Follow your passion - find your cause
Our colleague and the founder of Bridging Humanity, Tina Cornely is starting to get the recognition she deserves for her efforts in breaking the cycle of poverty through out-of-the-box and holistic solutions. Solutions like her recently published work, 9 Steps To Erradicate Poverty, which will impact the underserved and impoverished segments of the world where Tina focuses her work.
Listen in to this podcast to learn about Tina and her work and her friendship with our own co-founder, Diane Goldin. Because of Diane's leadership in finding new ways to address the most pressing issues facing the communities we work with, it is clear to see how both of these women have, "followed dreams, found their passion and dicovered a cause greater than themselves."
Photo Credit: Tina Cornley (pictured on right)
Uganda: Forgiveness and Change Starts At Home
Working towards the peaceful evolution of their country, two Uganda-based organizations, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and the Interreligious Council of Uganda (IRCU) worked closely to conduct two workshops using the ESPERE Methodology in January and early February 2015 in the District of Gulu. The facilitators for the workshops had the benefit of being trained at the June 2014 workshop in Uganda led and organized by our Global Associate Lissette Mateus Roa. Each successful attendee will carry forward the accomplishments and lessons learned from their participation to benefit their communities at large.
The workshops were developed to cater to the specific needs of the local program participants. The first workshop held Jan. 21–28, 2015 focused on those who were victims or survivors of the May 2004 Lukodi Massacre wherein the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) raided and carried out an attack that led to the deaths of over 60 individuals in the town of Lukodi in Gulu District. The workshop itself was held at Lukodi Primary School and many of the participants were members of the Lukodi Reconciliation Team, a group made up of victims and survivors of the Massacre. Facilitator and participants alike exhibited strong enthusiasm for the program and despite literacy challenges, the group completed all eleven modules.
The second workshop was conducted from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2015 at Laroo Boarding Primary School in Laroo Division; Gulu Municipality. Participants consisted of 15 teachers from five Primary Schools all of which offer educational services to those in need including, formerly abducted persons, child mothers, street children and those with special needs. Program participants from this workshop as well were successful in completing all eleven modules.
The Modules of ESPERE – An Overview and How They Were Used
The ESPERE methodology uses a standard procedure in its approach to the process of forgiveness, refined slightly for each unique participant set. Similar to the June 2014 workshop, eleven modules shaped the program. Listening exercises at the onset of the workshop helped each participant understand the importance of being an active listener and an active participator.
The first module paired individuals together to form a safe space wherein each person spoke about the experience that had hurt or traumatized them. In the second module, participants learned through role playing how aggression affects emotions, thoughts, and behavior and determines the consequences of pain on physical and emotional health. Program participants found themselves identifying with the fictional role they were playing; prompting many to further share stories of instances where rage worked as a blindfold preventing them from seeing clearly. Program participants made a commitment to help others come out of the darkness created by rage.
In the third module, participants were led through a process of choice; participants had the choice of selecting unknown wrapped items, each item symbolizing an alternative leading to forgiveness. Ultimately, each participant actively chose to forgive and made a commitment of hope. After choosing to forgive, the fourth module focused on perspective, emphasizing that no two people will interpret a situation in the same way and many times someone will commit offenses for reasons that they deem as justified. Understanding these reasons helps provide a new perspective of the offender, resulting in a possible step towards common ground.
This led directly into module five which prompted participants to make a list of both positive and negative aspects of their offenders and imagine a meeting with that offender. Module six had participants in a very literal sense of the phrase, wash away the pain. The symbolic gesture, after speaking about their offenses, choosing forgiveness, and attempting to understand their offender brought relief to some and a step in the right direction for many program participants. The next four modules took program participants through the identification of valued principles, caring for and protecting principles, and most importantly, rebuilding and restoring broken principles. Participants were given ideas to repair broken principles, including conversation initiators, apologies, or a symbolic act as reparation - ultimately to reestablish a relationship. Finally, the last module provided practical understanding that although painful memories may never be completely forgotten, reworking them helps participants enter into the state of communion with freedom, solidarity and peace.
Most inspiring, despite their traumatizing past, the human spirit moved the Gulu participants in the workshop with the end goal of connecting with their brethren and looking towards a better future; proving once again that forgiveness and reconciliation rises above hate, and furthers the advancement of humanity.
To view the full report and see more photos from the ESPERE-Uganda Project, see this link. To find out how to take a more active role and support our work building grassroots partnerships like the ones we've established in Africa and Colombia, please visit here.
[slide] [img path="images/10967360_796381027082475_2015717359_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10969438_796378030416108_1287229658_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10967610_796379823749262_1998732302_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10964665_796381547082423_1222004002_o.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img] [img path="images/10965657_796383453748899_711227497_n.jpg"] Gulu Workshops - Photo credit: Denis Okello and our team in Uganda. [/img][/slide]
Update from Mindanao
In a continuation of military action in Mindanao, this latest story outlines the everyday presence of the conflict in the lives of those who reside in this part of the country. Ordinary citizens who wish to be able to go about their work, or attend school or meet up with friends and family in public places, have to be vigilant of the threat of violence. In many ways, the conflict in Mindanao parallels the years of entrenched violence in the Middle-East, the major difference being the level of awareness given to the Philippines by the West (and the rest of the world) pales in comparison to the well publicized Arab-Israeli conflict. This infograph illustrates the human and economic toll taken by the 43 year-long conflict in Mindanao:
Dr. Anayatin, in her frequent updates to us, makes clear the personal toll of the longstanding conflict to herself and her community at large:
[quote]Besides the ever-increasing displaced people as a result of the all-out war, children cannot go to school. Parents can not perform livelihood activities and are endangered just going to or pursuing work. Too many people depend on food and basic services from the government ... some men (fight on the) rebel side while the government (and opposition to the rebel cause) take care of their families in evacuation centers. These are the sad realities of war in Mindanao. The cycle of violence is the longest running armed-conflict in the world, which continues to be the biggest obstacle to our region being able to develop and progress."[/quote]
Just last week, Dr. Anayatin informed us that a fellow peace advocate and student of hers in the graduate peace studies program at MSU, was gunned down at a supermarket. Although the circumstances of this case are sill being investigated, Susana too often relates similar stories of friends or colleagues associated with the peace movement falling victim to the conflict. And yet, she continues to make progress with projects in place and show leadership to her students, volunteers and communities she actively works with. Pictured below are photos of relief operations to displaced people in Maguindanao that Susana took part in over this past weekend. Susana reports that about 7,000 students have been impacted due to a suspension of classes. In this latest flare up of the war, classrooms have become makeshift 'evacuation centers'.
Part of our role in uplifting the voices of those we partner with in community development, is to also shine a light on the issues and obstacles to their work. The relief effort shown in the above photos was hastily organized after the latest offensive lauched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Maguindanao against the Bangamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter group of the MILF (see above infograph for more).
Susana continues to fight for peace and take a strong position against the war. But in recent days she has been saddened by the new violence that has errupted and the impossibility of dialogue or negotiation during military ground and air attacks. As a known peace advocate with credibility in her community, she is able to represent at meetings between police, military and government officials.
We will continue to stand with Dr. Anayatin and her colleagues and her own 'army of volunteers' trying to ensure an eventual end to the violence. We remind followers of our work at the Institute to view the success stories here of what Susana has been able to accomplish – with limited resources. We welcome you to view our issues page on the cooperative project work with Susana to find out how you can become more involved. And no matter where you are or the relative peace that you may be fortunate to find yourself in, we should remember the words that Susana expresses to us in every conversation: "Peace must prevail in the end - it's the only option."
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[img path="images/phil_update.jpg"]All photos courtesy of Goldin Institute: Philippines[/img]
[img path="images/flood0.jpg"]All photos courtesy of Goldin Institute: Philippines[/img]
[img path="images/kids_in_Mag_being_helped.jpg"]All photos courtesy of Goldin Institute: Philippines[/img]
[img path="images/susana_wmilitary.jpg"]All photos courtesy of Goldin Institute: Philippines[/img]
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Advisory Board Member at U.N. Sponsored Event
Gender Equity Summit Held in New York
Earlier this month, our Advisory Board member Akif Irfan was in attendance at a United Nations event exploring the issue of gender equity amongst young people in developing countries.
Akif reports that a diverse group focused on gender equality was in attendance. These included individuals from UN-Habitat, academia and representatives of religious organizations. Because the gathering was an open-discussion format and the group size was small by design, Akif said the event provided an open dialogue for addressing issues of gender-based violence, especially against women by focusing on remedies involving the young male population.
Because of the Institute's project work on gender-based violence, especially in Haiti, Akif found natural parallels between our work and the general findings and themes presented in the UN-Habitat sponsored event. Namely, how do we fully capitalize on the role young men can play in actively preventing violence through training and education?
Also in attendance was our former Online Education coordinator, Michael Di Maria. Michael was part of the planning and coordination of this event in his current role with Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), which also co-sponsored the meetings with the Man Up Campaign based in New York City. LCIF and Man Up Campaign are working on a pilot project focused on reversing commonly held stereotypes of young girls and women, while emphasizing a positive and non-violent paragon for masculinity. For an overview of the Foundation's Lions Quest program, a social and emotional learning program that has seen activity in over 95 countries worldwide, click here.
Victims and perpetrators often blurred when it comes to child soldiers
LRA commander's trial brings debate on what justice should look like
Because so much of our project work has been centered in Uganda and establishing a platform for child soldier reintegration with our partners, we have been monitoring the story of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) commander Dominic Ongwen and his pending trial since turning himself into the ICC earlier this year.
On the surface, it would seem cut and dry as to what the right 'justice' is for someone who killed on behalf of Kony and the LRA. But as this article points out, are there not special considerations to an individual's actions when they themselves were abducted as a child and forced into becoming a soldier? Like many young combatants and especially those swept up in the Kony regime, the proposition becomes, 'kill or be killed'.
There are those closer to the situation than us who argue for reconciliation and believe that this is the only way for regions and countries to move on and truly heal from the deep wounds left by conflict and that the children forced to grow up only knowing the horrible realities of war deserve forgiveness. As the retired Bishop Onono-Onweng says in this piece, the LRA conflict moved beyond Uganda's borders many years ago, and calls for everyone to move on instead of calling for vengeance and tearing open old wounds. He goes on to state:
"Let life flow, my friend," says Onono-Onweng, while he swings his arms in the air. "Look at the Nile – when its water hits a rock, it always flows on in a new direction."
Another individual who has been on the frontlines of this issue - and one of our key partners in our project work, Bishop Ochola, has also argued for careful consideration in the case of Dominic Ongwen. Here from the official statement from the Bishop's organization (ARLPI) is the framework that he wishes adopted as this case moves forward:
We appeal to the government of Uganda as well as to the international community to sincerely consider the situations of our formerly abducted innocent children of Northern Uganda, like, Ongwen Dominic, whose human rights and human dignity have been grossly violated by the LRA for all these years in captivity with LRA. What should be done to them in order to restore their human broken relationships during the war of insurgency. What must be done to them in order to realize the genuine accountability for all that happened during the war of insurgency. Who did what needs to be revealed and made known publicly, as a mechanism for healing and national reconciliation.
The religious leaders of Acholi sub-region have the compassion and the commitment to see that real justice is done to all our unfortunate innocent children, like, Ongwen Dominic, who have become the victims of circumstances, as a result of the war of insurgency in Northern Uganda. We are, therefore, willing and ready to offer ourselves, as spiritual leaders, to stand for Ongwen Dominic in the Hague in the Netherlands, to see that real justice is done to him and many others who are still languishing in pains, sufferings, and poverty, especially in Acholi sub-region.
The full statement can be found here. We will continue to follow this story and bring direct comment from both Bishop Ochola and our newest global associate in Uganda, Denis Okello.
LRA commander Dominic Ongwen (blue shirt) turning himself in to government officials earlier this year.
It Should Not Take An 'International Day'
We Reluctantly Join the UN in Having to Acknowledge Today
Today is recognized by the UN as International Day to End the Use of Child Soldiers. While we appreciate that the issue of child soldiers being used in conflict around the world is receiving a spotlight today to gain more awareness, we're also more than a little torn that it takes an 'International Day' to make people more aware of the plight of child soldiers.
First, some facts on why the UN recognizes today for child soldiers:
The occasion is the anniversary of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) of Feb. 12, 2002. In June 2013, an initiative was launched aimed at completely stopping the recruitment of child soldiers by 2016. But the reality for the estimated 300,000 child soldiers worldwide looks completely different.
Our own issues page is a further resource for getting a fuller understanding that reality. Here briefly excerpted from that page are some important details that we have learned from our own research and involvement in the issue:
While there are many reasons offered for why children join the armed forces, the thread that links all of the reasons concerns issues of survival. Although children who enlist in the armed forces of their own accord are seen as voluntary participants, there are economic and social factors that largely influence their decision.
One reason that is often mentioned for voluntary enlistment is the economic pressures felt by the children's families, as poor families are often unable to support their children and provide them with food and education during times of war. Families in this situation often reason that the best alternative for children is to join the armed forces, where they will be provided with food every day. Street children often join because they see no other positive alternative, as they have no family and live each day in uncertainty.
Others who join the armed forces seek to avenge the deaths of their relatives, by fighting in opposition to armed forces that killed them. Girls occasionally use the armed forces as an escape route from domestic servitude, enforced marriage, and abuse at home. Despite "voluntary enlistment" by children, armed forces often continue to forcibly remove children from their homes to join their ranks in the face of clear resistance from children and their families.
Our project work continues today – and everyday, to find ways to improve the lives of former combatants as they reintegrate into their communities. In 2015, we hope to build on the models that have been put in place by our teams in both Uganda and Colombia. And we hope that some day, the UN doesn't have to devote an International Day to End the Use of Child Soldiers.
Learn more on how you can support our work in Uganda and in Colombia, by clicking here.
Water on our Mind
Water Crisis Declared in Mindanao
Officials of Butuan City in restive Mindanao have declared an unprecedented "state of water crisis" after more than a month of severe water shortage that has affected the lives of the more than 200,000 residents.
As the story reports, this crisis was brought on by the last natural disaster that struck the southern Philippines in December, the tropical storm "Seniang."
Our own Global Associate, Dr. Susana Anayatin continues to bring clean water to residents and school children in the same region, by maintaining the water wells restored by the Goldin Institute in recent years. We will continue to monitor the official announcement from Butuan City with Susana and post up-to-date developments on how she and her community is being impacted by the current crisis. The interactive map demonstrating our work with Susana in the region can be viewed here.
Clean Water Not Just an Issue in the Philippines
In Zambia, this recent story points out their own crisis. Over 5 million people are thought to be without clean drinking water. Directly from the piece, WaterAid country representative Fatoumata Haidara commented on the how this impacts Zambia:
[quote]A lack of sanitation is a public health issue as people are affected by their neighbours and communities' sanitation status as well as their own. The implications of not improving access to clean water and good sanitation will have a spiral effect on all the other sectors such as health and education."[/quote]
In a related story, a public health consultant furthers the case that sanitation efforts would lead to cleaner water on the African continent and cites the serious challenges that need to be addressed:
Africa has the lowest water supply and sanitation coverage of any other region in the world. It is estimated that one in three Africans has no access to improved water or to sanitation facilities and the number of people lacking those basic services is increasing. The majority of those lacking basic services live in informal or suburban areas and rural communities. Unless actions are taken now, the absolute number of people lacking basic services will increase from 200 million in 2000 to 400 million in 2020.
New Standards Being Set - New Breakthroughs Being Made
The Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation or (JMP), recent research published online, recommends a new standard for how "we measure progress toward universal access," said Jamie Bartram, the Don and Jennifer Holzworth Distinguished Professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and director of the Water Institute. "Drinking-water and sanitation are essential for good human health and the benefits are maximized when delivered at home." See more on this story here.
And in this recent editorial by a former U.S. policymaker and physician, Bill Frist speaks to 'clean water as a currency for peace' and why we should legislate towards helping achieve clean and safe water around the world:
[quote]In my own experiences as a physician regularly leading medical mission trips, I am constantly struck that providing medical assistance and public health services to others is interpreted as a currency of peace and ultimately as an aspect of public diplomacy. Our assistance to other nations in these areas seems to accelerate in impact when it provides tangible benefits to everyday people. The Water for the Poor Act has been proven."[/quote]
Finally, we found this story about a Haitian-American janitor at Princeton working singlehandedly to help bring clean water to his home village. Here is an excerpt from the full piece:
As a young boy growing up in La Source, Lajeunesse and his brother Chrismedonne would make the treacherous three-hour climb up and down the side of a mountain to reach a spring. It was the only way they could get clean water for their family. They watched as their fellow villagers got sick from drinking contaminated water from the river below or injured themselves climbing the mountain trying to do the same ... it was after the 2010 Earthquake that he would take action, and Lajeunesse raised $38,000 with students at Princeton to build the pipeline that would bring clean water to La Source. Raising the money was only the beginning. Building the pipeline would prove immensely challenging and take the strength of the entire village to accomplish. Yet eventually, it came to be.
Youth Movement Key to Ending Conflict in Colombia
New Generation of Leaders in Colombia Offers Hope
This story about the emerging leaders in Colombia, reminded us of how the best opportunities for ending the conflict—and healing wounds left behind—lies with young people who have lived through the violence and best understand the solutions.
As the story reports on one group in particular making a difference in their community of Villavicencio called the Youth Roundtable:
The Youth Roundtable engaged in numerous consultations with its members—who include youth from rural and urban areas, members of indigenous communities, displaced young people and other marginalized groups—to identify needs and propose solutions.
This is not unlike the Institute's own peace building work in Colombia through Global Associate Lissette Mateus Roa's work in the ESPERE project. Lissette continues to point the way towards young teachers, former combatants and community leaders providing the best hope for the country moving beyond the half-century long civil conflict and being in place to build on the promised peace treaty.
For more on Lissette's work, please click here.
Pope Francis and the Philippines
Pope Francis Supports the Peace Process in Mindanao
Although scheduling constraints prevented a direct visit to the Southern Philippines, Pope Francis made it clear that he endorses the ongoing peace process between the government and the Philippines' largest organized armed group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
This came as very good news to our Global Associate Dr. Susana Anayatin, who has made it her work as one of the region's premiere peace activists to build and connect communities in Mindanao wishing to end the decades-long conflict.
Despite recognition of the accomplishments and hopes for an ultimate end to the conflict, in recent days there has been an uptick in violence between the National Police (PNP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. This new outbreak in the southern province of Maguindanao, threatens passage of the Bangsamoro law, which many leaders feel would aid in bringing an end to the conflict. More on the current violence and the details of the law at jeopardy can be found here.
As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and provide insight from Dr. Anayatin directly.
Studies Show Microcredit Shortcomings
Six New Studies Point to the Inflated-Promise of Microcredit in Transforming the Lives of the Poor
We just became aware of this report, which compiles comprehensive research critical of the standard microcredit model.
Economist Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a co-founder and co-director of J-PAL, co-author of the India and Morocco studies, and founding editor of the American Economic Journal:
[quote]These loans do help, but the changes are not transformative, certainly not transformative enough to justify charitable donations to the standard microcredit model. We have seen, though, that these are viable profit-making products, and so investors interested in a double-bottom line should take note."[/quote]
- Applied Economics
Duflo suggests researchers and non-profits focus their attention on other approaches for financial inclusion for the poor.
Our own research in Bangladesh, which brought the voices of loan recipients to the table to address the ways in which microcredit often had net negative impact to their communities, mirrors many of the same findings coming to light in the J-PAL and IPA studies.