Leadership Development for Women with Disabilities: Key Issues and Strategies in Leadership Training and Successful Participation in Microcredit Programs

[Excerpt] In 1998 Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the International Disability Exchange and Studies(IDEAS) 2000 Project awarded a fellowship funded by the U.S. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to conduct a research project that would aim to examine questions of leadership development for women with disabilities, using data collected at MIUSA’s 1998 International Symposium on Microcredit for Women with Disabilities. In response to the recommendations made at the 1997 Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability, MIUSA organized and hosted the first International Symposium on Microcredit for Women with Disabilities held from August 29 to September 8, 1998 in Eugene, Oregon., at which 13 women leaders with disabilities from developing countries met with US based international development organizations and experts on microcredit to improve access of women with disabilities to microcredit programs. The data for this research was collected from the attendees of the Symposium on Microcredit

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE ORGANIC RACE

Organic production is carried out under an extensive regulatory setup because organic products are sold as value-added products with certified organic labelling in developed countries. Production is strictly monitored at every step in production chain. Organic production apart from being eco-friendly offers higher net returns per unit area compared to conventional agriculture. Organic production uses traditional tillage systems, crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, mineral bearing rocks, and biological pest and weed control to maintain soil productivity. Thus, an organic farm should be a self contained system of production with minimal dependence on external inputs. Those farms having dairy as one of the active components will have to convert to organic livestock management so that manures supplied are as per requirements for organic production. The dairy products can also be certified organic to fetch higher prices. Organic farming is a highly labour intensive enterprise. Some of the major organic accreditation agencies are IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), FiBL, Demeter and many more. APEDA has also developed national standards for organic production. Indian farmers face many challenges in adoption of certified organic production. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA.Genetically engineered cultivars or plant materials are not permitted in organic production. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA. Some of the important organic production requirements as per national standards for organic production have been developed by APEDA.Before products from a farm/project can be certified as organic, inspection shall be carried out during the conversion period. To ensure a clear separation between organic and conventional production, the certification programme (agency) shall inspect, where appropriate, the whole production system. Organic production is one area of agriculture which can convert India’s ‘Green Revolution’ into ‘Evergreen Revolution’

English Language Learning for Engineering Students with Internet-Based Projects

This article presents a student-centered approach of teaching English by making use of internet based projects. Whereas many educators enthusiastically embrace the use of Internet-based resources, little theoretical and empirical research exists that demonstrates how to make use of such practices in a sound pedagogical way. Based on concrete sample lessons, this article provides guidance to teachers and curriculum developers to integrate Internet-based activities into a language learning class