Fighting poverty in rural communities: A toolkit for women

Across Canada, hundreds of thousands of people are affected by poverty. The impacts and consequences of poverty are diverse and can change depending on the region, setting, or individual involved.

Often, efforts to combat poverty focus on the larger urban centres. However, the problems of poverty are very evident in rural communities as well. Even within these communities, certain groups do not find that their particular needs are addressed due to overarching policies aimed at reducing poverty generally.

Women living in poverty within rural communities often feel isolated, helpless, and unable to make productive contributions to make to their families. Finding employment can be difficult, if not impossible, while caring for children and households without access to services offered in urban areas.

In order to help women in rural communities overcome these obstacles, The Rural Women Take Action on Poverty Committee has published a toolkit entitled: Counting Women In - A Toolkit for Rural Action on Poverty. This toolkit promotes cooperation and dialogue among women in these communities as they together learn to break free from the bounds of poverty.

Building a sense of community and initiating dialogue are key aspects to reducing poverty. This toolkit is a great resource for women in rural communities to build this sense of community.