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What We Do / Grassroots Projects
The Mapping Programme
The HWW Mapping Programme ran from 2001 to 2004 and used action research to support new organising.
The programme supported organising in parts of India and Nepal; Latin America; Eastern Europe and China, with some initial work done in Indonesia and Uganda.
The Programme was funded by DfID, the UK Government's Department for International Development.
You can find out more about some of the organisations involved in our Global Organising section.
What is Mapping?
Horizontal mapping is a way of finding out the who, what and where of homeworking in a particular place. The aim is to make contact with homebased workers to find out more about their work and at the same time explore the possibilities for organising. It is a two-way process of both giving and collecting information with the aim of organising.
Vertical mapping starts with the homeworker and traces production and distribution chains up towards the final consumer, identifying sub-contractors, intermediaries and large corporations. This information can be useful to homebased workers in negotiations and to build links with other workers in the chain, consumer campaigns and other supportive organisations.
The mapping programme developed a set of tools adapted in the different regions for doing horizonatal and vertical mapping. A series of meetings at local, national and international levels enabled those taking part to exchange experience and compare their work.
Key to the work was the supporting and training of homebased workers to become leaders themselves in developing forms of organisation and advocacy in response to their situation.
Results of the Mapping
The mapping programme resulted in new organisations of homebased workers in different countries. Some were trade unions, as in Chile while others were associations, as in Brazil, or Self Help Groups as in Tamilnadu and Nepal.
The organisations of homebased workers were able to bring women together to discuss their immediate needs and develop longer-term strategies for advocacy for change. Through regional and international coordination they developed a common platform and set of demands .
At the same time, HWW was able to bring together information and experience from many different parts of the world. The mapping tools, developed at the start of the programme, were enriched and strengthened. We also built an information base on the different types of homebased workers and their organisations.
Resources
In the course of the mapping programme, HWW developed a set of materials, with many of them translated into different languages. For information about these, contact us or check the Resources section on this site.