Sueños de una mujer Afgana

Araceli Uranga, CCVI nos comparte estas imágenes.  Cada imagen está llena de sueños, luchas y esperanzas. Creemos que orar con ellas puede hacernos mucho bien. Extendamos la solidaridad.

"Llegaron estas imágenes. Son obras de una artista afgana que se llama Shamsia Hassani, si las compartimos, será como darle voz a ella  y a todas las mujeres afganas que están viviendo el infierno."

The Afghan Crisis - How to Help Our Neighbors

Sister Juanita Albratch, CCVI  participated in the webinar, organized by Lutheran Refugee Service, called The Afghan Crisis - How to Help Our Neighbors (August 24, 2021). Here are a few lines to help us explore collaboration and solidarity where we are. 

The conference began with a prayer and was moderated by Krigh O’Mara Vignajah. She gave a few remarks about LIRS saying that they are over 40,00 volunteers worldwide working on the worst refugee situation possible.  She said that most recent photographs of the situation in Afghanistan are heartbreaking.  We think of the people there, but think also of the families, relatives, the U.S. and other countries who see this turmoil and are deeply concerned about their families.

The moderator introduced Megan Bracy who shared on-going activities. She said they have been in touch with our allies, asking for help of whatever kind, especially in receiving, housing, feeding the refugees.  Also, in accepting money to help provide basic needs during the time of their resettlement.  “We must continue,” she said “until all are safe and have their rights protected.” The Refugee Centers can do this well.  Now support is needed in welcoming and providing housing those evacuated.  Volunteers are badly needed to provide this service….

She said that “Advocacy with evacuation of Afghanistan has been on-going since April of this year.  On July 24^th LIRS asked our allies to assist with advocacy for groups, members of families, women, religious rights groups.  You have seen the photos of the evacuation of Afghanistan.  The most dangerous place in Kabul now is the airport.  Over 13,000 are still there waiting – mostly Americans. The Taliban are doing all they can to prevent targeted Afghanis from leaving. Those who have assisted the U.S. over the years must be helped. Questions we have to consider: Should LIRS workers leave? How can we leave? We are asking Congress to support our work here at the moment.

Megan said that LIRS has already resettled over 2,000 Afghanis in the U.S., principally in California, West Virginia and Washington State.  With those being evacuated now we will need assistance with providing basic needs, helping them enroll in basic aid programs for at least 90 days.  50,000 refugees arrived in the U. S. this week.  We need volunteers to support these people – who arrive with nothing.  We need lawyers, money, volunteer workers to provide guidance as the refugees insert into the culture.

Salah Ansury was introduced by the monitor:  Salah Ansury is an Afghan citizen who left  his country in 1980 sad, angry  about what was happening in the country.  He said,” What is happening now is a tragedy and is a manmade calamity. I see the people of Afghanistan facing challenges I thought I would never see again.”  I am reminded again of the brutality of the time the Russians took over my country.  At that time (46 years ago) my family relocated to Pakistan.  Now I find myself receiving daily appeals wanting help . . .all have their documents and they are well prepared, but they can’t get out.  I heard from one man with a family of 8 children.  The family want him to leave, and leave them there because he has more a chance to get out if he goes alone.  There are many stories such as this.  Unfortunately, I can’t do anything.  People can’t get to the airport and can’t get into airport if they make it that far.  The only option the people have, is to escape to Pakistan or Iran.  Turkey won’t accept refugees! I feel that there will a be a massive movement of people – all leaving Afghanistan.  We will again see Smugglers appearing, helping to smuggle people out.  A real tragedy.  I understand that the states of Washington, Oregon Are very welcoming states and refugees are being sent there at present.

After Mr. Ansury’s presentation, the Director of LIRS spoke.  
Regarding the situation of refugees in the world today she said she prayed much.  I said, “Lord do something!” God, she says, does respond.  He says, “Don’t just sit – step up and do something.” She extended an invitation to all interested to be involved. She said LIRS would be sharing a list of its resources to all interested in volunteering to assist with the grave problem we have now with refugees. As of today, she said, 30,000 volunteers have sent in applications to be volunteers to assist with all stages of resettlement: Provide welcoming and hospitality, meeting people at the airport as well as long-term assistance in teaching English, adopting a family, working with groups of families or giving money for the multitudinous needs of the refugee families (modest apartments, food, clothing, etc.) We need to protect those who put their lives on the line for us.  She announced that on August 31^st an on-line prayer service will be available in which all are invited to participate – as prayer is the greatest resource we can do and offer.  Education resources and videos to better understand culture and processes for refugees are available and can be obtained from  LIRS website.
 
The session was closed by the moderator who shared briefly toe LIRS plans for unaccompanied children.  She encouraged all listeners to help in whatever way possible as relationships are essential for the refugees as well as staples, food, giving of airline tickets, etc. 

“STORIES OF TRUTH AND TRANSFORMATION,” “PROJECT UPLIFT,” Women’s Global Connection with the Girls Global Summit Rising

Dr. Allison Buck, UIW Education and former Women’s Global Connection leader, Yesenia Caloca Yafout, Assistant Director of the Ettling Center, Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, active in the founding of WGC and the Ettling Center, Mayra Levy, Program Specialist with the Ettling Center, Dr. Joan Labay Marquez, UIW Education Department and leading the Young Women’s Leadership Project, Mary Labay Marquez, a leader in the SA to the UN gathering, Brother Patrick Tumwine, educational leader in Uganda pursuing a Ph.D. at UIW

Like spring which returns despite flowers being cut down, the spirit of Women's Global Connection with its Girls Global Summit is rising and shining. The physical office called "Women's Global Connection" closed February 2020 after hosting an extremely inspiring Girls Global Summit that month. That was the eighth annual event. (See https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2020/04/go-and-tell-my-brothers-women-called-to.html) Persistent girls such as Tatum Spriester with women friends would not let the energy die. (See https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2020/12/girls-from-girls-global-summit-and.html ) The ninth annual event was an online transition presenting in the forum with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2021.  Read about that and see all the presentations on the UIW YouTube channel. (See https://sites.google.com/view/satoun/home ) An article about this will be coming out in Global Sisters Report soon. 

Energy has been building with a presentation in "STORIES OF TRUTH AND TRANSFORMATION:  Compassion, Civic Engagement, Teaching Social Justice," August 5, 2021, and "PROJECT UPLIFT: My Motivation," August 7, 2021,   

In the presentation, August 5, "Young Women’s Global Leadership Program- Facing and changing gender inequality one girl at a time" shared by Dr. Joan Labay Marquez, Erika Haskins, Linda Gjergji, moderated by Yesenia Coloca Yafout, Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability Assistant Director, people were invited to consider roots and to look into the future. The Young Women’s Global Leadership Program and Summit is a international citizenship leadership training program that provides girls and young women the opportunity to discover how they can influence and create positive change at home and abroad. This leadership program supports the mission and ministry of the University of the Incarnate Word, by teaching our young women about the university’s strong commitment to service, the responsibilities of global citizenship and how entrepreneurship can create social change.

Dr. Joan Labay-Marquez is the Graduate Studies Coordinator for the Dreeben School of Education (DSE) and serves on the NASPA Review Board for the NASPA Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education. She is a lawyer and her teaching focuses on law and social justice in higher education. She is an inaugural fellow of the SA Compassionate Institute 2020, serves as advisor to the Compassionate Student Peer Organization at UIW and is part of a phenomenal team of faculty, administrators, community leaders, graduate students and mentors that are organizing "Young Women's Global Leadership Program San Antonio and Girls Global Leadership Summit. Read of what is developing https://sites.google.com/view/uiwywglps/home.

 

Erika Haskins is a UIW doctoral student and also holds a UIW Bachelor’s in Business and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies. Erika’s research focus includes women’s and girl’s leadership and leadership in early Spanish, Mexican and Texas history. Her most recent academic research, Linda Marie Pace, has been published in The Handbook of Texas Women. As the former Executive Director for the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas, she served as principal investigator on the travel exhibition, Las Damas de Tejas: Notable Women in Texas where she presented to numerous schools and museums around the state of Texas.

She has served as a historical consultant on the History Channel and as a consultant for an official San Antonio Tricentennial project. In 2010, she worked with Sister Dorothy Ettling, Mongu, Zambia, teaching workshops. Erika presented “Youth-Led Advocacy for Gender Equality: A Model for Global Summits” at the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Her current dissertation study, ”Examining High School Girls Experiences in a Mentorship Program: A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study,” examines the positive benefits of participating in young female leadership programs.

Students from Uganda, Kenya, and Kosovo are planning to be in the 2021-2022 Young Women’s Global Leadership Program with the students from Incarnate Word High School and St. Anthony’s Catholic High School.

 

Linda Gjergji is pursuing her PhD in Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of the Incarnate Word. She is currently working as a Program Specialist for PTAC Center, part of the Institute for Economic Development at UTSA, and coordinates the procurement assistance for 37 counties in San Antonio area. She has earned a Master’s in Business (MBA) from the University of Incarnate Word in 2017, and Bachelor’s degree in Banking, Finance and Accounting from University of Prishtina. She is USAID fully funded scholar for the Transformational Leadership Program in Kosovo. Her research interests are related to: Women entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship in developing countries, and Women issues in developing countries. She established a Non-Profit organization for women empowerment in Kosovo in 2017, which has enhanced the participation of woman in community engagement, in small communities in Kosovo. Linda believes that increasing women’s education, leadership and business involvement is the first step towards improving gender gaps in access to economic opportunities in developing countries.

 

See pictures of them and more about this at https://sites.google.com/view/stories-truth-transformation/speakers

 

 

August 7, 2021, “PROJECT UPLIFT: My Motivation," gave an opportunity for about 20 females and one male, Brother Patrick Tumwine, CSC, an educational leader from Uganda now in the Ph.D.  Program in the UIW Dreeben School of Education to gather in the UIW International Conference Center.  Dr. Allison Buck had continued our relationship with a Women's Global Connection friend. We were delighted to see Hildah (Claire) Nyongesa and girls of the Chango Secondary school which is located within Vihiga County, Kenya, near the  Majengo Market.  Lydia, Capadonna,  Millicent, Lynne, Vallary, Sentrine, Linah, Melvin, Knight, and Lavender.  

Also joining us online, through the friendship of Brother Patrick, leaders in Holy Cross Lakeview Senior Secondary School, located in Jinja District, Eastern Uganda. They are generously giving their time to mentor their girls participating in the global leadership program this year. They are Father Prosper Atukwatse-Mukama, CSC, Deputy Principle in charge of administration and Mr. Emmanuel Ijonai, Director of Studies. 

We also had some San Antonio friends and the outstanding guest speakers, Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, San Antonio City Council Woman Shirley Gonzalez, and Michelle McWilliams. UIW graduate student Jennifer Stuart worked on the program planning with Mayra Carbajal Levy and Yesenia Yafout Caloca who spoke and gave models for young women. 

Brother Patrick wrote, “It was a wonderful day to be with you all with such uplifting presentations and engaged discussions. I am honored to be part of this awesome community of friends. God bless you all.” 

  

Mayra Carbajal Levy,  Program Specialist  the UIW Ettling Center explained a little of her rich experience work experience and the multicultural gifts she brings. She has worked with CASA  Child Advocates San Antonio “insuring every child’s voice is heard.  CASA supports children and families involved in the child welfare system. Our volunteers advocate for the best interest of a child and make informed recommendations for the child’s physical and emotional well-being to the judge.” Mayra, as both someone with Mexican-American understanding growing up in Del Rio on the Rio Grande border and someone with interfaith understanding married to an Israeli Jew, is a leader helping people listen and grow.  

 

Yesenia Caloca Yafout and Brother Patrick converse about Africa during a break.

 Yesenia Caloca Yafout, Assistant Director in the UIW Ettling Center holds an M.Ed. in Global Studies: International Education Administration and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She brings understanding from growing up in southern California with family roots in the Nayarit area of Mexico, studying at a UIW sister school in Korea, and interfaith understanding married to a Moroccan Muslim. They visit family in Morocco. Previously she worked with TRIO empowering UIW students. She has served in a Women’s Global Connection trip to Peru and did some needs assessment there.

 

Displaying the bags made in the service project which will be given to Lemonade Circle.

Content unfolded on gratitude, knowing our government, self-reflection in light of our names, and doing a service project of re-cycling a tee-shirt to make a bag for people using public transportation.  The Lemonade Circle led by Brandi Coleman, UIW Education Department, will be given these to share.

Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez emphasized the importance of service to community.  She has devoted her career as an attorney to obtaining fairness and justice for the disenfranchised and the voiceless and continues to be committed to ensuring that women have a seat at the policy making table. She has been awarded by many groups and the PRIDE Center nominated her for the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.        

Former Councilwoman Shirley Gonzalez just completed, the longest amount of time allowed in that position representing District 5, the West and near South sides of San Antonio. On the council, she chaired several committees for Planning and Land Development, Transportation and Mobility, and authored the City’s Equity Budget policy requiring allocations based on need. This is a process for investing in those areas of the inner city which were neglected for decades.

Sister Martha Ann Kirk reminded her of June 20, 2019, the first SA City Council session with the newly elected majority of city councilwomen. Lauren Gonzalez and Selena Casanova, ECCLS student assistants; Casey  Ogechi Iwuagwu, President of the UIW Pre-Law Society; Nicole Foy, WGC Interim Executive Director; Tamarra Mencey, WGC Director of Administration; Erin Jaques, WGC Summer Fellow from Leadership in Educational Equity; and Sister Martha Ann presented each of the female leaders a WGC Alternative Giving Certificate indicating that in her honor and in gratitude for her public service a woman in Tanzania or Kenya would receive a dozen hens to develop a family business.

Shirley Gonzalez remembered that day and her delight with that gift. She went on to speak of her experience on the council when they changed to a women majority. The women understood how it felt to be “spoken over as women.”  Though on the council they might express different points of view, they listened. They worked for the common good paying attention to different voices.

 Michelle McWilliams currently serves as the Assistant Director for Career Development at Trinity University. Using design thinking theory, she advises students who are exploring majors and interests to help them realize their career paths. She served as the president of the San Antonio Colleges and Universities Career Center Association (SACUCCA).  She motivated all at “PROJECT UPLIFT,” to think of themselves, to think of our names, to think of our potential. 

  

Mary and Joan Labay Marquez, Gabriella, Mary, Elizabeth and Ana Vallor.  

Dr. Ana Vallor, Chair of the UIW Biology Department who attended with her three daughters, shared reflection on her name and story. 

Dr. Joan Labay-Marquez who attended with her daughter Mary enthusiastically invited students to register for the Young Women’s Leadership Program. Learn of serving with that and with UN Generation Equality at https://sites.google.com/view/stories-truth-transformation/service-scholarship

 By Sister Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI

July 30: World Day Against Human Trafficking

As every July 30, we join the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (United Nations initiative), because "we affirm the dignity and rights of all people and denounce human trafficking and the economic and social systems that promote it." (CCVI Corporate Stance, 2015). This year, the Global Network of Consecrated Life Against Human Trafficking through the Care Against Trafficking campaign reminds us that we need to promote an economy of care. The UN stresses that "victims’ voices lead the way." We invite you to join us in prayer this July 30 and visit the websites of both global organizations where you will find a variety of prayer, education, action and advocacy resources. 

“Today, we declare that caring is the most powerful force for change, and we unite with survivors to care against trafficking” -Talitha Kum

We are Talitha Kum, a global network of more than three thousand Catholic Sisters and friends, united in our dedication to eradicating human trafficking. Fuelled by the power of our spiritual commitment, we have supported tens of thousands of people to escape the shackles of trafficking and find a path to reconstruct lives of freedom and dignity. And we go one step further on our journey of care: we aim to create long-term, sustainable change to dismantle the systems that enable oppression and exploitation. In order to tackle this global challenge and find systemic solutions, we recognise that we must work with organisations in the private sector, governments, NGOs and civil society. 

On World Day Against Trafficking In Persons, we ask our networks and partners to stand together and amplify our efforts to transform the economy of trafficking into an economy of care that empowers everyone, and especially women, to foster safe and thriving communities. Today, we call on all people of good will to come together and tackle the systemic causes of human trafficking. We call on governments to commit to long-term support for survivors, including quality education, work permits, access to justice and compensation, and medical and psychosocial assistance.

More information and resources here: https://www.talithakum.info/en 

"Victims’ Voices Lead the Way" – United Nations

This year’s theme puts victims of human trafficking at the centre of the campaign and will highlight the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking. The campaign portrays survivors as key actors in the fight against human trafficking and focusses on the crucial role they play in establishing effective measures to prevent this crime, identify and rescue victims and support them on their road to rehabilitation.

Many victims of human trafficking have experienced ignorance or misunderstanding in their attempts to get help. They have had traumatic post-rescue experiences during identification interviews and legal proceedings. Some have faced revictimization and punishment for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers. Others have been subjected to stigmatization or received inadequate support.

Learning from victims’ experiences and turning their suggestions into concrete actions will lead to a more victim-centred and effective approach in combating human trafficking.

For more information, please visit: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/endht/index.html 

30 de julio: Día Mundial contra la Trata de Personas de la ONU

Como cada 30 de julio, nos unimos al Día Mundial de lucha contra la Trata de Personas (iniciativa de las Naciones Unidas), “afirmando la dignidad y los derechos de todas las personas y denunciando la Trata de Personas y los sistemas económicos y sociales que lo propician” (Postura Corporativa CCVI, 2015). 

Este año, la Red Mundial de Vida Religiosa 'Talitha Kum' a través de la campaña “Care Against Trafficking” nos recuerda que necesitamos promover una economía de la cura. Por su parte, la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) destaca que “las voces de las víctimas marcan el camino.” 

"Hoy declaramos que la cura es la fuerza más poderosa para el cambio, y nos unimos a las supervivientes para promover la cura contra la trata de personas" - Talitha Kum

En el Día Mundial contra la Trata de Personas, hacemos un llamamiento a nuestras redes y socios para que tomen partido y amplíen los esfuerzos para transformar la economía de la trata en una economía de la cura que permita a toda persona, y especialmente a las mujeres, fomentar comunidades florecientes y seguras. Hoy hacemos un llamamiento para que todas las personas de buena voluntad se unan para abordar las causas sistémicas de la trata de personas. Pedimos a los gobiernos que se comprometan a apoyar a largo plazo a los supervivientes, garantizando una educación de calidad, permisos de trabajo, acceso a la justicia y reparaciones, y atención médica y psicosocial.

Visita su web aquí: https://www.talithakum.info/es

Evento de Oración-Encuentro en línea - viernes 30 de julio a las 10:00hrs (Hora Lima & Cd. México): https://www.clar.org 

 

"Las voces de las víctimas marcan el camino" - Organización de las Naciones Unidas

El tema de este año sitúa a las víctimas de la trata de personas en el centro de la campaña y pone de relieve la importancia de escuchar y aprender de los supervivientes de la trata de personas. La campaña presenta a las supervivientes como actores clave en la lucha contra la trata de seres humanos. Se centra en el papel crucial que desempeñan en el establecimiento de medidas eficaces para prevenir este delito, identificar y rescatar a las víctimas y apoyarlas en su camino hacia la rehabilitación.

Al pedir ayuda, muchas víctimas de la trata de personas se han encontrado envueltas en malentendido o incomprendidas por la falta de conocimiento del tema. Han sufrido experiencias traumáticas tras los rescates durante las entrevistas de identificación y los procedimientos legales. Otras víctimas se han visto revictimizadas y han sido castigadas por los delitos que fueron obligadas a cometer por sus traficantes. Otras han sido víctimas de la estigmatización o no han recibido el apoyosuficiente.

Se debe aprender de las experiencias de las víctimas y convertir sus sugerencias en medidas concretas que nos conduzcan a un enfoque más centrado en las víctimas y más eficaz en la lucha contra la trata de personas.

Visita su web aquí: https://www.un.org/es/observances/end-human-trafficking-day