates in leisure activities in Yangshuo, China. Based on longitudinal and anthropological research, this work describes and interprets Cheongsam Sisters' feminine subjectivities at the individual level and the collective level. It is found that tourism development not only changes the gender structure in the host community but also provides conditions for the formation of feminine subjectivities. Furthermore, in the tourism context, the emergence of feminine subjectivities is a dynamic process, which means the feminine subjectivity iterate from the individual level to the collective level along with Cheongsam Sisters' practices. With these findings, this paper contributes to the literature on tourism impact by linking feminine subjectivity, women and tourism, which is critical to endogenous and sustainable development in underdeveloped destinations.

Application of horticultural therapists’ expertise to lectures for dementia prevention: a case report of a dementia prevention course held by a local women’s group in Japan

ISHS XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: the Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development Application of horticultural therapists' expertise to lectures for dementia prevention: a case report of a dementia prevention course held by a local women's group in Japan

Analisa Keberhasilan Program Pemberian Obat Pencegahan Massal (POPM) Filariasis Re-TAS 1 di Kabupaten Hulu Sungai Utara

District of Hulu Sungai Utara conducted an additional 2 (two) rounds of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for filariasis prevention in 2014 and 2015 that resulted in the success of the re-Transmission Assessment Survey Phase 1 (re-TAS 1) in 2016. This study was conducted to identify factors affecting the technical aspects of the aforementioned two additional rounds of MDA. This is a descriptive qualitative study, with a cross-sectional study design. The research was performed from September to November 2017. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with some executive stakeholders (health workers, cadres, community leaders, local women group) involved in the implementation of MDA for the filariasis elimination program. The result from indepth interviews shows the presence of technical factors at the execution level which supports the smooth implementation of the two additional rounds of MDA. Those factors include communication, resources, operational standard, bureaucracy, and pharmaceutical innovation. The success of the additional MDA roundswas marked by the absence of the re-TAS sample that was tested positive of Brugia Rapid™. The pharmaceutical innovation which transforms the dosage form of the medication into powdered form with some additional sweetener that was done in 2014-2015 can improve coverage of the treatment as well as the medication adherence for the early childhood population group. Changing pharmaceutical dosage forms require additional support in the form of human resources, infrastructure as well as financing

Screen, Notify, See, and Treat: Initial Results of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment in Rwanda.

PURPOSETo describe the first year results of Rwanda's Screen, Notify, See, and Treat cervical cancer screening program, including challenges encountered and revisions made to improve service delivery.METHODSThrough public radio broadcasts, meetings of local leaders, church networks, and local women's groups, public awareness of cervical cancer screening opportunities was increased and community health workers were enlisted to recruit and inform eligible women of the locations and dates on which services would be available. Screening was performed using human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing technology, followed by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), and cryotherapy, biopsy, and surgical treatment for those who tested HPV-positive. These services were provided by five district hospitals and 15 health centers to HIV-negative women of age 35-45 and HIV-positive women of age 30-50. Service utilization data were collected from the program's initiation in September 2013 to October 2014.RESULTSOf 7,520 cervical samples tested, 874 (11.6%) screened HPV-positive, leading 780 (89%) patients to undergo VIA. Cervical lesions were found in 204 patients (26.2%) during VIA; of these, 151 were treated with cryoablation and 15 were referred for biopsies. Eight patients underwent complete hysterectomy to treat advanced cervical cancer. Challenges to service delivery included recruitment of eligible patients, patient loss to follow-up, maintaining HIV status confidentiality, and efficient use of consumable resources.CONCLUSIONProviding cervical cancer screening services through public health facilities is a feasible and valuable component of comprehensive women's health care in resource-limited settings. Special caution is warranted in ensuring proper adherence to follow-up and maintaining patient confidentiality.

Persistent Courage of the Local Women Resistance Toward Undemocratic Policies

This paper focuses on studying local women groups' resistance movement toward the policies regarding a permit for mining activities in their villages. Although locals have vehemently opposed this business, the official licenses to continue the activities are remain being issued by state authority and supported by the local government. This could be seen as a red flag from the policy that has been abandoned by local communities' interests. For the past decade, then being involved in social movements against undemocratic policies has sign significantly creased. There is no benefit for them from these policies, and local women also could see that their interests and knowledge have been ignored. The method used in this study is feminist ethnography, focusing on two villages as a location of mining activities. The first is Penago Baru in Seluma, Bengkulu, which has been exploited for their iron sand, then Praikaroku Jangga in Central Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, as the location for gold mining. The study uses field-talks, in-depth interviews, live-in, thematic group discussions, and field-notes. The participants lived in a social movement or acted as indigenous leaders, NGO activists, and demics. The study shows the distinctive character of these local women communities, in which they tend to have a subaltern identity. As a subaltern community, they have never been considered to exist, as their interests are not included in the policy agenda-setting. Their resistance is actually a reflection of the state's ignorance of the locals' rights. The study also notes that local women communities in both locations are actually reliable agents of local environment knowledge, with their intimate experiences with surrounding nature. Their courage to resist these policies is more of an effort to protect the natural resources and the people, as well as the ecosystem.

Improving Gender Equality & Nutrition Data for Women and Children

Abstract Empowerment of women and girls is identified as an important nutrition-sensitive strategy to address malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. Minimizing the data gaps and advancing knowledge of the relationship of gender equality and women's empowerment and nutrition is relevant to inform local women's groups and host country response to policy and advocacy. Good nutrition and gender equality are mutually reinforcing: improving nutrition is critical to achieving gender equality, and vice versa. Simpler tools to generate timelier and better quality data using gender equality indicators for nutrition program delivery and performance can guide program managers, partner and government access to program monitoring data at reduced cost, leading to strengthened gender responsive services and more effective and time-sensitive decision making. This innovation has developed a framework for measuring and linking gender and nutrition-related outcomes, as well as a predictive model incorporating potential links between gender inequality, increased nutritional needs, and inequitable access to nutrition and health services. Through identifying simple yet appropriate indicators and tools of gender equality, it has tested this model and tools in current nutrition program settings across sub Saharan Africa, to ensure that emerging nutrition experts understand and can apply these models and tools.

Refugee and immigrant health information needs

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide insight into the HISB of this group. Immigrants and refugees are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes upon resettlement. However, little scholarship reports on the health information-seeking behaviors and information needs of this population.Design/methodology/approachThis study reports the findings of a study into the health information-seeking behaviors of 85 immigrant and refugee women. Women were asked to fill out a survey in their native language with both multiple choice and open-ended questions that requested information on what health information they required the most, which means they used to get it and paired this with demographic information.FindingsIn their own words, the participants reported information requirements regarding dental care, nutrition, general, reproductive and child health, as well as assistance in navigating the healthcare system. However, they believed that medical professionals are the most reliable sources of information and that they frequently turned to less credible sources such as friends and family or the internet. This may be because of their self-reported barriers of language and cost, as wells difficulty in understanding how to obtain information in the USA. What sources the participants used and what their informational needs were was influenced by their age, education and time living in the USA. Some comparisons are made with a group of local women in a similar study conducted concurrently by the author.Originality/valueThe research presented in this study provides a clearer understanding of the health information requirements and behaviors of refugee and immigrant women.

Raising the voices of Pacific Island women to inform climate adaptation policies

Policymakers and natural resource managers are increasingly recognizing the importance of broader geographic and gender participation in assessing climate vulnerability and developing effective adaptation policies. When such participation is limited, climate mitigation and adaptation polices may miss key opportunities to support vulnerable communities, and thus inadvertently reinforce the vulnerability of marginalized groups. This paper reports rich qualitative data from women leaders in conservation, development and climate adaptation projects to support local communities across seven Pacific Island nations. The results indicate the following priorities to support climate adaptation policies in the Pacific: (1) increased recognition for the importance of traditional knowledge; (2) greater support for local women's groups, including strategic planning and training to access climate finance mechanisms; and (3) climate policies that consider alternative metrics for women's empowerment and inclusion, formalize women's land rights, and provide land for climate refugees. Existing evidence is discussed which supports the importance of these priorities in the Pacific. Their input identifies research gaps in climate adaptation and provides important guidance for governments, non-governmental organizations, and development agencies leading climate adaptation efforts.

Women's Lives, Well-Being, and Community

This paper discusses a participatory arts-based research project undertaken with a refugee support organization in the United Kingdom, the Regional Refugee Forum North East (RRFNE), and a local women's group. The project used photography, storytelling, and walking methods to explore ways of seeing women's lived experiences, well-being, and sense of community in the context of their lives in the North East of England. Arts-based biographical methods, predominantly photo-walks, were undertaken within a participatory action research frame. Together the women cocreated a collective story that involved collaborative knowledge production as well as corporeal attunement and empathic witnessing through walking their stories of living in the North East of England.

Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala

Cervical cancer is ranked as the most frequent cancer in women in India and still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths because of high HPV infection rates and lack of comprehensive cervical Pap smear testing of susceptible women. There has been a regular campaign against cervical cancer for 30 years in India, but impact on the morbidity and mortality has been low, with India ranking fourth worldwide. A key challenge for cancer programs is encouraging women in the 30-55 year age group at highest risk for treatable, precancerous lesions, to seek pap smear screening camps. To increase attendance it is important to work in the community by approaching local women's groups and with their help increasing awareness, knowledge and accessibility of screening among women. In this study the investigators made an effort to increase camp attendance by involving women’s groups. We assessed the effect of involvement of women groups in comparison to previous camps, the awareness, attitude and practice of the disease, and its prevention, and the HPV vaccine among the women and finally studied the Pap smear results. A camp based cross sectional study was done in Karindalam village to assess pap smear tests, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding cancer cervix and its screening method. Community level women volunteers were used to mobilise women for the camp. Quantitative data was collected through face to face interview using a pre tested questionnaire and the pap smear test done. Analysis was done with descriptive statistics using epi info. There were 319 women who attended the camp. Out of these 99.7% were ever married. In our studied population 55% of the women were married before 20 years of age and 36% had their first child before 20 years of age. Fifty percent studied up to 10th grade and around 50% belonged to the lower class. Majority of the women had inadequate knowledge about the disease symptoms (52.7%), risk factors (76%), preventive measures (65.5%), Pap smear method (91%) and HPV vaccine (8.4%). Reasons for not doing a Pap smear test so far were inadequate knowledge about the disease and test, fear of procedure and result, non availability of the test locally, being non symptomatic, and cultural factors. The Pap smear tests identified 2 (0.6%) women with high intra epithelial lesions, 4 (1.2%), endocervicitis and 3 (1%) with bacterial vaginosisand adequate follow up was offered. The government of India has to respond to the need of the hour and strengthen information, education and communication efforts on cervical cancer along with providing widespread screening facilities.

Promoting Women's Capacity Building to Adapt to Climate Change in Uzbekistan

In developing economies, such as Uzbekistan, the state does not have adequate finances for environment and health protection and the situation has not improved over the years. There is a need for mobilizing the population to make an effort to protect local ecosystems and people's health. The goal of the local women's groups is therefore to ensure reduction of diseases in families and the negative impact of climate change on the environment by increasing levels of awareness, by providing appropriate training to women and youth. For this they need to make effective use of available resources, rather than demanding major investments, by using pedagogical and psychological methods to influence ordinary inhabitants.

Effect of Facilitation of Local Maternal-and-Newborn Stakeholder Groups on Neonatal Mortality: Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Facilitation of local women's groups may reportedly reduce neonatal mortality. It is not known whether facilitation of groups composed of local health care staff and politicians can improve perinatal outcomes. We hypothesised that facilitation of local stakeholder groups would reduce neonatal mortality (primary outcome) and improve maternal, delivery, and newborn care indicators (secondary outcomes) in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. In a cluster-randomized design 44 communes were allocated to intervention and 46 to control. Laywomen facilitated monthly meetings during 3 years in groups composed of health care staff and key persons in the communes. A problem-solving approach was employed. Births and neonatal deaths were monitored, and interviews were performed in households of neonatal deaths and of randomly selected surviving infants. A latent period before effect is expected in this type of intervention, but this timeframe was not pre-specified. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) from July 2008 to June 2011 was 16.5/1,000 (195 deaths per 11,818 live births) in the intervention communes and 18.4/1,000 (194 per 10,559 live births) in control communes (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.96 [95% CI 0.73-1.25]). There was a significant downward time trend of NMR in intervention communes (p = 0.003) but not in control communes (p = 0.184). No significant difference in NMR was observed during the first two years (July 2008 to June 2010) while the third year (July 2010 to June 2011) had significantly lower NMR in intervention arm: adjusted OR 0.51 (95% CI 0.30-0.89). Women in intervention communes more frequently attended antenatal care (adjusted OR 2.27 [95% CI 1.07-4.8]). A randomized facilitation intervention with local stakeholder groups composed of primary care staff and local politicians working for three years with a perinatal problem-solving approach resulted in increased attendance to antenatal care and reduced neonatal mortality after a latent period.

Monitoring mortality trends in low-resource settings

Background Recent calls for continuous monitoring of large-scale public health interventions in low-income countries (1) have coincided with the increased use of routine monitoring for outcomes after episodes of care in high-income settings. (2-5) Graphical methods have become available to monitor short-term outcomes adjusted for patients' risk. (2,3) However, there are no documented examples of these tools being used to monitor mortality outcomes in low-income settings. As well as facilitating routine monitoring activities, graphical displays of outcomes with time can also suggest avenues for academic research by enhancing the interpretation of data. (1) This in turn can shed light on the potential mechanisms that underlie the observed effects. Here we discuss the use in a low-income setting of one such graphical method, the variable life adjusted display (VLAD). Its advantages are that the charts are easy to understand and can alert users quickly if the outcomes observed are worse than predicted. We briefly describe this method and its uses, and illustrate how it was used with data from a recent trial that studied neonatal deaths in India. (6) Use of VLAD The VLAD method (4) was devised to present time-ordered peri-operative outcomes after cardiac surgery, adjusted for individual patients' risk and based on an established risk scoring system. It has since been adopted internationally as a standard monitoring tool for mortality after cardiac surgery and in many other contexts. (5) The VLAD method does not provide statistical proof of an effect; however, it does provide an excellent mechanism for rapidly identifying unusually favourable or unfavourable outcomes that might warrant study. VLAD method Here we provide a brief description of the technique. A full description is available at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ operational-research/Analysis Tools/ VLAD and elsewhere. (4,5) The method is suitable for any binary short-term outcome; here we consider neonatal survival after live birth. A VLAD chart shows the difference between the expected numbers of deaths and the numbers of deaths observed with time. As originally designed, the expected numbers of deaths with time was determined by estimating individual risk, but the same risk of death can be used for all individuals. This latter approach is well suited to monitoring individual-level outcomes after public health interventions. For these contexts risk of death can be an observed or target mortality rate. If the baseline probability of neonatal death is given by P, where P is a number between zero and 1 (e.g. a mortality rate of 20% would yield P = 0.2), then on average every live birth would be expected to result in P neonatal deaths. By assigning a value of 1 to an observed neonatal death and a value of zero to an observed survival, the score associated with each live birth can be calculated as (expected outcome) minus (observed outcome). Thus, if a baby dies, that birth is associated with a score of P - 1 (less than zero), and if a baby survives then that birth is associated with a score of P (greater than zero). The VLAD score is the cumulative total of scores with time and represents the cumulative difference between expected and observed deaths. If this difference is greater than zero there have been fewer deaths than expected, and if it is less than zero then there have been more deaths than expected. A VLAD chart is constructed by plotting the VLAD score with time, which reveals trends in outcomes. Subgroups (e.g. trial arms, different geographical regions or individual hospitals) can be plotted separately, with multiple traces on the same VLAD chart. We illustrate the use of VLAD with data from an intervention that involved local women's groups discussing issues related to maternal and newborn health in eastern India. The intervention was rigorously evaluated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial which ran from 31 July 2005 to 30 July 2008, and resulted in a 32% (odds ratio: 0. …

Womanpower?: Analyzing Glamor and Violence in a Charity Calendar

This paper explores visual language employed by women in a provocative charity calendar produced to transmit a positive message of female empowerment. The Moe Girls Calendar was created in 2002 by a diverse group of local women in the Australian township of Moe. The project was an unusual and bold attempt to deflect ongoing, offensive publicity directed at the township, especially its female population, after the murder of a small child. Through use of visual semiotics this analysis examines whether the logic of a glamorized charity calendar can uphold a positive image of female identity. It also asks whether the calendar inadvertently resonates a violent landscape that is its genesis.

Evaluation of Solar Energy for Processing Aloe Secundiflora Sap into Paste Using Parabolic Solar Concentrating Technology

This paper presents an alternative method of processing Aloe secundiflora sap into paste using solar concentrat- ing technology. Local communities living in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya and other African countries harvest A. secundiflora sap and process it into paste for export and local use by boiling using traditional 3-stone cooking stoves. Consequences of these activities have led to widespread deforestation and environmental degradation. The study focused on establishing the effectiveness of solar concentrating technology in processing A. secundiflora sap into paste and ascertaining the effect of environmental parameters on processing. Optimum processing temperature, processing time, cooker efficiency, yield and quality of the resultant paste were also investigated. Results showed that absorber and pot content temperatures and solar radiation significantly affected the heating time. It was established that optimum process- ing temperature ranged from 90-100 o C, giving an average overall heat transfer coefficient of 17.40W/m 2 K under clear sky conditions. Results demonstrated that solar concentrating technology had great potential in processing A. secundiflora sap into paste, which is a stable, portable and value added product. In the longer term, using solar energy to substitute fu- elwood energy would contribute to reduced deforestation, environmental degradation, global warming and climate change. It would also improve biodiversity conservation and reduce the burden on women and children associated with collecting and transporting fuelwood. As a follow-up to this study, an elliptical parabolic solar concentrator was installed at Kinango in the semi-arid Kinango District, Coast Province of Kenya for pilot-scale processing of A. secundiflora sap by a local women group.

Community interventions to reduce child mortality in Dhanusha, Nepal: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundNeonatal mortality remains high in rural Nepal. Previous work suggests that local women's groups can effect significant improvement through community mobilisation. The possibility of identification and management of newborn infections by community-based workers has also arisen.Methods/DesignThe objective of this trial is to evaluate the effects on newborn health of two community-based interventions involving Female Community Health Volunteers.MIRA Dhanusha community groups: a participatory intervention with women's groups. MIRA Dhanusha sepsis management: training of community volunteers in the recognition and management of neonatal sepsis.The study design is a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 60 village development committee clusters allocated 1:1 to two interventions in a factorial design.MIRA Dhanusha community groups: Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) are supported in convening monthly women's groups. Nine groups per cluster (270 in total) work through two action research cycles in which they (i) identify local issues around maternity, newborn health and nutrition, (ii) prioritise key problems, (iii) develop strategies to address them, (iv) implement the strategies, and (v) evaluate their success. Cycle 1 focuses on maternal and newborn health and cycle 2 on nutrition in pregnancy and infancy and associated postpartum care practices.MIRA Dhanusha sepsis management: FCHVs are trained to care for vulnerable newborn infants. They (i) identify local births, (ii) identify low birth weight infants, (iii) identify possible newborn infection, (iv) manage the process of treatment with oral antibiotics and referral to a health facility to receive parenteral gentamicin, and (v) follow up infants and support families.Primary outcome: neonatal mortality rates. Secondary outcomes: MIRA Dhanusha community group: stillbirth, infant and under-two mortality rates, care practices and health care seeking behaviour, maternal diet, breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices, maternal and under-2 anthropometric status. MIRA Dhanusha sepsis management: identification and treatment of neonatal sepsis by community health volunteers, infection-specific neonatal mortality.Trial Registration noISRCTN: ISRCTN87820538

Community mobilisation and health management committee strengthening to increase birth attendance by trained health workers in rural Makwanpur, Nepal: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundBirth attendance by trained health workers is low in rural Nepal. Local participation in improving health services and increased interaction between health systems and communities may stimulate demand for health services. Significant increases in birth attendance by trained health workers may be affected through community mobilisation by local women's groups and health management committee strengthening. We will test the effect of community mobilisation through women's groups, and health management committee strengthening, on institutional deliveries and home deliveries attended by trained health workers in Makwanpur District.DesignCluster randomised controlled trial involving 43 village development committee clusters. 21 clusters will receive the intervention and 22 clusters will serve as control areas. In intervention areas, Female Community Health Volunteers are supported in convening monthly women's groups. The groups work through an action research cycle in which they consider barriers to institutional delivery, plan and implement strategies to address these barriers with their communities, and evaluate their progress. Health management committees participate in three-day workshops that use appreciative inquiry methods to explore and plan ways to improve maternal and newborn health services. Follow-up meetings are conducted every three months to review progress. Primary outcomes are institutional deliveries and home deliveries conducted by trained health workers. Secondary outcome measures include uptake of antenatal and postnatal care, neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates, and maternal morbidity.Trial registration numberISRCTN99834806

Confronting Gender Violence in the Zongolica Mountains of Mexico: The Work of the Veracruz Network of Citizen Organisations

This case study examines the role played by civil society in collaboration with the State of Veracruz government in implementing legal frameworks that support women's rights and freedom from violence in a region where femicide is a constant. It focuses on the relationship between the Veracruz network of citizen organisations (ROCVER) and government actors in the implementation of the Women's Institute in Veracruz, which was created as a result of both citizen pressure and new legal frameworks. It looks at the way these networks played a key role in supporting the Luz Marina Center, which serves as a shelter and legal aid service for indigenous women who suffer from violence. The centre was established in early 2007 by missionaries from the Order of Immaculate Conception, in partnership with a group of local women.