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Sep 2010An appeal from our partner in Pakistan LESS - The Flood affected communities are struggling for their survival. Their habitats have been destroyed, they have lost their livelihood. In such circumstances in the patriarchal societies adolescent girls do not get proper MOREattention to fulfill their specific needs, they are ignored by the Humanitarian support programs and even local philanthropists as their needs are not taken as an important issue. Diarrhea and other water related diseases are very common, the water has become contaminated, access to safe sanitation lacks. The young women and adolescent girls have little access to nutritious food. Our program is focusing on these specific issues of young women and will supplement the ongoing support programs by UN agencies and other Support Programs in the area.
AWARE GIRS is membership Organization and it has membership from the flood affected areas. AWARE GIRLS is young women led organization working for the rights and development of young women of the Province.
In relief efforts the specific needs of Adolescents Girls are ignored such that the use of unhygienic cloth for sanitary purpose during period may cause of spread of further diseases among the affected population. The young women have a little access to the relief and support provided by the Relief organizations because of patriarchal culture. It is imperative to ensure that young women's needs are properly addressed by the disaster management programs.
We have developed a KIT fulfilling these specific needs of young women. One KIT Costs 30 USD. We need resources to approach 5,000 Young women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and fulfil their needs. Each kit contains:
Toiletries: toilet rolls, soaps, shampoo, Towels, Sanitary Pads
Providing Contraceptives, blankets and clothes,
Nutritional supplements (multi vitamins, iron etc)
Clean drinking water
Food Items (Biscuits)
If you want to help us to reach more young women please make a donation through the Peace Direct website. Please select Aware Girls as the project you wish to support.
Thank you.
Gulalai Ismail
Chairperson
AWARE GIRLS (www.awaregirls.webs.com)
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Aug 201090,000 Displaced in DR Congo LESS - We have just received an update from Henri regarding the situation in Beni. There has been fierce fighting between the Ugandan rebel group ADF Nalu and the Congolese army since June 30th. MOREThe government army aimed to root out all ‘negative elements’ in the east of the country, but reports indicate members of ADF nalu had been living peacefully amongst villagers since 2004. The UN estimates that 90,000 villagers have been forced to flee their homes. Oxfam say that the Congolese army is so poorly disciplined that is is likely that rape and other attrocities are being used as weapons of war.
Henri reports that the ADF Nalu attacked the government army last week in Eringeti – around 55 miles from Beni town. Villagers were again forced to flee, and have now congregated in Oicha town, 30 miles from Beni. The numbers of people coming into Oicha are growing daily, and figures are estimated as high as 14,300 families.
Henri’s organisation CRC has been working with the displaced families in Oicha. It is vital at this point that those who have been forced to flee their homes do not join an opposing rebel group, and that violent retribution is avoided at all costs. CRC is working with both the host community and those seeking shelter to try and restore hope and encourage cohesion between the groups. Following negotiations with CRC the Food Agriculture Organisation has committed it’s support to assist the displaced families.
It is now that the work Henri has been doing over the past ten years, to encourage neighbouring communities to leave peacefully together and to provide shelter to those who need it, will be most crucial. The situation is extremly volatile, yet Henri and the task forces of former militia members and local leaders that he has set up across eastern Congo will help to negotiate safe passage for those who need it, and to encourage calm within Oicha.
Please support Henri today, and help to restore hope in this volatile region.
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Aug 2010Tell us what's on your mind LESS - Do you have 5 minutes to spare to help us to reach more people and support local people on the frontlines of conflict?
Take our short survey and let us know MOREwhat's on your mind.
As our supporters you’re opinion is invaluable to us. We want to know just what Peace Direct means to you, so that not only can we can be sure that we’re giving you the information you want, but we can also make sure we talk to new supporters in just the right way.
We’ve put together 12 short questions, to find out more about you and how you feel about us. It’ll only take you 5 minutes, but it will give us a fantastic view of how you see us.
Take the survey
Thank you so much
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Aug 2010Hope in the New Generation LESS - The last weeks have been extremely difficult in Kashmir. An indefinite curfew has been imposed across Srinigar since early July and unrest and violence has cast a black cloud over society.
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"Things are extremely bad here. Kashmir has been burning for the last two months. All regions are deeply polarized. The conflict is getting more complex" - Ashima
Last week massive street protests ended tragically when seven people were killed by police and 250 were injured. The riots came only two days before flash floods struck the valley, killing at least 85 people and injuring another 340. The flooding has ruined roads and telephone masts, causing mass panic and confusion.
Ashima has told us that young people are not listening to calls for calm, and instead are going from house to house and forcing people to join the demonstration. As the youth provoke the paramilitary, the death toll rises and the cycle of violence continues to escalate but Ashima's work with women and young people is determined to break this cycle and help people to be catalysts for change.
"The future is very difficult, but hope lies in women and youth - if change is possible it will come through them." Ashima
The curfew makes it difficult for Ashima to move freely but this hasn't stopped her from concentrating on her youth project, 'Yakjah.' Meaning 'to be together' in Kashmiri, the group believes that hope is in the new generation, and they urge young minds to reflect on ways of creating a culture of peace, non-violence and co-existence.
"One thing is sure - the youth is ready for change"- Ashima.
Ashima remains hopeful and next week she is taking a group of 12 young people who believe in multi-culturalism and co-existence to meet with religious leaders and the media - to find a way to make their message heard over the calls for violence.
In this difficult period Ashima has been fosusing on youth groups in rural areas, regions where militant groups threaten to turn strong relious beliefs into violent action. There is no one mapping these youth wings, or offering a sounding board to their beliefs or aspirations. She believes that Yakjah could offer a way for these groups to be heard without violence.
In Ashima's hands your gift is supporting young people who believe they can live together in peace at this particularly difficult time and I cannot thank you enough for your continued support.
"Patience and perseverance is the only way forward. These steps are small, but they are steps all the same." - Ashima.
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Aug 2010Aware Girls respond to flooding in Pakistan LESS - Devastating floods have hit an estimated 14 million people across Pakistan . Peace Direct’s new partner, Aware Girls, works in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the region hardest hit by the floods MORE– where an estimated 12 million people have been affected. Flooding has submerged whole villages in the past week, killing at least 1,600 people. And the worst floods to hit the region in 80 years could get worse, as it is only midway through monsoon season.
Thankfully we have heard from Gulalai, the chair of Aware Girls, that her and her family are safe. In the last few days the staff and volunteers at Aware Girls have been helping distribute food to people whose homes have been devasted by the floods.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province ) is one of the most radical states in Pakistan . The flood brings further instability to an extremely volatile region where militant groups manipulate strong religious beliefs into violent action; suicide bombings, torching schools and killing civilians.
Aware utilizes one of the most vital, yet neglected resources in the country – young women. They work directly with youth – particularly females – to help them develop leadership skills to be agents of change in their communities. Right now these young women are responding to the worst devastation they have seen, and helping people who need it the most.
We will keep you up to date with the situation on the ground as we hear more from them.
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Aug 2010Soccer for Peace LESS - “Soccer for Peace in Kiliba astonished the population because the organisation made enemy teams become allied teams by the second round. By the time the finals came, the teams were composed of MOREpeople who were adversaries at the start.” Flory Kazingufu
In a dusky afternoon, both captains stood either side of Flory Kazangufu, impatiently awaiting his sign to kick off. After a month that has seen sixteen teams of boys from different tribes across eastern Congo come together to play for the glory of being the first ever champions of ‘Soccer for Peace.’
Moments earlier, the two captains had had team talks with their new teammates. They had never played together, as just before kick off they had decided to swap players, so they could play with boys from other tribes.
From the sidelines, local supporters, police and religious leaders from diverse tribes drowned out Flory’s starting whistle as they cheered and shouted for their new teams.
After a tense and exciting final, the ‘Soccer for Peace’ trophy was proudly and graciously accepted by the captain of Amani football club. In the spirit of the tournament, he shared the winning prize with the other finalists.
“To promote peace, we mixed up players from different communities and tribes. It was a real joy to see former enemies celebrate the cup and share the awarded prices”
The ‘Soccer for Peace’ tournament was the first of its kind in Kiliba. It was a huge success that saw mass participation from players, supporters and officials across ethic and tribal devides. Tribe leaders came down to watch the awards ceremony, and Flory described the “joy and celebration from the village following the end of the tournament.”
The month-long event has been so much more than just a football tournament – it has brought people together in Kiliba. Father Peter, a catholic priest who joined in the prize giving ceremony, said that “tears of hatred have been replaced by tears of joy on the faces of the villagers of Kiliba.”
“It was our aim to see this day end in celebration. Foundation Chirezi, the baraza of Kiliba and all the clubs of volunteers of Kiliba are proud of scoring a goal of light in the darkness of hatred which characterised the village of Kiliba in the past.” Flory.
This football tournament has helped to bring the communities of Kiliba to come together and renew their friendship. Flory hopes that it will be the first of many, and on his behalf we would like to thank all the support that you have given to make this special event possible.
“This experience has given me more strength to engage in peace building, I feel I have the energy to continue to work for local communities again and again.” Flory.
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