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The process had started. The Once and Future Science and Technology Pavilion had become a reality at the NGO Forum of the 1995 Fourth UN World Conference on Women. Women were asking questions, finding solutions, sharing ideas, demonstrating their knowledge of science and technology, and showing how they made it work for them.
It was all we anticipated and more. Members of the Once & Future Action Network, representing women from every region, came together to highlight gender, science and technology in the Once and Future Pavilion. One by one the individuals and groups arrived at the "Shooting School" designated site for the Pavilion with equipment, exhibits, books, flyers, posters, and props for their various activities.
Setting up the Pavilion certainly wasn¹t easy. Many of the preparations we had requested in advance had not been made - the stage had not been built, bricks needed to be laid in the courtyard, ramps needed to be built. With the move of the NGO Forum from Beijing to Huairou, we had ended up with significantly less space than requested. The Shooting School building was much too small for the many activities planned, an entire section was without electricity, and the site itself was some distance away from other activities at the Forum. Added to this was the rain, which prevented the outdoor activities from being set up in their assigned areas - some of these had to be moved indoors, compounding an already difficult situation.
Tempers flared, nerves were frayed, and egos were bruised. Inter-personal relationships were temporarily injured. Generally, we were very disappointed that after months of detailed planning and negotiations things just weren¹t going according to plan. But this situation did not last. A number of OFAN members came together and, pulling on their collective resources, worked as a team to make the Once and Future Pavilion the success it turned out to be. Ruth Lechte of YWCA was particularly instrumental in helping to get things in place and keeping tempers under control.
To solve the space problem, activity focal points with similar themes agreed to work together by sharing space and alternating their activities. In an effort to address the visibility problem posed by the less than ideal location, members drew on their artistic talents and painted a large banner which was prominently displayed. Printed and hand painted posters were placed all over the Forum site to guide participants to the Pavilion. The spirit of cooperation and the initiative shown by some OFAN members provided an object lesson on the advantages of collaboration, and spoke to women¹s ability to respond to challenging situations.
Visitors entering the Pavilion area were greeted by a plethora of colourful and interesting displays highlighting different aspects of women¹s involvement in science and technology. Each activity area was easily identifiable, with its own banner as well as the official OFAN banner in blue and white with the OFAN logo, the name of the activity area, and icons representing the specific activity.
The Hall of Fame exhibit, at the entrance, provided a fitting introduction to the Pavilion, with profiles of women scientists and grassroots practitioners from a number of countries. This exhibit was the result of the collaboration of the Federation of African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Approtech Asia and Intermediate Technology (IT) with some contributions from the Gender, Science and Development Programme (GSD/IFIAS). Also strategically placed at the entrance was the OFAN Exhibit and bulletin board, which had daily schedules of activities, and background information on the network.
On entering the Pavilion building itself, visitors were treated to a wide range of informative, creatively mounted displays. On the right of the entrance area was Intermediate Technology¹s Biodiversity/Biotechnology Seed Fair, which featured examples of traditional preservation techniques used by women. The ŒDo It Herself¹ exhibit, on the left, presented innovative creations of women from Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. This particularly attractive display area, shared by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), was enhanced by large colour posters and traditional African print, and was effective in grabbing the interest of many of the Pavilion visitors, who stopped to examine and purchase items.
Female visitors, in particular, gravitated towards the Women, Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) exhibit on Women¹s Cancers, which was nearby. This exhibit highlighted the need for women to be more aware of their bodies, and stressed the importance of regular self-examinations. WEDO representatives were kept busy giving information and distributing detailed breast self-examination cards to participants.
On their journey through the Pavilion, visitors would stop at Appropriate Technology International's artistically mounted ŒIn the Picture¹ exhibit which featured winning entries in the global photo contest which had been implemented prior to the Forum. They stopped for a chat and browsed through material on display at the Energy Corner which highlighted the ways in which women have used alternative sustainable energy systems, and then moved on to the exhibits mounted by Winrock International and Approtech Asia.
Some paused to rest and to put the reading material they had gathered so far into their bags, before moving on to the UN Industrial and Development Organisation (UNIDO) exhibits, and the Women in Science exhibit where the Association for Women in Science (AWIS-US), the Gender and Science and Technology Association (GASAT), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and GSD highlighted the role of science and technology in development, with the focus being on the gender perspective.
Also of interest to participants were the Third World Organization of Women in Science (TWOWS) exhibit, the Worldwide Women's Veterinary Association (WWVA) exhibit on livestock production, and WILD¹s exhibit focusing on Heifer Project International programmes. World YWCA¹s Practical Traditional Medicine booth, those of the International Federation of Inventors Associations' Women Inventors, Approtech Asia, AIKYA, and the UNIFEM-sponsored Janakpur Women¹s Art Project saw visitors, mostly women, stopping to admire and purchase the products such as toiletries, accessories and greeting cards on recycled paper.
Spontaneous discussions were many, as women stopped at exhibition areas to share ideas and experiences, to offer suggestions and have their questions answered. There were many repeat visitors, some of whom indicated that there was so much information, they couldn¹t assimilate it all in one visit. Resource documents, flyers, posters and booklets were made available at the different theme areas, and visitors took them to share with others, and use as reference for future activities.
ŒThe demonstration¹s about to start! It¹s over here! Come one, come all!¹ Announcements like this were often heard in the Pavilion, as activity focal points publicized scheduled as well as unscheduled demonstrations. The demonstrations were as interesting as they were varied. Participants learned to recycle paper, process jak fruit, build wheelchairs, and use solar energy for cooking. They were shown how to use basic scientific principles to make items such as water coolers, toys, postcards, and solar cookers.
Most visitors did not know they could cool their drinks and water without the use of electricity. Mary Rushwaya of Zimbabwe showed them how to do so using readily available material such as coal, wood and aluminum. She also demonstrated how Zimbawean women minimized on the use of fuel by applying basic scientific principles, without even realizing they were scientific.
Pam Gray of Yesterday¹s Papers demonstrated the advantages of paper recycling. With her guidance, participants were able to make different types of paper. Many left the Pavilion with samples of paper they had made, as well as knowledge which they can apply at home.
The demonstrations were well supported. The Building a Wheelchair activity by Wheeled Mobility Centre attracted wheelchair riders and non-riders alike. FAWE¹s demonstrations of ways to make simple games and toys also drew audiences from a wide cross-section. So did the Kuwaiti Women¹s Cultural and Social Society¹s demonstration on how to press and use plants to make attractive postcards. COSENI, in collaboration with the All-India Women¹s Conference, and the Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago, showed fascinated groups the possibilities of renewable energy technologies and the contributions they can make to improving women¹s lives. Those who were not able to participate in the demonstrations enjoyed some of the end-products, such as processed jak fruit, solar-cooked cookies, and indigenous sweets and candy bars!
There were hands-on workshops and training workshops. These were facilitated by both formally trained and grassroots science and technology practitioners. There were some visitors to the Pavilion who headed directly for the workshop areas in which they had a special interest, having identified them in the Pavilion handbook which had been widely circulated. They were not disappointed.
The workshops held by the International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC) were of particular interest to persons familiar with or wanting to learn to use computer technology. A popular IWTC workshop was the ŒMake a Postcard¹ activity, which saw women learning desktop publishing and creating cards on the computer to send to friends, relatives, even government representatives in their own countries. The Computer Corner also facilitated visitors keen on being a part of the information superhighway through electronic networking.
Mekweseh held an exciting workshop on documenting and disseminating grassroots women¹s knowledge. Participants were shown how to use a video camera, and given basic guidelines on conducting insightful interviews with rural women. Grassroots women used the opportunity to share their experiences and emphasize the importance of giving value to women¹s indigenous knowledge.
There were also the OFAN workshops which were housed in other buildings. The ŒPlatform for Action: Science and Technology Issues¹ workshop held by UNIFEM, in collaboration with OFAN, was popular among network and non-members alike. Participants looked at the science and technology inclusions in the Platform for Action. Amendments for science and technology were identified, and strategies discussed for lobbying at the UN Conference. The results of this workshop formed the basis of the document used to lobby delegates at the Conference.
Another popular workshop which saw lively contributions from participants was UNIFEM¹s ŒTake Once and Future Pavilion Home: Action Plans for Local Follow-up¹. Again, there were OFAN members as well as non-members participating. A range of suggestions were submitted for continuing the activities of OFAN, and for replicating the idea of the Pavilion at local levels. This workshop also saw members cementing contacts and agreeing to collaborate on future activities.
Large or small, the learning circles were everywhere - inside and outside the Pavilion building. Because of the limited space of the designated learning circle area, members used any other available space for their learning circles. People wanted to network and discuss issues, and a mere space problem was not going to stop them. Some learning circles were also scheduled to be held in other meeting areas on the Forum site.
The Learning Circles focused on issues relating to all OFAN¹s theme areas: Indigenous Knowledge, Appropriate Technology, Energy, Communication, Education, Entrepreneurship and Women in Science. They included presentations by participants in UNIFEM¹s projects, representing women from around the globe: Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. Also among the learning circles were IT¹s ŒDemystifying Science and Technology¹; IWTC¹s ŒElectronic Communications¹; and GASAT¹s ŒWomen, Science and Employment¹. In the learning circle featuring the UNESCO Discussion on the World Science Report, participants examined different aspects of the report and made recommendations for implementation and follow-up.
On the whole, OFAN members and other Forum participants used the learning circles to brainstorm and get in-depth information on what others were doing.
In addition to gaining insights into women¹s science and technology projects, Pavilion visitors were treated to entertainment which provided a different perspective to science and technology.
The two-person comedy team which made up EMB productions got people laughing with jokes about science and technology and the practitioners. Their presentation ŒSerious Fun About S&T¹ included skits, and participatory comedy games. The comedy team also used their performances to get additional visitors to the Pavilion.
The youth group, Teens in Action, presented an impressive drama piece which examined the effects of science and technology on low-income urban communities, and addressed the importance of encouraging girls to enter careers in science. The presentation utilized song, dance and poetry, which delighted audiences.
The closing ceremony took the form of a symposium on ŒWomen¹s Empowerment Through Science and Technology, organized by Intermediate Technology, Approtech Asia and the OFAN Secretariat. The four-hour symposium was in three sessions, which covered the topics: ŒKey Issues Affecting Women In Science and Technology¹, ŒSolutions - Challenging Current Scientific Paradigms¹, and ŒThe Future¹. Several member organizations presented papers. Among them were IT, IFIAS/GSD, Approtech Asia, AAAS, WWVA, UNIFEM, IWTC, and OFAN¹s Programme Coordinator. The symposium ended with a question and answer session and members as well as non-members giving suggestions on how women can continue to contribute to the well-being of mankind through science and technology.
In addition to these activities, the Pavilion featured video screenings on different groups and science and technology projects. There were also special events, such as the IT Book Launch and ATI¹s Award Ceremony of the ŒIn the Picture¹ Photo-Video contest. The book launch saw Helen Appleton of IT, UK, outlining the significance of the ŒDo It Herself¹ project, and members of IT, Sri Lanka, highlighting the achievements of that project in their country. These events were characterized by a celebratory atmosphere, with participants sharing refreshments and experiences.
And, of course, there were OFAN panel discussions which were scheduled by the NGO Forum office. These did not take place in the Pavilion, but were well supported by persons with interests in different aspects of gender, science and technology. One highlight of the Pavilion was the making of the UNESCO film on science and technology. The film covered all Pavilion activities, and documented interviews with visitors and OFAN members who gave their different perspectives on women, science and technology.
The entire mood of the Pavilion was such that science and technology practitioners and groups not previously aware of OFAN, joined us and used what available space there was to display organizational material.
Approximately 4,000 visitors came to the Pavilion during the NGO Forum. Among them were members of the media, representatives of sponsoring bodies and government delegates to the UN Conference. There were representatives of sponsoring bodies such as EC WIDE, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFEM and the Global Fund. Government representatives included the Minister for Overseas Development for the UK, the Australian Minister for Development, and Jamaica¹s Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sports. Also visiting the Pavilion was a delegation led by the Chairperson of the China Organizing Committee. Some visitors were taken on guided tours of the Pavilion and given information packages, while other participated in activities of specific focal points.
Unfortunately, the Pavilion had to close a day early, as vandals had started looting and stealing items from the display areas. This definitely tainted the spirit of the event. However, at the end of the ten-day period, OFAN members were drained but mostly satisfied. When asked how they felt about the Pavilion, responses ranged from ŒAbsolutely fantastic!¹ to ŒWe have a long way to go but we have made a good start.¹ However, all are agreed that the Once and Future Pavilion provided excellent opportunities for networking, for showcasing the achievements of women in science and technology, and for planning activities for the post-Beijing period.
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