Introduction

This document reports on the "Leaders for Tomorrow: Rural Women Creating Change" workshop held Saturday February 7, and Sunday February 8, 2009 in Davidson, Saskatchewan.

The workshop was part of the Rural Women's Issues Committee of Saskatchewan's project, "Empowering Rural Women's Voices".

This project began in 2005, with support from Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence and Status of Women Canada.

RWICS Goals

Saskatchewan has a strong history with women and women's organizations leading the way to many policy improvements and important social reforms. In recent years changing demographics, reductions in funding to women's organizations, and the triple workload that rural and farm women carry have made it more difficult for rural women's organizations to remain active and present their views. The triple workload includes on-farm and off-farm work, in addition to homemaking, parenting and maintaining community organizations. In the overload, community involvement may not be possible, and separate women's organizations often do not flourish.

In its work RWICS hopes to link with individuals and organizations working to improve the situation of rural women and to help bring the recommendations of rural women forward to decision-makers. Our goal is to support and encourage rural women to name their own issues, create their personal action plans and achieve their own visions.