Voice Newsletter

September 2005 Edition

FOCUS  

This month's focus will be on Gender Issues. Recently, IYP facilitated an online Gender Skills Share, through which Action Partners were able to share ideas and experiences.  As well as being an important learning and sharing experience for those Action Partners involved, the Skills Share demonstrated that Gender Issues are, in different forms and in different ways, relevant to every individual of every cultural background. Some of the ideas explored by Action Partners in the Skills Share appear in our September Feature. Also this month we have an exciting Story of the Month from Sri Lanka, where the first sitting of the Sri Lankan Youth Parliament was held in August. 

 Next month, IYP Voice will focus on sustainability of action partners and their work.  Why would you want to make an action plan sustainable?  If you decide that the action plan is still needed, what can you do to make it sustainable?  Please email any of your ideas and experiences to iypvoice@oxfam.org.au .

 

See October's Voice to read more about the great work of OIYP Action Partners in this area!

 

We hope you enjoy this issue.

 

The OIYP Voice Team

Editor: Catherine Loy

 

ACTION PARTNER NEWS

Read about the work of our Action Partners around the world.

 Duncan Moeketse,
OIYP 2004 Action Partner, South Africa

 

Greetings from South Africa

I just thought I should take this time to share my joy with all of you.

Today I just received a call to let me know that I am one of the finalists for the South African National Young Community Shaper of the Year Award. I am representing Free State, and I have nominated for Project Youth to Youth supported by OIYP Small Grants. I will attend the Gala at the end of the month where the winners will be announced.  At the moment I am busy preparing for the TV shoot that will
be screened on a local television show Take 5. I am very excited and I hope you will join me in celebrating this acknowledgement.

 

 Abby Falik

OIYP 2004 Action Partner (USA) and ISC Member

 

I'm writing to share an update on my work developing the Global Citizen Corps (GCC)–agrowingnetwork of young people across the U.S. who are mobilizing their peers in the fight to make poverty history.   While the GCC was still a seed when we all met in Sydney last year, I'm excited to report that this summer we have launched the program nationally with the first annual GCC Summit – and it was a resounding success! 

For one week in July, fifty-five passionate social entrepreneurs from as many schools and 25 states across the U.S. came together in New York City to participate in the GCC Summit.  Through an intensive week-long program combining expert speakers (one of whom was our own Joya Banerjee!), skill-building workshops, and experiential learning through role-play, case studies, and simulations, our new class of GCC leaders developed action plans for engaging their schools and communities in a series of campaigns relating to themes of poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, the MDGs and access to education.

 This fall we will recruit and train an additional 150 student leaders to join this initial cohort as GCC 'Field Correspondents', participating in the GCC through an innovative Online Action Center that combines eLearning about global poverty and development, with community dialogue and engagement.  

 I want to extend a special thanks to two of our fellow-action partners from the U.S. whose help with the GCC Summit was invaluable: Joya Banerjee got rave reviews from the students for her keynote to kick off the AIDS-themed day, and the incomparable Betty Bastidas was our star photographer!  To see some of Betty's photos, and to learn a bit more about the week visit www.globalcitizencorps.org.

 With sincere thanks to you all who, through your spirit, stamina and commitment to a more just world keep me going every day,

 

STORY OF THE MONTH

Our Story of the Month comes from Sri Lanka, where Nicole Woodfield, Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, attended the first sitting of the Sri Lankan Youth Parliament, an initiative of the Sri Lankan OIYP 2004 Action Partners. Nicole will work with the staff of the Sri Lankan Youth Parliament for the next year and here she writes of her experiences at the inaugural sitting of the Parliament.  

 

The first sitting of the Sri Lankan Youth Parliament is over and now that the emotion is starting to settle down, I have some time for reflection on my experiences.

 

First of all, I was so impressed by the organising committee. They had a wonderful relationship with each other which became essential when deadlines came in and obstacles came their way. They were all really respectful of all the delegates and especially took seriously the large issues of translation and the safety of delegates, particularly the ladies.  Did I mention that only 10 delegates did not attend and there was a gender ratio of 80:140, 80 being female. I think this was a huge success in itself as I can only just begin to imagine the difficulty BCIS would have had backing the SLYP, taking responsibility for 80 young (most only 20-year-old) Sri Lankan women, just weeks after the assassination of the foreign minister.

 

I also believe that even if the organising committee members thought they would be out of SLYP after the event, they no longer have a choice. Their commitment is lifelong. The program co-ordinator, Guru made a speech at the closing ceremony which brought everyone present to tears. Their dreams had come true. Not only had these young leaders planned the event, they made every effort to instil that same sense of commitment amongst the delegates. Any previous concerns about the ability the organising team would have to transform these delegates from youth with large aspirations, hopes and dreams to future leaders was completely overturned.  No time was wasted by the delegates or facilitators. Some even asked if they could spend their social time working on their plans! Despite times where their was no electricity or water in the building, heated debates erupting in action areas and joint sittings or the frustration felt by both facilitators and delegates as to what sort of journey SLYP was taking them on, the end result lived up to every expectation that the delegates and organising committee could have dreamed of.

 

The delegates themselves, I feel, had an incredible week. On the first day there was certainly a lot of angst and confusion about the program and its approach to 'creating a cohesive Sri Lanka'.  Again many of the delegates had not read the AP guide and thought that it would be just like a Parliament sitting. Initially were a little put off by the programme but believe me, by the end of the event, through the work of some fantastic facilitators and the speeches and guidance of the organising committee, most, if not all the delegates believed in the vision of SLYP and felt empowered to begin their journeys back to their communities, carry their messages and implement their action plans.

 

I had the pleasure of sharing a room with 6 other Sri Lankan girls. It was wonderful to observe them and many others that I had met throughout the week as they began to network, collaborate and jump over obstacles to create an Action Plan which they truly believed they could implement. So many of them came with only ideas as opposed to concrete Action Plans, so the task of the facilitator was incredibly difficult, unlike the International Youth Parliament, where many delegates were already working in such fields or had spent a lot of time developing their Action Plans. Most of the delegates really needed guidance to get their projects to a realistic stage without impinging on their sense of hope. The IYP project development framework is unlike anything SLYP delegates have seen before. They are not use to engaging in discussions, voicing their opinions to their elders and being told to make their own decisions. The act of allowing these young delegates to voice their opinions without being crucified was empowering and I believe that there was a strong feeling of relief and hope for their futures.

 

Many of the delegate's projects are about raising awareness, as many of them want to share the skills and ideas that they have learnt here with others. Some examples I could give you include a peace-building project in Jaffna where a facilitation centre was set up where seminars and cultural trips are organised for young people. In the Peace-building group there was a Sinhala nationalist distributing flyers and propaganda from day one and voicing his opinion that the Sinhalese people should be recognised foremost due to their long history and cultural heritage. Despite the controversy, the group remained harmonious and agreed to disagree, but in their final presentation made firm arguments about these sorts of attitudes and presented some real solutions. I know that many of them have formed strong friendships and have already discussed visiting each other for further talks.

  

The challenge, of course, is not allowing the momentum and enthusiasm created by the delegates themselves to die down. Guru's final speech was one of the most moving, captivating and inspiring speeches I have ever witnessed. When we first met he spoke about the need to transform the delegates into leaders and he certainly did more than that. As such the vision of SLYP is now shared amongst all of the delegates. Guru told them about his own journey to make this event happen. He demonstrated how one delegate had a vision and how together three of them approach the BCIS. "Three young people" he said "proposing to bring together 225 young people from all different backgrounds, languages and regions. A totally new concept to Sri Lanka , very risky and with no financial backing."  He really demonstrated how action plans and ideas for "creating a cohesive Sri Lanka" could be implemented but that it would not be easy.

 

There is so much that needs to be done but I think that the network has definitely expanded - even some of the delegates want to be volunteers and the volunteers that were there have already given us a strong sense of commitment. The Sri Lankan Youth Parliament was more than just a success, it has created a new generation of young Sri Lankans who feel empowered to move on and become leaders in their communities.

 

Every single moment here I have learnt so much about this country, the young people and the challenges I will face in my year ahead. The team at the Oxfam International Youth Parliament have already witnessed a Youth Parliament take place. I am sure you remember how fast your blood was pumping during and after the event, how high you felt whilst witnessing a moment of change in the history of a nation (or internationally), how relieved and hopeful you were that 225 delegates had experienced life changing moments and attitude changes and how excited you were about the impact the delegates would have on their communities. At the same time you must have also felt the anxiety the delegates would also be feeling as they contemplate the obstacles ahead and finally the overwhelming feeling of your own commitment and how it will ever live up to the expectations of the delegates.

 

 

   SEPTEMBER FEATURE     

 Our September Feature is by Shoma Prasad, OIYP 2004 Action Partner , Fiji, and Duncan Moeketse, OIYP 2004 Action Partner , South Africa. Recently, both Shoma and Duncan participated in the online Gender Skills Share facilitated by IYP. Their article demonstrates that Gender issues pervade cultural, economic and generational barriers and that action must be taken all over the world to bring these issues into the open in order for change to be achieved.      

 

In August IYP organised an online forum on gender. The forum was facilitated by Anna Powell, Training and Development Co-ordinator at IYP, and heard personal experiences, case studies and real life stories from delegates all around the globe, including South Africa , Pakistan, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Kenya.

 

So what is gender?

Gender is what becomes of you as a result of your upbringing or your socialization. It is socially constructed and can be changed.

 

What is Sex?

Sex is the biological difference between a man and a woman. It is something we are born with.

 

Gender inequality is basically focused on our culture, traditions and attitudes, which then get translated into the formal working environment. Increased gender equality has shown to have a direct impact on the economic growth of nations because it provides equal access for men and women to education, resources and services as well as access to information and technology.

 

The forum heard several experiences of gender inequality and the implications of it.

 

Alala from Kenya talked about her experiences with indigenous girls of the Ogiek community in the rift Valley of Kenya and the national approach to the gender matrix in Kenya. “There is increased talk about a new dimension to the Affirmative Action approach and the leading lights of the movements are legislators who we believe can go ahead and vote for the new gender bill as proposed in the Kenya constitution."

 

"The bad story is that the female population at the centre of it all are yet to adequately comprehend and legitimise the document and what bit stands for", she added.

 

One question which made everyone think was: can redefining masculinity and overcoming stereotypes become a step towards change?

 

Duncan Moeketse contributed the following ideas on gender equality and the redefinition of masculinity in South Africa, where these issues have recently been thrust into the limelight by the appointment of a female Vice-President.

 

Gender equity and stereotypes are still a challenge in South Africa, and it also exacerbates some of the challenges in our society like domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, social injustice and human rights abuse. This has instigated local NGOs to engage themselves in campaigns to foster a constructive male involvement in reproductive health, addressing issues related to attitudes and behaviour. These campaigns aim to encourage men to express their beliefs and also to make them realize how these beliefs contribute in exacerbating gender inequality in our communities by making them understand the holistic links between masculinity, gender inequity, power dynamics, domestic violence and so forth.

 

This process of making men partners in addressing gender issues proved that men can play a significant role in promoting gender equity and being active in advocating for women's rights. As in many other countries, in South Africa it is culturally correct for women to be submissive to their men/husbands, to take care of the household responsibilities and to bear children, whereas men are considered to be providers, decision-makers and heads of the families. These are the stereotypes that we are trying to dispel and to make men realize that women can and are doing work that men can do e.g. women can work in mines like men, women are in construction etc. Women should be given top positions or high posts in the parliament. Recently the South African president, Mr. Thabo Mbeki appointed the first women deputy-president. This move didn't go down well with most people. The argument was and still is that South Africa is not yet ready for a female President. When we look deep into this matter we find that people still do not believe in the idea that women can do a better job than men, but they are just good at bearing babies and cleaning dishes, laundry, ironing etc.

 

The buzz word circulating in these campaigns is REDEFINING MASCULITY – challenging men's attitudes and behaviours and seeking alternatives in building a society of equity. We must rise to the challenge of finding a way to empower women to be equals and changing the situation whereby women constitute only 20% of professionals, and more than 50% of women are illiterate. Women have the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infections in this country and the entire country consists of only eight (8) female CEOs - which is a joke for a country with a female Deputy President. At the moment white South African males are threatened by the advancement of blacks and particularly women. Men feel that the women's new status promoted by affirmative action, the commission on Gender Equality and Black Economic Empowerment is a mere campaign aimed at disempowering males.

 

 In my conclusion, I would like to quote Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture 2005.  He said, "it is about time that we as men say, look at the mess that we have done. Now it is time to rectify our mistakes..." As we say in South Africa, "wa thint'abafazi wa thint'imbokodo" (You strike a women, you strike a rock).

 

It was evident from the discussions that "Language and culture are one of the biggest barriers in achieving equity, however if tapped into, it can be used to achieve equity." This contribution came from Shoma, Fiji.

 

There are more commonalties then differences among the issues raised, as Bessie from PNG highlights one of the challenges in her society.

 

"One of the major challenges I face in my work is the fact that there are women who accept gender based discrimination as normal and go against equality. In other words, they say it's customary and supported by the Bible."

 

Eid Shama spoke of a similar situation in which men's and women's roles were redefined according to the society's understanding.

 

"I used to press my clothes myself, as I am not married. Whenever my friends come to know about it they joke me, saying that I do female's work", he said.

 

The forum ended with an agreement that there is a need to take the discussion further, to all the delegates of IYP and to act on the issues highlighted in the forum.

 

 

 ACTION PARTNER BOOKSHELF

For this month's online resources, see the Action Partner Bookshelfof the OIYP Skills Share site, www.iyp.oxfam.org/skills

 The sites listed include:

 International Women's Development Agency  - An informative international site with an Asia-Pacific focus and links to other online gender resources.

Pathway to Gender Equality - CEDAW, Beijing and the MDGs

Gender & Development - The World Bank Group's MDGs-focused gender website, with news and event listings.  

  

 

LETTERS TO THE VOICE

Letters to O IYP Voice Newsletter.

Dear Voice,

 

URGENT SOLIDARITY!!!
The community Shiwa Yacu finds itself defending its ancestral lands against ambitious, very wealthy outside interests from the United States of America and from Ecuador - Michael Porter (United States) and Gerardo Moscoso (Ecuador), the latter a dealer of Indigenous lands who buys property titles then sells them at much higher prices.

The land of Shiwa Yacu has been coveted by mining companies since gold deposits were found there. But these lands belong to a community that defends them, that fights to conserve its ancestral lands- this has made it impossible for these companies to enter the territory. This has led them to another way to go about it: the forceful evacuation of community members. Shiwa Yacu considers all "legal figures" to be illegal, since the community has occupied this land since long before the colonists arrive and told them they did now own an official title to the lands granted by the state. We will never give up our lands; they were the lands of our fathers and their fathers before them. Now they are ours, and in the future, they will be our children's. Therefore, we state: "we will defend our lands like ferocious tigers, and if necessary, we will offer our lives for our children and our grandchildren, and for our ancestral lands".

Starting tomorrow, the 24th of August, we will close all access to the community, and will be at maximum alert, ready for any act of aggression that may come from Mr. Moscoso or authorities that we may find in favor of the side with more money. Therefore, we are calling out for solidarity from everyone in Ecuador, and countries in Europe , Latin America, and North America , human rights organizations, political movements, National Congress, national and international means of communication, and all organizations in support of our defense of the ancestral lands of Shiwa Yacu. The community would prefer suicide than to lose its only land, its only home, to laws that favor only people of high status and not indigenous peoples, for not having economic resources that can pay for lawyers or ambitious interests of state institutions.

The directors of CORKA, too, are taking part in these measures taken for the community of Shiwa Yacu- mobilizing the community to support the resistance process, the defense, and the dignity for the indigenous peoples.

From CORCKA's central office in Tena, we will be informing you all of everything that occurs in the next few days and however much time this process may take. We wait and hope for your letters of solidarity;

To pressure the "Defensoria del Pueblo":
Write to fax # (00593) 62 886 815 in Tena, Ecuador
"Defensoria del Pueblos" at national level:
(00593) 23 3033 93
National Congress Commission for Indigenous Issues
(Congreso Nacional Comisión de Asuntos Indígenas)
(00593) 22 953 792   / 22 584182
Commission of Human Rights
(Comisión de de Derechos Humanos)
(00593) 22 903777
 
Sincerely,
COORDINADORA DE COMUNIDADES KICHWAS DE LA AMAZONIA CORCKA

 

Bertha Cerdy, OIYP2004 Action Partner, Ecuador

 

 

ENDNOTE

A closing thought to inspire you this month.

"The world of humanity has two wings - one is woman and the other man. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly." (Babaii saying)