Iran: Women’s NGOs & CSOs Coordinating
Committee for Restoration of Bam
By Syma Sayyah, Tehran
I went to Bam earlier this month as
part of my responsibilities in Bam Zanan
Group, a coalition of 44 Women NGOs that was
formed immediately after the earthquake in
Bam, last December. We went there to seek
the help of city officials to grant us a
piece of land so that we can take our
project to the next phase. I am one of the
women in the Executive Committee overseeing
the work that is to be done, with the money
that has been collected in the account
opened by Mrs. Ebadi, from all over the
world and within Iran itself. Our Official
title is Women’s NGOs & CSOs Coordinating
Committee for Restoration of Bam, and we
work towards our goal to build a cultural
center for women there.
During this trip I saw that life is
slowly coming back to Bam, but the quality
of it leaves a big hole in everyone who has
seen it before, or can imagine what could be
like after five months.
In this trip we met the head of City
Council Dr. Esmailee, a delightful
gentleman, a poet and writer as well as a
medical man. We also met the young mayor
briefly at dinner table. We were promised a
piece of land for this project.
My friends tell me that many other
groups have started their work, why have we
not then! The reason, I say is the fact
that, first and foremost this is a big group
and works towards a long term undertaking,
which is very democratic, and therefore a
little time consuming. Nevertheless, we have
no problem with regard to transparency,
clarity and accountability.
When this group was formed originally,
at our first general meeting, it was stated
that since we wish to carry out a long and
lasting project, therefore if members wished
to carry out any crisis or short term and
medium term programs then they should go
ahead independent of this group. We were to
base our project on statistics and
information some of which were not easily
available and to those which truly address
the needs of the people of Bam and
especially young women and those who are
family heads. A lot of work has been done
and a great number of hours have been spent
on discussing issues, checking things and
collecting data. Enormous amounts of time
and energy has been devoted to this cause.
Many trips have been made to Bam, all the
costs of which have been borne by the
individuals themselves or their friends, to
make sure that needs are assessed,
information is reliable and opinions and
experiences are taken into account.
Secondly, we have sought ideas and
information from great many possible sources
and experts. From those who have been
involved in this project or their expert
opinions and their experiences would throw
light in order to give us a better depth of
understanding about problems, outcome of
possible decisions which might be taken,
whether they were, governmental or non
governmental organizations, for the sake of
a healthier and a more superior final
outcome of this group’s work project. We
conducted field studies through our vast
group of affiliated NGOs members. After all
of this work was done and considering the
activities of other groups that work in Bam,
and the general committee established the
main goals, the planning committee, which is
overseen by the supervising committee-
reached the final decision that we [the
Women’s NGOs & CSOs Coordinating Committee
for Restoration of Bam- representing more
than 44 NGOs], will build a Cultural Center
for Women in Bam.
The main aim of this decision rests
with the idea of empowering women in Bam.
This is achieved by assisting, helping them
and encouraging them to learn a trade, to
increase and improve their skills and
general knowledge, and overall develop their
lives and the lives of their children
physically, mentally and otherwise. As part
of this program, we want to set up a Park
just for women, considering the local
women’s sensibilities and wishes encourage
and enable them to be fitter and healthier.
In the second stage of our project,
and in time before the first stage is
finished, we aim to train many local women
to carry on the tasks of be teachers,
supervisors, trainers in future, before the
center is ready to receive its first group
of women who wish to empower themselves and
improve their lives. This stage will be
conducted mainly in Bam and or in Kerman,
but we plan, if necessary, to bring some of
the trainees to Tehran and train them at
different organizations there.
In the final stage, we plan to set up
a Review Committee to oversee and check the
operation on regular basis, which will
consist of our representatives, local
organizations and members of the Women
groups in Bam on the daily operation of the
center and overseeing of its results.
This is important since may be for the
first time, a large number of people and
organizations want to work, as a GROUP
TOGETHER rather than individually and
separately. It matters to all of us this is
well done and we devote as much time and
energy needed in order to make this come
true, to prove that Iranian can work
together in groups. I can only ask you and
or your organization to join us in this
endeavor.
WE COUNT ON YOUR MORAL and FINANCIAL
SUPPORT TO SUCCEED
The Multi-Purpose
Service & Empowerment Complex (SEC)
for
The Victims of the Bam Earthquake
(The Project Proposal)
The Society for Protection of and
Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged
Individuals (SPASDI)
Tehran
January 2004
Bank
Accounts
