Walk the Talk

The Voices of Women are Being Heard...Is Yours?

The 21st century has heralded in a new sound. Not the sound of trumpets, not the sound of war, but the sound of millions of feminine voices sharing a different resonance - the voices of peace and justice. What a different tone; what a different pitch. Pitch refers to a certain vibration of the vocal sound. Your pitch is high, low or somewhere in-between. What vibration are you sharing? Well, if you are reading the Voices of Women newsletter and joining our efforts, you are indeed one of the millions of women choosing to vibrate on a different level - a level that must be heard and refuses to be silenced.

That is what the gift of communication presents to us all - the ability to create the life we want to live - become the change we want to see. This gift is the gift of co-creation using as its basic building block the WORD. First comes the thought, then the thought becomes a word, and then the word becomes a thing. And so, we have the elemental formula that explains the manner in which we create the world around us. For most of human history, the voices that have come through the loudest have been the voices of men fighting for power, territory and ideology. These voices have often been intolerant of the discordant voices that do not reflect their world view. And the beat goes on and on and on. But now, we are witnessing a new resurgence in the feminine voice, the voice of true leadership, caring, peace and tolerance. We can build whatever dream, whatever world we desire but it ALL first begins with the germination of the seed of thought, the nourishing of the word and then blossoming of fruit. Only your voice can determine the type of fruit being produced in your world.

The Universe is an equal opportunity employer, giving us all the same vocation - to create our lives. What life are we creating for ourselves, those around us, those to come? Let the Voices of Women ring louder and louder and louder until WE over-power the discordant voices of hate, war and intolerance. We have the power. We were born with it. Wake up to the gift of the WORD and use it to transform your world and be the change you want to see!

P.S. Perkins, author The Art and Science of Communication
Board of Directors, Voices of Women

Voices of Women will feature a non-profit in our quarterly newsletter that we believe deserves attention and support. VOW hopes that you will find this feature helpful and insightful in your decision of causes to support.

Voices of Women, has selected Women for Women International as our non-profit featured for this quarters newsletter. We believe the work they are accomplishing aligns with VOW's goals of promoting peace, justice and sustainable lives, especially for women and children in impoverished or war torn regions.

Women for Women International

by Stacey Blanchet, Voices of Women Board Member

Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. They currently work in eight countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan. They have served over 150,000 women and distributed more than $42 million in direct aid and loans.

Voices of Women, is inviting you to take the journey with Women for Women International and make a direct impact on someone's life. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you have made a difference.

We interviewed Patricia Pina, Grassroots Marketing officer of Women for Women International, and put forth several questions to learn more about what Women for Women International believes is critical in empowering women.

1. What are the key areas for Women for Women International where you feel you make the most impact?

Women for Women International work with women survivors of war to develop their skills and awareness politically, socially and economically. We provide rights awareness and leadership development, job skills training, business development support and direct aid to ensure that the women we work with receive the tools and resources they need to move from victim to survivor to active citizen and play an active role in rebuilding their countries. We believe that stronger women equal stronger nations.

2. What are the priorities being set for Women for Women International in the next two years?

Women for Women International is always seeking to further deepen and strengthen the kinds of support and services we provide. We recently launched our Commercial Integrated Farming Initiative (CIFI), a program that will provides women with training in how to use sustainable farming practices to grow crops that can both be sold for profit in the local market and feed their families. This program is currently piloting in Rwanda.

Another vital aspect of Women for Women International's operational model is the leadership of local staff, as we believe that their views, perspectives and voices represent what is essential in their countries. We plan to continue to invest in the leadership of all of our local staff.

3. What are the threats that you see facing today's women who want to become key players in their country's development?

In all of the countries in which we work, the violence and insecurity of warfare is real and democracy is fragile, but women are the glue that holds society together-making sure that there is food to eat and children are safe. When women thrive in areas like education and employment, society as a whole benefits. In order for women to be active citizens in their communities, they must be able to gain access to their income, education and rights.

Despite the challenges, Women for Women International is dedicated to helping the women we serve not just to survive but to thrive, advancing a social movement that will stimulate the action and leadership necessary to create and sustain just and peaceful societies.

4. Where do you see Women for Women International in 10 years in relevance to what is going on in the world

Women for Women International will be working to create economic, social and political power for a critical mass of women in each country in which we work, so that they can negotiate lasting and permanent change in their society to meet their needs. To achieve and multiply this impact, we will mobilize women in stable societies to amplify the voices of the women we serve.

The following paragraphs are taken directly from the Women for Women International website...

Women for Women International could not provide direct financial and emotional support to women living on the margins of hope without the backing of a global community of dedicated staff, volunteers, generous donors, supporters and friends

Our supporters contribute resources, time and energy to help to make the future brighter for thousands of women survivors of war. With your ongoing support, Women for Women International will continue to address women's immediate and long-term needs, work to improve their status and opportunities and see what can be done to create a more just and peaceful world.

From Victim to Survivor...to Active Citizen

Women for Women International mobilizes women to change their lives by bringing a holistic approach to addressing the unique needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments.

We begin by working with women who may have lost everything in conflict and often have nowhere else to turn. Participation in our one-year program launches women on a journey from victim to survivor to active citizen. We identify services to support graduates of the program as they continue to strive for greater social, economic and political participation in their communities.

As each woman engages in a multi-phase process of recovery and rehabilitation, she opens a window of opportunity presented by the end of conflict to help improve the rights, freedoms and status of women in her country. As women who go through our program assume leadership positions in their villages, actively participate in the reconstruction of their communities, build civil society, start businesses, train other women and serve as role models, they become active citizens who can help to establish lasting peace and stability.

Women begin in our Sponsorship Program where direct financial aid from a sponsor helps them deal with the immediate effects of war and conflict such as lack of food, water, medicine and other necessities. Exchanging letters with sponsors provides women with an emotional lifeline and a chance to tell their stories -maybe for the first time. As their situations begin to stabilize, women in our program begin building a foundation for their lives as survivors.

While continuing to receive sponsorship support, women embark on the next leg of the journey and participate in the Renewing Women's Life Skills (ReneWLS) Program that provides them with rights awareness, leadership education and vocational and technical skills training. Women build upon existing skills and learn new ones in order to regain their strength, stability and stature on the path to becoming active citizens.

Women for Women International believes that establishing a means to earn a sustainable living is critical to being fully active in the life of a family, community and country. To help women transform their new skills into financial independence and sustainability, we offer job skills trainings to strengthen women's existing skills and to introduce new skills in traditional and non-traditional fields so women can access future employment opportunities.

Building on the skills training program, we offer comprehensive business services designed to help women start and manage their own micro-enterprises. We give them access to capital and operate micro-credit programs in Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina with an overall repayment rate of 98 percent. We give women access to markets by facilitating product sales through outside retailers and our online Virtual Bazaar. We provide expertise such as product design, production assistance and business development workshops. We also help women form micro-enterprises such as production facilities and cooperative stores to sell the goods women produce.

Meet Our Board

Carol Clarke makes a baby beanie.

"A Life of Service"
Carol Clarke, Secretary – Voices of Women

by P.S. Perkins, Voices of Women Board Member

1, 2, 3...60...600 and counting! What are we counting - age? No, we all should be so blessed! Carol Clarke is a young at heart, fun-loving and vibrant giver with a very interesting philanthropic hobby - baby beanies! Yes, that's correct. She and a band of like-minded cohorts are busy knitting baby beanies for impoverished babies around the world. What started out as curiosity and a heart of concern has blossomed into a micro-industry of care and support for babies needing warmth to survive their post-natal months.

Carol shared with me that after watching a Charlie Rose show on Save the Children she was inspired to action. She learned that babies in impoverished areas tend to be most critically affected by three health issues: loss of body heat, malaria, and diarrhea. Save the Children organized a project that sent 300,000 baby beanies, malaria nets and diarrhea kits to Bangladesh. She contacted the program and found out it had concluded but there was someone still connected with the project - Annie Clark of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Annie related that she was still making and taking the beanies abroad in her work as a midwife educator, and she would be happy to accept any beanies Carol would like to contribute. Several of Carol's close associates came onboard and together a team of eight has now contributed over 600 and counting! Carol shares, "The needs of women and children are my passion and yes, it's the little things that make a BIG difference."

In addition to the beanie project, Carol has served with VOW since its inception with longtime friend Jenni Prisk. She is currently serving as the Board Treasurer and Secretary. Jenni fondly shares, "In the 25 years that I have had the pleasure of knowing Carol, she continually exemplifies a commitment to her community, her city, and our global family. Whether it is through counseling troubled youth, helping low income mothers nurture their new babies, or mentoring and coaching countless individuals, Carol gives selflessly of herself, her time and her talents. She is a true peacemaker." Carol is very dedicated to the global mission of VOW.

An educator, retired from the Cajon Valley Union School District, Carol's life has truly been a life of service. She is a Board member of the Cajon Valley Education Foundation established to support the arts and technology, as well as the district library. She is co-chairperson of the celebrated "Feed the Pig" campaign that raises upwards of 35K each year for the library. Carol also worked with the San Diego Birthing Project supporting pregnant teens through the entire process of pregnancy to the child's first birthday. "It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," One of the fun experiences Carol shared was her 20 years as a Gaslamp Quarter Volunteer and Tour Guide. "I had a great time as a Tour Guide and met thousands of wonderful people from San Diego and around the globe introducing them to our historic preservation district!"

Carol has one son, Victor, who lives in Nevada and has a successful real estate business. He adores his mother and believes her to be a true angel of light. And certainly, she is - an angel of love and good works to inspire us all. "I know, because she has me making beanies and I can't even knit! She gave me a loom and all I need to do is go around and around". Thank God for innovation, thank God for the Carols in the world!

Book Corner

Recommendations by Board President, Jenni Prisk

This past month, I have read two compelling books about courageous women in our global community. While Heaven and Earth Changed Places by Le Ly Hayslip is not a new book, the message is all too relevant to the conflicts in the world today.

Le Ly, the youngest of six children raised in the village of Ky La, suffered the terror and horror of the Vietnam War. She survived, after rape, torture and tragic losses of family and friends, to eventually move to San Diego to begin a new life. She raised three sons, married an American soldier (who is now deceased) and devotes her life to peace, justice and education about her people. Today, Le Ly travels the globe speaking on behalf of those who do not have voices, or who have lost their homes and security through bureaucratic systems. Le Ly meets with presidents and leaders around the world, promoting the Global Village Foundation and the East Meets West Foundation, both of which she founded.

On June 17, 2008, at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD, Le Ly Hayslip was a speaker at a Voices of Women event entitled Women's Rights are Human Rights.

The second book is Angels on Her Shoulders: An Iraqi Woman's Tale of Survival, by Mona Al-Qesi with Betty Rosen.

There will be many books that will come out of the current Iraq war, however, this autobiography depicts the life of a young girl growing up in Baghdad during the Iran/Iraq war that raged during the 1980s. She married young, raised children (she was separated from one daughter for several years) and moved her way across Iraq to eventual safety in Germany where she still lives. He story is told in a keen, narrative style that allows the reader to meet the people Mona interacts with (although names have been changed), to smell the stench of war, and to better understand what women go through when conflict pervades their country. Yet, through the book a very human, realistic voice persists that gives hope that it will be the woman, and not war, that in the end wins.

It is through your continued support that VOW is able to present high caliber programs. We are very proud that we continue to present educational events which have covered global issues. We truly couldn't do it without you! If you haven't yet renewed your VOW supportership for 2008, now is the time to do so.