VIENTIANE 2008:
Fostering Exchanges Towards
Solidarity Economy
Homenet Southeast Asia’s Subregional Workshop (SRW) on Solidarity Economy was held back to back with the Subregional General Assembly (SGA) in Vientiane, Lao PDR, December 9-12, 2008. Homenet Lao as host organization, was assisted by the Lao Union of Science and Engineering Association (LUSEA) and the Lao Women’s Union, donors FNV, Unifem ESE-Asia, Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam Solidarity Belgium. The recently concluded SGA was the second assembly for Homenet SEA, with the first one held in Bangkok in 2005.
The SRW was aimed to achieve: 1) Sharing of country experiences on solidarity economy initiatives such as village banks, social and group enterprises, cooperatives, microfinance, trade facilitation, etc.; 2) Examining how these initiatives strengthen membership based organizing; 3) Continuing linkage of these initiatives to fair trade standards especially occupational safety and health; and 4) Exploring how these initiatives can be further linked to food security, climate change, and other environmental concerns.
Opening ceremonies on December 9, took place at the historic Lane Xang Hotel in the Vientiane capital, with Mr. Khanthone Phamuang, President, NALDE/Homenet Laos, as moderator.
Distinguished Chief of Cabinet Somphone Phanousith, Permanent Secretary of National Science Council (NSC) and Secretary General of Lao Union of Science and Engineering Associations (LUSEA) officially declared the workshop open. He also presented a brief overview of LUSEA and its significant role in Lao PDR.
Madame Sirikit Boupha, Director, Development Department of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) gave a welcome message and keynote speech. She likewise presented the Lao Women’s Savings group project, (“Empowering Women Through Community Savings Groups”) citing that her organization works in synergy with the government in socio-economic development planning through projects implemented at the community and village levels. (Note - to create LINK under What’s NEW?)
Dr. Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, Regional Coordinator, Homenet SEA, noted with pride Homenet SEA’s expansion that now includes Laos and Cambodia. In the tradition that was originally practiced in the ILO-DANIDA Rural Women Homeworkers Project in Southeast Asia, the network still continues to share knowledge through subregional workshops. She underscored the importance of demonstrating that solidarity economy works in the grassroots, community level especially in the context of the global financial, food, and environmental crises . According to her, solidarity economy complements the concept of rising together, the ASEAN dream of sharing.. She also emphasized that the various elements of movement building are necessary to achieve the Homenet vision of solidarity economy:: motivation, organization, visibility and voice, empowerment, money, environmental sustainability, networking, and trust in each other and in the collective capacity to make change happen.
For his part, Bong Munsayaphom, Program Coordinator, Oxfam Solidarity Belgium , informed the participants that his organization, in cooperation with the Lao Womens Union (LWU), is supporting the formation of small farmers’ savings groups so that they can have better incomes through production and marketing based on current demand. He said he looked forward to better cooperation with Homenet SEA, with sharing and learning taking place in the future.
The message of FNV Mondiaal Policy Advisor for Asia Wilma Roos, read by PATAMABA/Homenet Philippines National Coordinator Lourdes Gula, focused on FNV Mondiaal’s active involvement in the struggle of homebased workers to improve their working and living conditions.
Experience Sharing
Khanthone Phamuang began the country sharing by describing the village bank system in Lao PDR and the importance of networks as model of solidarity economy
(“The Village Bank System in Lao PDR and the Importance of Networks”). Deval Thakar’sinsightful report on the Shri Mahila SEWA Sahakari Bank in India surfaced SEWA Bank’s success despite resistance from the banking system (“Banking With A Difference: Serving Poor and Self-Employed Women”).
The country presentations continued in the afternoon, with Boonsom Namsomboon of Homenet Thailand as session moderator.
Men Sinoeun, Artisans’ Association of Cambodia, described his organization’s emphasis on promoting fair trade principles and values in relation to production, marketing and other economic practices for member organizations including disadvantaged groups (“Solidarity Economy: Working Together To Help The Vulnerable and the Disadvantaged”). PATAMABA/Homenet Philippines Region 6 Coordinator, Maria Nebla demonstrated the organization’s capacity to make a small microfinance fund grow and to use it well through a program that was meant to address the need for alternative livelihood as well as social protection in lieu of dwindling resources and lack of opportunities (“Infusing New Ways Into Time-Tested Practices: An Integrated Approach to Microfinance”). Also from the Philippines, Marcelina G. Silvestre traced the success of a community solidarity economy organization called Ilaw ng Tahanan Cooperative managed by rural women homebased workers, including a few widows, engaged in food processing (“The Ilaw ng Tahanan Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Bayanihan Economy”).
Pham Thi Thu Thuy capped the first day by describing Craft Link Vietnam as a Fair Trade organization that helps traditional craft producers revive their culture and improve their livelihoods through handicraft production and marketing (“Seeking New Markets For Traditional Artisans”).
Homenets Indonesia and Thailand shared their solidarity economy experiences on the morning of December 11 (Day 3), with Josephine Parilla of PATAMABA- Homenet Philippines as moderator. Kustiningsih (Cicik), explained how the East Java Cooperative addresses the economic protection of homeworkers given the difficulties of accessing loans from banks in Indonesia (“Achieving Economic Protection for Homeworkers in Indonesia”); and Sri Harjanti, traced how the spirit of solidarity created ripples of good impression in the community that propped up SETARA’s needed support to rise up amidst the trauma and pain brought by the earthquake in Jogjakarta (“Assisting Women Earthquake Survivors”). Somkid Duangngern of Homenet Thailand focused on the Thai initiatives to create a solidarity economy through the strengthening and networking of HBWs at various levels - community, regional and national and collaboration with other networks. (“Solidarity Economy In The Context of Homenet Thailand”).
Field Visits
Participants went on field visit to the villages of Nongthatai, Chanthaburi District (NALDE/Homenet Laos site) and Nasaithongkang, 16 kilometers from the Vientiane Capital (Lao Women’s Union site) on December 10. These exposure trips opened opportunities for Homenets and other participants to explore and connect with issues and concerns of the communities visited. Participants were delighted as well with the little side trip that allowed them to appreciate and learn about the history and culture of Laos. After some sightseeing in the Vientiane capital that lasted until 4:00 in the afternoon, everyone was still eager to take part in singing and dancing during the solidarity night hosted by Homenet Lao that lasted till almost midnight.
Inspiring Assessment
Participants unanimously agreed that Vientiane, Lao PDR was very appropriate for holding this year’s subregional workshop on solidarity economy, which was aptly demonstrated by the Lao village banks. Similarly, Homenet Lao village bank members considered it an opportunity to learn from the experiences of other Homenets; hopeful that further improvements in their organization will be applied in the future and subsequently replicated in other villages.
Participants said they also drew inspiration not only from the discussions that transpired during the four day workshop, but much more from the ‘solidarity economy’ experiences of all the Homenets (village banks of Laos, cooperatives cum microfinance-supported group enterprises in the Philippines, cooperatives with disaster management assistance in Indonesia, savings groups with revolving and welfare funds in Thailand), and the rural banking and fair trade practices of SEWA, India and Craft Link, Vietnam respectively.
THE SRC: looking forward to THE NEXT THREE YEARS (2009-2011)
The Subregional Council (SRC) elected from among themselves members of the Executive Committee composed of Regional Coordinator – Rosalinda “Inday” Ofreneo; National Coordinators - Lourdes Gula (Philippines); Cecilia Susiloretno (Indonesia); Somkid Duangngern (Thailand); Khantone Phamuang (Laos); and Men Sinoeun (Cambodia); Treasurer – Josephine “Olive” Parilla; Secretary – Norm Bunnak; IEC Coordinator – Poonsap Tulapha; and Kieng Sabay, to serve as Auditor.
The Homenet SEA Subregional Council and Executive Committee met on December 12 for the review and approval of proposed amendments to the Constitution and By Laws, nomination and election of the Subregional Council and Executive Committee, and indicative planning for the next three years. Regional Coordinator, Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, served as Presiding Officer, while Sapna Joshi, Regional Coordinator of Homenet South Asia, facilitated the election process.
For years 2009-2011, the indicative plan of Homenet Southeast Asia as discussed during the Subregional Assembly appears below:
- Strengthen membership based organizations (MBOs) – group formation and strengthening of mass based groups of homebased (and other informal workers) will be the continuing thrust of all national Homenets in pursuance of expanding the network.
- Capacitate HBWs in various areas - organizing and financial management, skills training, advocacy, enterprise development, fair trade and social marketing, OSH, etc.
- Work for national policies for homebased workers and other informal workers – to be implemented in the context of each country Homenet.
- Advocate for the ratification of ILO Convention 177 on Home Work
- Improve access of homebased workers to social protection
- Improve participation of homebased workers, both women and men, in governance.
- Develop and document good practices in trade facilitation, occupational safety and health, participatory disaster management, food security, housing improvement, savings groups, etc.
- Continue and improve knowledge sharing through websites, magazines, subregional workshops, participatory video, etc.
- Participate in ASEAN –related and other regional and globa activities where there are opportunities to advance the Homenet advocacy agenda
Solidarity Economy Practices
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EMPOWERING WOMEN
THROUGH COMMUNITY SAVINGS GROUPS
Sirikit Boupha
Director, Development Department, Lao Women’s Union (LWU)
The Lao Women’s Savings Group Project covers five provinces and 11 districts of Lao PDR, namely: Vientiane Capital (Pakngum, Sangthong, Naxaithong); Champasack (Pakse, Khong ); Luangprabang (Luangprabang, Moung Ngoy); Bokeo (Houayxai, Tonpheung), and Phongsaly (BounNeua, Nhotou). It is guided by the Socio-economic Development Planning of the Lao Government (2000- 2020) and the Development Plan of Lao Women’s Union (2005-2020), whose implementation is carried out in cooperation with the Women’s Empowering and Community Project ( LWE ) and Community Organizations Development Institute ( CODI ).
During the initial stages of savings group formation and village mobilization, problems and difficulties were encountered: People basically do not trust savings groups. There were administrative and financial setbacks due to lack of capitalization, as well as profit sharing problems. The rapid increase in membership and inaccessibility of far flung areas exacerbated difficulties in monitoring. and adherence to procedures. Lack of awareness among the villagers made it doubly difficult to make them adhere to procedures and regulations.
Savings group committees have been formed at the village, regional and district levels and
will continuously work towards a) increasing implementation efficiency among saving groups;
b) promoting village banking at the village level and attain self-sufficiency in terms of fund management and administration; 3) upgrading capacity by conducting vocational training and subsequently create jobs in the community; 4) linking the Capital Fund at all levels that can be used to provide assistance in training, media information and other means of support; 5) continuing development, strengthening and promotion of Capital Fund at the village, region, and district levels; 6) mobilizing financial grants from the government and international organizations for implementation of activities of savings groups; and 7) coordinating with the Banks and concerned sectors for technical assistance.
The LWU has been working in synergy with the government in its socio-economic development planning policy through projects implemented at the community and village levels. As a result, membership in savings groups has expanded and also boosted LWU’s significant role towards advocating solidarity and empowerment on the ground. In terms of gender and development, the promotion of savings groups improved the capacities of women and heightened their social roles and participation in the village.
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