Miriama is the president of a woman's group in Chogen Fulla village in the impoverished North Bank Division of The Gambia. She is responsible for co-ordinating the management of the village woodlot which she helped to establish with assistance from Concern Universal and the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme.

This community Woodlot is now providing a valuable supply of timber which is used for cooking, building and fencing.

Before the establishment of the woodlot, villagers used to cut wood from the forests much of which has recently been totally destroyed, cleared and turned into farmland.

Scarcity of wood has become a major problem for the villagers and has rendered wood a valuable resource. Some people actually use cow dung as a source of fuel to cook their meals.

As a result of Miriama's endeavours, her product fetches a good price at market. She has even sold timber to the men in the village, including her husband, for construction purposes.

The proceeds from the sales are largely reinvested by the woman's group to expand the woodlot as they come to realise the oppurtunity of generating increased income from continued planting of even more trees.

Gender issues are sensitive in The Gambia. When we talk of gender, we do not simplymean the role of women, but also think of power relations and the opportunities to influence decision making. This includes access to land and sexual division of labour. Women have a hard time balancing reproductive and productive work, in the home and in the fields.

Traditionally they are responsible for providing goods for household consumption whereas the men farm crops that are of commercial value.

To change gender relations is to change the fundamental structure of society, but for equitable social reform these measures are crucial. Mariama and her group have been empowered with the help of the Concern Universal programme, to increase their choices through their increased income.

They can now afford school fees for their children and to pay for family health care. Mean while, men in the village have recognised that the women are capable of managing resources for the benefit of the whole community and are enjoying the increased availability of timber thanks to the women's efforts.