goals
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Gather the Women is a movement, NOT an organization.  It is a global network of women supportive of each other and inter-connected by: (1) a common desire for creating a positive future; and (2) a commitment to transforming our lives and the world around us.

Gather the Women has been organized around
six underlying goals and objectives:

EDUCATION

To create a structure through which the women of the world can educate one another about where they have been, where they are right now and where they are going.

(Photo: Joyce Oneko educating 2003 Congress participants about the conditions in her village in Kenya and the work she is involved in empowering girls and young women.)

  


LISTENING

To create a structure through which the women of the world can listen to one another, having both the experience of being heard and the opportunity to exchange ideas.

(Photo: Mary Serfaty and Sarah Hartzell sharing ideas at the 2003 Congress)

 


GATHERING

To create a structure through which women of the world can gather annually during the week of March 8 (United Nation's International Women's Day) in a shared context that (1) promotes feminine leadership development and (2) supports on-going local actions that can facilitate change.

(Photo: Closing ritual at the 2003 Congress)

 

COLLABORATION

To facilitate collaboration and networking among the many networks and organizations that already promote and support women's development.

(Photo: International delegates to the Congress showing solidarity)


SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

To create a structure of support and resources that empowers women to step into leadership in all areas of life: social, political, economic, scientific, industrial, entrepreneurial and educational.

(Photo: Carol Hansen Grey, explaining the technology tools that are in place to support the forming of collaborative networks.)

 


TAKING ACTION

To create a structure that will encourage women to take actions aimed at improving the quality of human life on a local, regional, national and international level.

(Photo: Mary Corrigan graphically recording the action items Congress participants agreed to move forward.)

 





To make these goals possible, Gather the Women is
guided by the 5 Principles of a Chaordic Network

1. All participants equitably own the network.
2. Power and function are distributed to the maximum degree.
3. Governance is distributed.
4. The network is infinitely malleable, yet extremely durable.
5. The network embraces diversity and change.

STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT OUR GOALS

The following strategies have been (or are in the process of being) initiated to achieve our objectives:


A. Gather the Women website has been developed to function as an interactive Internet tool to support the creation of local annual International Women's Day events by providing:

• Access to women worldwide through our searchable online Living Directory

• An interactive calendar for women to post information about their planned events.

• Downloadable promotional materials and sample press releases

B. GTW Outreach activities include:

• Identifying target populations for involvement (peace groups, women's groups, youth and elderly populations, religious organizations, etc.)

• E-mail of outreach materials

• Grassroots networking through WOVA members and other cultural creative organizations.

• Development of strategic alliances to maximize outreach and collaboration

C. The Gather the Women website has been designed to also function as a tool for on-going support and information throughout the year by providing:

• a fully searchable online directory where women can find and connect with others who share the same interests, who live in the same area, etc.

• multiple online forums where GTW participants can post resources, suggested actions, projects, inspirational materials, engage in discussions, and participate in circles.

• a Grow and Learn Resource section

D. The website also serves as an archive for information about female leadership and action:

• collecting and archiving data about GTW events, participation, action outcomes

• collecting and archiving photos

• collecting anecdotal evidence, the stories of women's lives (through the Inspiration Forum)

E. Email lists, online forums and Gather the Women circles have been developed to provide a structure to help connect women globally, to find their voices, to share resources and to broaden our wisdom base.

F. An annual Gather the Women Congress has been initiated for the purpose of creating a way for organizations to form working coalitions to further the goals of creating a balanced world of harmony, justice and peace.

G. The website will serve as an educational resource for women with a comprehensive section on women's history and links to other women's history resources. (In development)

H. Alliances will be pursued to offer online educational opportunities for women. (In development)

I. The website will encourage development of strategic alliances and better utilization of existing resources by linking women with other networks and organizations to build awareness of: - micro-lending and other sustainable economic resources, mentorship opportunities, prototypes and models for action, leadership training models (In development)