On groups
SOS CORPO: Women's Health Group Av. 10 de Novembro, 57 Varadouro 53000 Olinda - Pernambuco Brazil. Tel: (429)0992
In 1970 in the USA, then later in Europe, the first groups of SELFHELP were formed, of women looking for a better relationship with their bodies, health and sexuality,
and feeling the need to talk openly about their problems - in group discussions and collective gynaecological examinations.
Inspired by these women and their ideas, a group called SOS CORPO was born in 1980 in Recife, Brazil, bringing together 8 women, all professionals in various fields, and all interested in learning more about themselves.
As members of SOS CORPO we decided to share our group experiences with other women (especially those living in popular areas) and to start a debate on their lives as women, mothers and wives. This implies talking openly about the body, sexuality, birth control, pregnancy, husbands, boy-friends and sex education for their children.
SOS CORPO is not trying to substitute existing medical care (however poor), but rather develop an awareness of the importance of women's health and sexuality so that a
woman can on the one hand solve her own health problems and choose her system of birth control, and on the other increase her critical spirit and give her a deep sense of her own value, which will lead her to a fuller participation in society.
HOW WE WORK
Production of educational material (booklets and audio-visual aids) In July 1981 we published a brochure called "SOS CORPO DE MULHER" (SOS Woman's Body) in which we presented the very basic knowledge necessary for a self-help group: anatomy, menstrual cycle, common anatomy, menstrual cycle, common vaginal infections and their alternative treatments, as well as a list of plants and teas generally used in Brazil to treat "women's diseases". In spite of the lack of commercial infrastructure, the booklet achieved considerable success, and is now being edited for the third time (3 thousand copies).
We have not been able to produce visual aids as yet due to financial limitations, but we hope to be able to in the next few months. Both these methods of education are
applicable to all classes of women. However, audio-visual methods are clearly more useful in Brazil because of the high rate of ilhteracy.
Theatre
This method was used during the first SOS meeting (March 1982) and has become an important means of impulse for our work throughout the city. With a small theatre group narrating tales of discrimination against Brazilian woman, and common health and sexual problems, we are able to explain our goals more clearly and attractively.
Courses
We offer courses (6 hours) to the numerous women's groups which exist in the popular areas and which are generally Unked to the Catholic Church and its social work. These courses are intended to take the form of collective discussions rather than lectures (where some know more than others). Various methods are used: moulding clay, slides, "relaxation' plays and drama. These groups are self-examination groups. Thy are normally planned to last 3 months unless members decide to continue further. The basic aims are; better knowledge of the body, the choice of a personally appropriate method of contraception, the ability to cure common infections, and also to stimulate the desire to spread this information to others. Methods used are: gynaecological auto-examinations in groups, systematic observation of the menstrual cycle, discussion of questions raised by women in the group (such as natural cures, the lack of medical assistance in the area, the general practice and attitudes of gynaecologists, etc.), and other activities (One group in a popular area decided to start up a gymnastics group).
Women's Research and Resources Centre: a feminist library 190 Upper Street London N . 1., England. Tel: (01)359-5773
"We have about 2,500 books and pamphlets, 500 complete and partial sets of periodicals, 500 unpublished papers and reprints and a collection of miscellaneous material (leaflets, posters, newsletters). We have a lot of literature from the Women's Liberation Movement including novels and poetry. Women's Studies course in your area
- either adult education or at colleges and universities. We have an index of courses and course options which you can consult here, or we can answer queries by phone or by letter if you live far out of London and cannot get to the centre.
"Are you interested in finding out about ongoing research on issues of concern to women? We keep information on all kinds of research from small projects in schools and university dissertations and theses, to personal research and full-scale research of book manuscripts.
"The WRRC now has about 1,000 members who pay an annual subscription which supports the centre's activities and entitles them to borrow from the library and receive our bimonthly newsletter.
"Membership costs £7 for people earning less than £6,000 a year and £12 for institutions and people earning £6,000 or more. People on low incomes pay what they can afford
Movimiento Manuela Ramos Camana 280 of. 305 Casilla Postal 11176 Lima 14, Peru.
The Manuela Ramos group is a feminist organization working to train women of the popular sectors that are already organized. The group understands training not only as the acquisition of knowledge or the handling of certain techniques, but also the development of critical and creative capacities enabling women to analyse reality and gain a consciousness leading to actions designed to change the existing status quo. They do their work in the marginal parts of the cities where women usually receive traditional training. All have the objectives of helping them in their household tasks and training for paid work.
The method used starts with the analysis of their own experience, which allows for active and creative participation, and therefore doesn't use traditional educational methods. Beginning from the idea that the learning experience is an de-alienating experience, the changing of attitudes is stressed more than the acquisition of knowledge during training.
Associaci6n de Trabajadores Domesticas de Quito Flores 846 - Edificio CEDOC, 3er piso, Quito, Ecuador.
In Quito, there is a large number of women working as maids, the majority of whom come from the countryside and lack the experience and education demanded by the offices in the city. In order to insure their survival, there, they work under conditions of extreme exploitation: more than 8 hours of work a day, salaries — when they
exist — are below legal minimum wage, all sorts of humiliation and abuse on the part of the employer.
Now, with the support of the Uniones de Organizaciones Femininas de Pichincha, these women are attempting to put together an organization in order to fight for the rights assured by the Labor Code, to lobby for reforms in the law on domestic work, to raise public awareness of the situation, and to demand education.
Women's Research Centre P595, Puma Das Road Calcutta 29 India
This is a group which recently set up with the aim to investigate the conditions of women in West Bengal, and to publish their findings in their Bengali magazine "Shabala" which means "The Strong Woman". They decided to bring out the magazine in the local language in order to make it accessible to all Bengali women. Those who cannot read have it read to them. The readership comes mostly from teachers, students, working women in Calcutta and district towns, and village women. They need publicity,
subscriptions and donations since they have no regular source of income. US$ 18 per year
MONEY
In each ISIS Bulletin from now on, we will reserve this space for bringing you news about sources of money, scholarships or job possibilities and ideas available
to women.
Match — International Centre 323 Chapel Ottawa K IN 722 Canada Tel: (613)238 1312
This is a non-governmental organisation designed to Match the resources and needs of Canadian women with those of women in the third world. It operates from a national office with a Board of Directors drawn from across Canada. Its Project Clearing House accepts proposals from Third World countries for projects to meet universal basic needs at family level and which are designed to have an impact on local women who will implement projects with a minimum of external assistance. It helps to them
locate the specific resources required: information from groups or individuals, qualified personnel, and financial help
The Match Talent Bank is a source of information about Canadian and Third World women who have organisational, administrative and professional skills and can be a valuable resource in development projects. Those registeredcan participate in projects according to their specialisation through the Match network.
Match also has a National Information and Resource Centre which identifies and mobilises the financial and technical resources of Canadian women's organisations, and facilitates exchanges of experience and knowledge.
Individuals and organizations in Canada and the Third World are invited to submit documentation on their existing international linkages and interests, past projects and new plans so that Match can refer projects that are of particular potential interest to appropriate organisations