Archive for the "V-Day" Category
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Dearest Congo supporters,
As 2015 comes to a close, we wish to share these recent updates on the achievements of City of Joy and the V-World Farm this year.
It is a report that comes as a result of people like you who care deeply about our work. It gives hope, activates our energy to serve, and lets us keep going in our vision to Transform Pain to Power. The 88 women who graduated in June are the seeds of the revolution we need to make change happen in the history of the DR Congo. The work is being recognized. Recently both VICE and Time magazine came to visit City of Joy for upcoming stories on rape in conflict zones.
It is with the great help of our big V-family, our V-friends and our donors that all these achievements are carried out at the center of madness where survivors of gender violence turn into brave, stunning women. May all of YOU receive our thanks and heartfelt gratitude!
Happiest holidays wishes to you and yours,
Christine & Eve
Christine Schuler Deschryver
Director of City of Joy and V-Day Congo
Eve Ensler
Playwright & Founder of V-Day & One Billion Rising
CITY OF JOY
Despite the many challenges facing Congo ongoing conflict, increased violence against women, weather and infrastructure challenges – City of Joy is thriving. To date seven classes, totaling 579 women, have graduated from the program. The City of Joy continues to serve as a center for leadership development where women are transforming their painful pasts into fuel for personal and emotional success, learning real, practical life skills to map out their goals and hopes. At the same time, the City of Joy stands as a powerful symbol for the Congolese people. As one community leader told our staff, the City of Joy is unique because it is focused not on the urgent and immediate needs of survivors (addressing medical needs, etc.), but because it focuses on the long-term leadership capacities of women and the role they will play in the future of Congolese society. City of Joy staff continues to be in close contact with classes that have left, and they too are doing well, integrating into their communities.
SEVENTH GRADUATION!
On June 4, City of Joy graduated 88 women and girls of the seventh session in an extraordinary ceremony. Among the participants we had the Governor of South-Kivu province, local authorities, parents of graduates, members of partner associations/organizations, and many other guests.
The graduation day was a day in which every woman celebrated herself. It was a day to tell how City of Joy is an engine of transformation in which they lived for six months to turn into brave, beautiful, and strong women leaders. The change physical, emotional, intellectual, etc. was something the audience noticed in the face and in the life of every woman. Many parents and associations who referred women to us were unable to identify these women because of their healing and change. Read the full report here.
JANE MUKUNINWA INTERVIEWED BY A.R.T. AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
This Fall, Jane Mukuninwa was interviewed by A.R.T. (Artist Repertory Theater) at Harvard University for their newsletter in anticipation of Eve Ensler’s upcoming one woman play, In The Body of the World, the world premiere of her critically acclaimed memoir of the same name. Jane’s meeting with Eve Ensler in 2007 helped lead to the creation of City of Joy. Jane graduated with the first class and now works as a staff member. Read the interview here.
TURNING PAIN TO POWER TO PLANTING
City of Joy’s sister project, the V-World Farm, is a bustling sustainable farm 30 minutes from the City of Joy. It serves as teaching opportunity for women participants who learn about farming – and helps to feed the City of Joy. The project has grown leaps and bounds since it was first conceived. Crops abound – honey bee hives, avocados, oranges, pineapples, guavas, maize, string beans, cabbage, celery, carrots amaranth, beans, sweet potatoes, ground nuts, eggplants and tomatoes. The tilapia ponds are brimming with fish, which will help to feed the women at City of Joy and will soon be sold. Thirty tons of rice was harvested and selling the harvest of rice from the year before paid for the new rice machine.
Twenty thousand new trees have been planted along the border of the property and more will be planted in the upcoming months. Construction of houses for women who will live and work at V-World is underway. Upon completion, we will be able to house 40 women. These women will begin to form the basis for the collective that we hope will one day run and own V-World Farm. View more photos here.
ROADS!
Many of you have visited Bukavu and traveled on the roads, especially the main thoroughfare out to City of Joy and Panzi Hospital Essence Road. Here is a photo of Essence Road recently in the rain juxtaposed with an image of our newest roads at V-World Farm! The completion of these new roads and bridges at V-World Farm took place over the past few months. Infrastructure is critical to the farm as it makes it more accessible to jeeps and cars which bring in supplies and ship out produce and farm products. To see more images, visit the photo blog.
CONGO RISING, GREEN REVOLUTION
The rising which launched in November 2015 coincided with The Official 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign with the theme “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All!” It is a campaign that focuses specifically on the relationship between militarism and the right to education in situations of violent conflict, in relative peace, and variety of education settings, while continuing to make the links with militarism, as an encompassing patriarchal system of discrimination and inequality based on our relationships to power. It will be launched in the V-World Farm, a farm that proves that a new world is possible.
The rising in DRC in 2016 will bring “THE GREEN REVOLUTION” into focus. Since we started rising and standing in solidarity with women across the world who experience violence in general and those from DRC who have experienced great losses including loss of lives, rape, kidnapping, incest, etc., we need the humanity and the Congo to bring national and international focus to another aspect that needs revolution and for which we are determined to invite people to rise and create a new kind of consciousness through resistance and action.
The campaign of One Billion Rising Revolution: Listen! Act! Rise! 2016 will get inspiration from the paradox of life in the Congo that needs to be revolutionized.
From East to West and from South to North, DR Congo is a paradox, in that it is rich in natural resources yet is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its population has to put up with violence, disease, hunger and the mass displacement of people caused by more or less two decades of wars and cross-border conflicts. With impunity, political impotence, conflicts over natural resources which have continually flared, East Congo has remained a hotbed of all forms of violence.
In 2016, we will tell the DRC and the planet that it is high time for Congolese to bring change and improve their lands, benefit from their forests by keeping bees to produce honey, plowing their lands to become agricultural entrepreneurs, breeding animals for economic empowerment, planting trees to nourish and protect Mother Nature. We will raise the consciousness of rich persons who after buying large lands from poor persons lay them fallow for years and leave the poor to starve and die from hunger. It will be an opportunity for GREEN REVOLUTION!
In solidarity!
http://www.onebillionrising.org/34602/rise4revolution-one-billion-rising-revolution-2016-launches-drc-congo-v-day-dr-congo/
Support our work in the Congo. DONATE today.
*December 31st is the last day to make charitable donations in order to claim them on your 2015 US tax return. V-Day is a top rated charity on Guidestar and Charity Navigator.
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“John Lennon was a visionary artist who made music revolution. His songs, his voice, his life, his love taught me that art can break down walls, open minds, explode hearts and instigate revolt,” Ensler said. “He is a source inspiration in my life and I am humbled, truly humbled and honored, to receive such an award in his name.” – Eve Ensler discusses receiving the second annual “John Lennon Free Love Award” with AXS Contributor Steve Marinucci. Read the full article HERE
Congratulations Eve! On 4 December, 2015 the grassroots nonprofit Theatre Within honored Eve with the “John Lennon Free Love Award” as part of The 35th Annual John Lennon Tribute-75th Birthday Celebration at Symphony Space in New York City.
Performances included Joan Osborne, Martin Sexton, Bettye LaVette, Joseph Arthur, Willie Nile, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell, Nicole Atkins, Jonatha Brooke, Chris Smither, Toshi Reagon and Rich Pagano.
(Photo Credit: Paula Allen)
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#SayHerName Activist Frances Garrett Joins Bodies of Revolution: Women Rising Against the Violence of Police, States & Empire Panel
JUST ANNOUNCED: Frances Garrett, #SayHerName activist, joins Bodies of Revolution: Women Rising Against the Violence of Police, States & Empire panelists on Saturday, 5 Dec at Columbia Law School, NYC.
On 14 August, Fran’s daughter Michelle Cusseaux was killed at close range by a Phoenix police officer who had been called to escort her to a mental health facility. Since then, Fran has been involved in calls for police reform, notably marching her daughter’s casket through downtown Phoenix weeks after the shooting, calling for an outside agency to investigate the wrongful death. Her efforts have been met with reforms on the part of the city of Phoenix, including the creation of the police department’s mental health advisory board and a seven-member police unit dedicated to crisis intervention. Ms. Garrett is currently working with the AAPF to develop the #SayHerName campaign, a multi-dimensional project focused on resisting police brutality against Black women.
One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution Launches Continue
One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution 2016 launches & events are happening around the world. Activists are RISING for climate change in London, for access to safe education for all in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for marginalized groups in Swaziland, against displacement, forced migration & state violence in the Philippines and the US. In India women and men are RISING, dancing and singing to end all forms of violence against women.
Be sure to follow the movement online to get the latest updates at the OBR News & Blog page and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
One Billion Rising Revolution Begins in DR Congo >
OBR at School of Open Learning in Partnership with Delhi Police >
One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution India Report >
Rise for Revolution & IDEVAW Events by GABRIELA USA>
Photo Blog: OBR Swaziland Launch >
Photo Blog: Rising for Climate Justice in London >
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One Billion Rising: Rise For Revolution Launches During 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence
OBR Davao City launch, the Philippines
One Billion Rising: Rise For Revolution 2016 season has now started in earnest and is in full swing, starting today (25 November) with launches on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – which kicks-off 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. Organised by many of the incredible global coordinators, OBR events and activities are happening in many countries and cities including Bangladesh, Congo, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Swaziland, the Philippines, UK, US, Zimbabwe, and more – including risings on 29 November as part of the Global Climate Marches taking place around the world in advance of the Paris Climate talks.
“To all those who are launching, sending you revolutionary spirit and love and energy. Please send photos, short blogs and video clips – because as you know, as soon as the world sees your regions and countries and communities already beginning to dance and rise and create and harness all that incredible radical and artistic revolutionary energy – they will begin to RISE too!” – Monique Wilson, OBR Global Director
READ the full blog >
LEARN about OBR 2016 campaign >
SHARE your rising events >
President of Gambia Bans FGM Nationwide; Local One Billion Rising Activists RISE & Rejoice
“The President of the Gambia last night make a public statement banning FGM in the Gambia with immediate effect. This is great development in the campaign which coincides with the 5th Dropping of the Knife celebration in Jareng in the Central River South of the Gambia. A mega event supported by UNFPA, V-Day and One Billion Rising. It is a real rising, a revolution that cannot be stopped. Let’s keep rising until the other steps are taken to legislate and ensure proper implementation.” – GAMCOTRAP Activists
Dr. Isatou Touray, One Billion Rising Coordinator & Executive Director and Co-Founder of GAMCOTRAP has been engaged in advocacy and social mobilisation to end FGM and GBV in the Gambia for years, working with policy makers, cultural leaders and ex-cutters to end the violent practice.
READ more about the longtime work of grassroots activists in the following blogs:
Three Niaminas, Lower and Upper Fuladu Districts Celebrate the 5th Dropping the Knife in the Gambia by GAMCOTRAP >
Respect the Gate of Life By Dr. Isatou Touray >
Rising for Justice Report from the Gambia >
Actors Across Mexico are RISING
In Mexico, actors from national productions including “Annie”, “The Lion King”, “Mamma Mia” and many more are joining the movement and sharing statements on why they are RISING to end violence against women and girls in Mexico and worldwide.
READ the full blog >
Photo Blog: V-World Farm in DRC Builds New Roads
City of Joy and V-World Farm Director Christine Schuler-Deschryver shared photos of the new roads and bridges built at V-World Farm. This infrastructure is critical to the farm as it makes it more accessible to jeeps and cars which bring in supplies and ship out produce and farm products. The farm continues to flourish and grow.
TAKE a look at the photos >
Tickets Still Available! Saturday, 5 Dec in NYC – BODIES OF REVOLUTION: Women Rise Against the Violence of Police, States & Empire.
Tickets still available for the panel discussion with global activists at Columbia Law School on Saturday, 5 Dec. Come explore why and how women experience violence at the intersection
of multiple oppressive forces and systems and how they are RISING against
imperialism, racism, sexism and neo-colonialism. Tickets $10, student & sponsored tickets free.
GET your tickets >
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Fartuun Adan, longtime V-Day activist and OBR Somalia coordinator received the prestigious 2015 Gleitsman International Activist Award, together with her daughter Ilwad Elman. Both are founders of Elman Peace and Human Rights Center. The award is given by the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership (Gleitsman Program in Leadership for Social Change). Eve Ensler attended the awards ceremony as a special guest and gave a speech about Fartuun and her inspiring work.
READ the full blog including Eve’s speech >
See Fartuun in New York at Bodies of Revolution: Women Rise Against The Violence Of Police, States & Empire, a panel discussion and gathering of activists from Somalia, China, Palestine, India, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan, Philippines and the United States discussing resisting the violence of police, states and empire.
GET tickets to Bodies of Revolution >
LISTEN to PRI The World Interview with Fartuun and Ilwad >
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One Billion Rising Director Monique Wilson, Gabriela and activists from mass people’s movements throughout Manila rose against APEC 2015 on the streets of Manila this week. See Monique in NYC on Dec 5 at Bodies of Revolution: Women Rise Against The Violence Of Police, States & Empire.
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In
the lead up to One Bilion Rising: Rise For Revolution in February, don’t miss this event, the next stage in our “State of …” series.
One Billion Rising, the African American Policy Forum, and the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies (CISPS) at Columbia Law School are bringing together a formidable group of activists for a public discussion on resisting the violence of police and government.
>Speakers Include: Fartuun Adan (Somalia), Suad Amiry (Palestine) Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw (USA), Eve Ensler (USA), Frances Garrett (USA), Nimmi Gowrinathan (Sri Lanka), Yanar Mohammed (Iraq), Lu Pin (China), Zoya (Afghanistan) TBA – Colombia and US/India
The discussion will look to the women’s movements and activists working to change the reality of violence against women across the globe, including: Say Her Name and Black Lives Matter in the U.S., the Chinese Feminist Five, the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, the Gabriela Women’s Movement and political party in the Philippines, Elman Peace and Human Rights institute in Somalia, RIWAQ: Centre for Architecture Conservation in Palestine, women activists in Afghanistan, the “Politics of Sexual violence in Sri Lanka,” Dalit Women Fight in India, and One Billion Rising globally.
GET Tickets >
VISIT the website for details >
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Longtime V-Day activists Fareba shared this update about the recent award given to the educational center:
We received this award and letter of appreciation from the Ministry of Education. Below is the translation of the award, which is written in Farsi.
For the Office of the Educational Course of Promoting Women’s Capability by Education
The general administration for the regulation of Kabul’s private schools’ affairs would like to appreciate your commendable efforts and hard work in educating the children of this nation. We believe this is a valuable step in the development of quality education and we are honoring you with this appreciation letter and wish you greater success.
Signed by the Chief of the private schools
Learn More about the education center in Kabul, Afghanistan >
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Cuba Is Rising! Eve Performs The Vagina Monologues For Cuban Debut Of The Play; Cuban Activists Will RISE In 2016!
Las Artes Escenicas invited playwright Eve Ensler to perform The Vagina Monologues at El Café Teatro Bertolt Brecht in Havana, for its Cuban debut! Eve took the stage for a very special three-show performance, 28-29 October, during the 16th International Theater Festival of Havana. During her visit, Eve met with Cuban women leaders and grassroots activist groups including Mariela Castro Espín, the Director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX), Lizette Vila Espina of Proyecto Palomas, and Rochy Ameneiro, a well known Cuban singer and director of Todas Contracorriente, together with members of the network of artists of UNETE.
Coming out of these meetings, the coalition is pleased to announce that Cuba is joining One Billion Rising: Rise For Revolution in 2016. Activists and artists alike will RISE against violence against women and imperialism on 8 March. Eve will return to Cuba in March for the Rising in support of the Cuban campaign.
WATCH Eve speak about her time in Cuba >
READ blog about event including additional photos and local news coverage >
Rising At The 2015 Asian Conference Of Women’s Shelters
One Billion Rising Global Coordinator Monique Wilson shared a blog about the 2015 Asian Conference of Women’s Shelters event hosted by Taiwanese activists from Garden of Hope. 40 activists from Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, East Timor and the Philippines gathered to conduct a workshop on shelter work and empowering women, with a particular focus on marginalized women. The one-day conference was a pre-event for the upcoming 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters which will also feature Monique as a speaker.
READ the blog >
#Rise4Revolution Updates From Gambia And South Asia
Activists around the world are sharing One Billion Rising: Rise
For Revolution actions, events and revolutionary artistic expressions. Recently, Global
Coordinator Isatou Touray from wrote about efforts to make Gambia FGM free by
2020 and activists from South Asia released a new short film recapping the past
three years of the movement celebrating this years theme “South Asians RISING
against violence and for love!”
READ Respect The
Gate To Life blog >
WATCH One Billion Rising in South Asia short film
>
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Gabriela USA & One Billion Rising Presents We Rise In NYC: A Call For Action, A Call For Justice With Monique Wilson
JOIN GABRIELA
USA in partnership with ONE BILLION RISING REVOLUTION for “We Rise in NYC: A Call for Action, A Call for Justice.” A forum on grassroots organizing against various forms of violence against women, featuring special guest Monique Wilson, One Billion Rising Global Director.
Monday, 19 October 2015
6:30-8:30pm
San Damiano Hall at St. Francis
129 West 31st Street
NYC
VISIT the Facebook event page >
Eve Interviews Yanar Mohammed of the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq
Eve recently spoke with Iraqi feminist and founder of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) Yanar Mohammed about the impacts of the US military invasion and occupation of Iraq, the recent people’s uprisings in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, and the horrific violence, fear and trauma that Iraqi women face daily that she is working tirelessly to mitigate and prevent. The interview will also be featured on The Huffington Post on Monday.
The situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate, under the looming threat of a violent takeover by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) and a corrupt government that perpetuates sectarian divides and neglects the population’s basic requests for services and security. Thousands of women are experiencing horrific violence daily with little to no option of escape or justice. In spite of multiple threats to her safety and life, activist Yanar Mohammed, an Iraqi feminist and founder of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), continues to fight for the women and girls of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. In 2004, Yanar opened Iraq’s first women’s shelter in Baghdad, and has since opened shelters in four cities across the country providing shelter for women fleeing “honour killings”, trafficking, and systemic violence resulting from the war…
READ the interview >
New Blogs In From Bangladesh, Santa Fe, Afghanistan and Gambia
As One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution continues to launch across the world activists and organizers are sharing news stories, reports and blogs about the campaign. New content
featured includes pieces from the Khushi Kabir in Bangladesh, Jessica Montoya in Santa Fe, and
Zoya in Afghanistan, and Dr Isatou Touray in Gambia.
READ News & Blog >
