Journals - CARE International - Contemporary Issues Through Videoconferencing

Journals - CARE International

CITVC participated in a series of four conferences during early March in celebration of International Women's Day, http://www.internationalwomensday.com. CARE is an international humanitarian organization focused on fighting global poverty. Global Nomads Group hosted this unique multi-part series to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

International Women's Day - March 8, 2011

We spoke with Ms. Giulia McPherson, Advocacy Alliances Manager, CARE USA, who was in Washington, DC for the celebration of International Women's Day. She highlighted for us the importance of addressing female poverty as a precursor to decreasing global poverty in general.

Combating Bonded Labor (Haliya) in Nepal - March 9, 2011

For this session we were transported via a virtual connection to Kathmandu, Nepal and we spoke with once bonded laborers who have now been freed and we spoke with coordinators of CARE International based in Nepal. A Haliya survey was carried out in 12 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Doti district where the Haliya system is mostly prevalent. The survey found 99% of the Haliya families in those VDCs landless, uneducated and have food sufficiency for less than three months.

Addressing Gender-Based Discrimination in Nepal - March 10, 2011

We again talked with CARE International in Kathmandu, Nepal. In particular, CITVC heard the stories of two young people, a woman who was married at age 12 and a man who ran away to avoid marriage at age 18. Child marriage is seen as a form of Gender-based discrimination because when girls are married at a young age, they become powerless and usually remain uneducated.

I Am Powerful Winner: Peninah Nthenya Musyimi - March 11, 2011

Peninah told us about her life growing up in the slums of Kenya. She benefited from CARE programs and to return the favor, she founded Safe Spaces, a girls sport organization in Nairobi for girls living in extreme poverty. CARE awards the "I Am Powerful" honor to "an individual whose work in the developing world has left a profound and sustaining impact on his or her community or the communities of others."

Because of poverty and cultural norms in Kenyan slums, girls are often forced to marry very early and are more vulnerable to HIV. They face sexual violence and physical exploitation, heightened parental resistance to activities outside the home and systematic discrimination in attaining positions of power and leadership.

"During a conference with CARE Nepal, I became aware of the cycle of poverty within bonded labor. All the former slaves agreed that they were better off in captivity. I also spoke with a woman from Kenya, who single-handedly initiated an enormous mentoring program, utilizing mediums such as sports. She provided young women with role models, self-worth and motivation for a better future." -Mariah

"Speaking with Ms. McPherson of CARE about her work trying to mobilize U.S. policies that support the fight against global poverty, particularly poverty among women, made me realize that we as U.S. citizens should try to do more to become global citizens."
- Zohra

We used the following sites for research:
1) CARE's website 2) Bonded labor in Nepal 3) Emancipation of bonded laborers in Nepal 4) Child Marriage Still Common in South-west rural Nepal	5) Nepalese child widows learn to defy oppressive customs 6) In Kenya slums, women risk rape daily to get to a bathroom 7) Journey to Safe Spaces

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