TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF LOCAL WOMEN AND GIRLS<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of my ideas is that to truly live in community with women, we need to include the local women in our village and share our knowledge and skills reciprocally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bulgarian women are educated as equals but the reality for them is the same the world over. Responsibility for child rearing falls soley to the women and so too do most domestic tasks. This is not to say that men don’t play their part, they do when it comes to the heavy work but women also do a lot of heavy work as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domestic violence is an issue usually hidden behind closed doors in the depths of the hibernating part of the year, winter, when everyone is indoors for long periods and a lot of alcohol is drunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Children attend school but there are no extra curricular activities nor are there any creche facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Access to contraception is a little hit and miss but many Bulgarian families try to only have 2 children, this changes amongst the Tsigani (Gypsy) community who tend to fair the worst in all aspects of life. Little or no education, restrictions placed upon them for not completing school for example not being allowed to drive which hinders their life chances. Poorer health in general and lower life expectancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dental health is very poor, healthy diets are being compromised by the introduction of fizzy drinks and sweets and a lack of time to grow and harvest good food, women are taking short cuts due to the increasing demands placed upon them. They often work long hours in the fields for very little pay and have no time to live how their parents lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together we can create systems that help these women, we can form a food cooperative, creches, workshops for women and girls to teach (re-teach) the skills they need and to create bonds of cooperation and work sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can teach basic health care skills so that elder women can live in dignity and have their health and social care needs met until the end of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lesbians are not a distinct demographic in Bulgaria, they, like the rest of world look to LGBTQ communities for data which is not representative of the vast majority of lesbians if the rest of the world is to go by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outreach, social and political events and networking along with data gathering should be a large part of our work in my view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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