Rural women, the majority of whom depend on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihoods, make up over a quarter of the total world population.
In developing countries, rural women represent approximately 43 percent of the agricultural labour force, and produce, process and prepare much of the food available, thereby giving them primary responsibility for food security.
Bearing in mind that 76 percent of the extreme poor live in rural areas, ensuring rural women’s access to productive agricultural resources contributes to decreasing world hunger and poverty, and make rural women critical for the success of the new Sustainable Development agenda for 2030.
The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008.
This new international day, established by the General Assembly in its Resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty”. In view of fulfilling the social responsibility needs and serving the community as a responsible organization, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Srilanka partnering with Women in Management (WIM) organized an exhibition to promote sustainability of the local handicraft industry and to empower rural women entrepreneurship of Sri Lanka.
“Village In The City” was the theme of this “International day of rural women” held at the Women’s International in Colombo.
Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) launched in year 2014 under the body of reputable, world recognized, shipping organization, WISTA International, has been actively involved in organizing and conducting professional programs such as, conferences, educational visits, seminars and CSR projects throughout the inception to enhance industry knowledge of Shipping and Trading, among professionals, while nurturing the young membership of the Association to accept challenging and responsible leadership roles in the future.
WISTA Sri Lanka represents a range of different shipping and logistics companies, provided with the opportunity of networking and building relationships, both, locally and internationally.
The past year for WISTA Sri Lanka was a triumphant year.
The executive committee has successfully organized a host of events in keeping with the WISTA objectives of raising the profile of women in the maritime sector and working for gender balance in an industry that’s male dominated
WISTA Sri Lanka will be giving the opportunity to twenty such women to exhibit and sell their handicraft at the exhibition.
WISTA will embark on a long term CSR initiative by mentoring these women entrepreneurs to improve on marketing, sourcing of raw materials, and gaining access to capital and markets for their produce.
The day will be enlightened with various locally sourced handicrafts, such as, Batiks, Handloom products, leather footwear, etc. also including a kiddies corner of fun activities, a bouncy castle, face painting and many more.
WISTA invites the public to support by participating and sourcing at “Village in the City.”