To commemorate November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, KOFAVIV gathered their staff and their members at the KOFAVIV Women's Center to discuss the importance of this day for both women and for women’s organizations worldwide. Throughout the day, the participants reflected on issues relating to gender-based violence in their communities in Port-au-Prince, throughout Haiti, and internationally.
Every year leading up to November 25, KOFAVIV chooses a slogan to rally their members and the general public around the objective of raising awareness about the different forms of violence against women and girls as well as the different methods civil society can use to help stop this violence in Haiti. This year's slogan was "Men nan men, san silans ak anpil tolerans, nap kwape vyolans", which translates to "Hand in hand, with a lot of tolerance, we'll break the silence and put an end to violence".
Ana Ceto, the leader of our Guatemalan sister organization MUIXIL, visited MADRE this year and brought with her many beautiful, handcrafted items made by the Indigenous Ixil women she works with in her community. In collaboration with her chicken farming project, this local weaving cooperative allows for additional income-generation and enables women to feed their families and send their children to school. The project also serves as a way to preserve local Indigenous history and cultural identity, using designs that have been handed down over thousands of years and that convey generations of stories, mythologies, spirituality and history. Currently, 45 women between the ages of 15 and 60 participate in the weaving cooperative.
Hubbie Hussein Al-Haji, leader of Womankind Kenya, recently shared with us a message of thanks from one mother living in the refugee camps of Northern Kenya. We'd like to share her message with you today:
"My young son and I arrived in a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing famine in Somalia. We lost everything, but I was grateful to still have my child. I saw many mothers burying their children, lost to starvation, on the long walk here. But even at the camp, there was still not enough food. I didn't eat so that my son could eat, and yet he grew weaker. But Womankind Kenya saved him. They gave us food and medicine. We still struggle, but as long as we are alive, with your help, I and other mothers can hope. And that also sustains us. Thank you."
