Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By: Alyssa Evans, WAR, Int’l Intern

Facts:

The month of April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Justice defines sexual assault as, “Any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” With the rise in awareness, sexual violence has decreased by 63% since 1993 (RAINN, 2015). By dedicating an entire month to this issue, the aim is to keep that number continually decreasing. The reality is that too many people still suffer from sexual assault.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Furthermore, one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old (Center for Child Abuse and Neglect).

Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) takes global action against sexual assault and violence by restoring those already affected by these crimes and preventing at-risk women from suffering these injustices. WAR, Int’l fights these crimes year-round, but we ask that you join us in spreading awareness of sexual assault this month.

History:

As women in the late 1970s began “Take Back the Night” marches, protesting the violence women faced when walking down the streets at night, the movement caught global attention. By the early 1980s, October was originally designated as assault awareness month, with its main focus being domestic violence. Eventually, activists wanted a separate month to raise awareness for sexual assault of any and every kind.

In July 2000, The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) was opened, and began surveying several different sexual assault coalitions to dedicate another month, as well as a symbol, to the cause. Finally, they decided on a week in April and a teal ribbon to represent the movement. Yet, attention and awareness grew significantly, and in 2001, April was nationally recognized by the U.S. government as Sexual Assault Awareness  Month (SAAPM).

Now:

Since then, the NSVRC has chosen yearly topics for SAAM to shine a spotlight on. Examples of past themes include sexual assault in communities, the workplace, and college campuses, child sexual assault, preventing sexual assault, training bystanders, and building healthy relationships. This year, the focus is on “Engaging New Voices,” because, as the NSVRC states, “We can’t reach everyone. But we can identify key leaders who will; leaders whose influence is necessary in achieving cultural change not just in April, but all year long.”

Their goal is to reach influential community leaders such as members of Greek Life, coaches, parents, and faith leaders to prevent sexual assault by changing our culture and social norms that allow it to exist. The NSVRC writes, “We’re strongest when we raise our voices together, and that’s why we’re engaging new groups in the movement. These groups can help the next generation foster attitudes that promote healthy relationships, equality, and respect. These new voices will have a ripple effect on those that they teach, guide, and influence.”

Get Involved:

If you’re interested in joining the fight against sexual assault, consider attending and advertising for a local SAAM event, sending a letter to your local newspaper editor, or using your voice to change our culture’s current perception of sexual assault.

In addition to these actions, WAR, Int’l has a Speak Up jewelry line that promotes conversation about having a voice, preventing sexual assault and empowering women. But, the best part about purchasing any of the products in our store is that each item directly supports at-risk women around the world!

Join us in preventing sexual assault this month as we seek to restore the lives of the vulnerable globally. Share articles, write letters, or purchase products that truly make a difference.

Keeping Their Heads Above the Water:

How Our Peruvian Partners are Coping (and What You Can Do to Help)

By Ellie McLellan, WAR, Int’l Intern
and Bethany Winkel, WAR, Int’l Staff Writer

The worst storms to hit Peru in nearly twenty years have drenched the nation since December, and with the spring rainy season, flooding has risen to crisis proportions. Though huaicos—heavy rain which brings flooding and mudslides—are a normal occurrence in the Andes Mountain regions, it has been a long time since they have been this catastrophic. So far this spring it is estimated that there have been about six hundred of these flash floods, nearly ten times as many as Peru normally gets in a year (Peruvian Times).

Flooding has caused bridges to collapse and roads to become impassible in many places, hampering relief efforts and affecting coastal highways and city streets alike. The Pan-American Highway North, which connects all of coastal Peru, has sustained significant damage. Repairs to the transportation infrastructure alone are expected to take two to three years and could cost the country as much as $1 billion (Los Angeles Times-). According to various sources, the flooding has destroyed an estimated 29,000 houses and damaged over 145,000 properties, including hundreds of hospitals, thousands of schools, and an estimated 62,500 acres’ worth of crops damage. Another $3.1 billion in lost productivity puts the country in severe economic crisis. Peruvian economists have put reconstruction costs at more than $6 billion.

Of even greater concern, of course, is the personal cost to the people of Peru. By April 1, the estimated death toll from this natural disaster had risen to over one hundred, while nearly 700,000 people have been displaced. In addition to dealing with significant losses—homes, possessions, businesses, and even loved ones—families are also at risk from contaminated drinking water, insect-borne illnesses, and exposure to the elements. And it is not over yet. While there has been a brief respite in the flooding near the end of March, the heavy rains are forecast to continue through April.

Among the many affected by the flooding are the women and families employed by Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l)’s three partnering organizations in Peru. Café Femenino, a community of female coffee growers, points out that this time of year is already a “lean time” for its growers, who count on the upcoming harvest season for their profits. However, those profits will likely be significantly diminished by the damage to crops and roads. A partnering foundation is helping to raise emergency funds and provide food packages to Café Femenino women and families in two hard-hit regions.

Peruvian Designs, which markets toys, ornaments, and decorative items made by at-risk families in the Andes Mountains, reports that many of its artisans have been impacted by water shortages, damage to their homes, and travel restrictions. The basket makers have suffered the greatest losses, as most have seen their entire inventory of product and supplies destroyed. The flooding has also brought swarms of mosquitos in greater numbers than anyone can remember, putting children and the elderly at risk. To help alleviate this risk, Peruvian Designs is working to get mosquito nets to its artisan communities.

Like Peruvian Designs, Blossom Inspirations works directly with local artisans who create ornaments, toys, and decorative items. Many of these artisans are struggling to maintain their livelihood in the wake of the flood damage. Blossom is actively participating in relief efforts by donating fifty percent of all its sales in March and April to help provide essential food, water, and medicines to families and communities affected by the flooding.

How can you help? There are two effective ways you can partner with WAR, Int’l to help the Peruvian organizations we serve bring relief to the people of their country. First, you can support our Peruvian partners by purchasing their products, which are featured this month in the WAR Chest Boutique and on our website. Unique products handmade by Peruvian artisans include stuffed animals made from alpaca Fur; delightful hand-knit finger puppets; whimsical painted ornaments; and beautiful, functional, intricately carved gourd birdhouses. Our Café Femenino Coffee, which is organic as well as fair trade, comes in both whole-bean and ground varieties. Your purchase of these products helps sustain artisans and coffee growers struggling to recover from this catastrophe.

You can also help our Peru relief efforts by donating to WAR, Int’l’s Rescue 911 fund. Created out of a need to have immediate funds available, this fund allows us to come to the aid of our partners in emergency situations, including disaster relief. WAR, Int’l is using a portion of this fund to aid our partners in their flood relief efforts.

As the Peruvian people help each other through this national crisis, WAR, Int’l, is pleased to be able to play a small role in the relief efforts. Thank you for joining us in this “rescue” effort as we team up with our Peruvian partners to bring needed aid to the people of their country.

Trip Report: Learning and Loving in Guatemala

By Bethany Winkel, WAR, Int’l Staff Writer

No one had ever made Maria feel special. Never before had she been offered a gift with no strings attached. Yet here she was, enjoying a sumptuous banquet with the other women from her safehouse, being served and pampered without having to do anything in return. She hardly knew what to do with herself!

At the next table, Anna knew exactly what to do: close her eyes, relax, and soak it all in. She didn’t get much opportunity to do that anymore. Most of her days and nights were spent nurturing others, breathing life into the wounded. In a world where she was always serving and rarely being served, this day of learning and refreshment had truly been a blessing. The conference held earlier that day had been invaluable, full of eye-opening insights and practical knowledge she could take back to the community center where she worked with at-risk families. As if that were not enough, the event was topped off by this lovely banquet, where, for once, she could rest, eat her fill, and enjoy being an honored guest.

Maria and Anna were just two of the many faces at the Women of Hope Banquet, a highlight of Women At Risk, International’s recent Professional Circle Tour to Guatemala. After hosting a productive day of training workshops, WAR, Int’l staff and volunteers were now pulling out all the stops to provide an enjoyable, relaxing evening for both conference attendees and women from their programs. Although the training conference may have been the “main event” of the tour, this opportunity to love, honor, and pour into these precious individuals was no less important or significant.

The welcoming atmosphere of the banquet that night reflected the hearts and commitment behind the Guatemala Circle Tour. For this endeavor, a variation on WAR, Int’l’s biennial Circle Tour in Thailand, several WAR, Int’l staff members and board members were joined by professionals in various fields to conduct workshops and clinics for the benefit of our partners. Yet the trip was as much about ministering to people as it was about conducting seminars and clinics. WAR, Int’l’s passion to nurture and encourage those we serve was borne out in each aspect of the Tour:

  • The training conference,

    attended by 154 staff members from twelve partnering programs in eight Latin American countries. The conference included several workshops, taught by professionals, on such diverse topics as writing business plans, interviewing trauma victims, and recognizing the effects of stress on children born to at-risk and rescued moms. Of the latter workshop, WAR, Int’l President Becky McDonald noted that it was “like watching 154 lightbulbs go on.” Yet just as important as the training was the encouragement our partners received, not only by listening to speakers but also by simply being there and enjoying time spent together with others who are doing the same kinds of work. Valuable relationships were formed as partners bonded over shared passions and experiences, formed networking connections, and began to establish rapport with one another.

 

  • On-site medical clinics

    for two partnering organizations. In addition to supplying needed medications, WAR, Int’l and our partners brought in two doctors, a nurse, a dental hygienist, and a medical translator! Other Tour participants came along to the clinics to help with various tasks, play with kids, and share smiles and stories with those waiting to be seen by the doctors. Some patients brought smiles to our team, like the charming little boy with a Lego stuck in his ear. Others carried unspeakably tragic stories that evoked tears. These clinics were places to address not just physical scars but also emotional wounds, as our team engaged, listened, wept, and prayed. Joining in were local pastors who came to pray and lead worship in the waiting areas, lending a sweet “family” atmosphere to each clinic.

 

  • A visit to a new partnering orphanage,

    where the team enjoyed touring the facilities and getting acquainted with staff. Team members also relished the opportunity to hold babies, oblige eager teenagers by posing for selfies, and best of all, serve up popsicles to excited and eager children of all ages.

 

  • Training in jewelry-making and design,

    helping our partners to increase their sustainability. Like many of our partnering organizations, our Guatemalan partners rely on jewelry-making and sales to both sustain their work and provide vocational training for those in their care. In a hotel room and on a safehouse porch, WAR, Int’l staff and volunteers taught women new jewelry-making techniques and designs to help them improve their skills and grow their businesses. As our American team and Guatemalan partners pored over designs, sorted beads, and created samples, they chatted, laughed, and shared stories. In those moments, much more than beautiful jewelry was being created; bonds between hearts were formed as well.

The Guatemala Circle Tour is a reflection of WAR, Int’l’s heart for the wounded and at-risk. We are not just concerned with projects and programs and products; our primary passion is for the people behind them. Of course, we are engaged in funding and training our partners around the world. But more than that, we seek to mentor, encourage, and support every life we engage. On the surface, the Guatemala trip was about training workshops, medical clinics, and practical help. Underneath, it was about coming alongside our hard-working partners and the men, women, and children they serve, to love on them and encourage their hearts and minds. This is what we do, and this is who we are. This is our calling. We invite all who believe in our mission to join with us in changing lives, uplifting hearts, and creating circles of protection around men, women, and children in Guatemala and across the globe.

Brunch with Becky

 

A candid conversation with mothers & daughters on sexuality and self-image. Join us for a time of learning how to break down social stereotypes in a healthy way, while spending quality time with the special girls in your life. Stay longer shop our WAR Chest Boutique or enjoy a Latte from our Tea Trade Cafe for the ultimate day of mother-daughter bonding.

Registration is Closed

*Intended for ages 12 and older

 

 

#MyFreedomDay

How to turn #MyFreedomDay into #MillionsFreedomDay

 

What does freedom mean to you? Does it mean having the power to think and speak freely? The opportunity to get an education?  The ability to hold a job? Having a roof over your head? Or maybe, having free time to surf the web and read articles about what freedom means to you?

Currently, there are anywhere from 27 to 30 million men, women, and children that do not have freedom. Instead of going to school, working a paid job, or having a safe place to come home to, these people are forced into slave labor. Common examples of modern day slave labor include mining, manufacturing, agricultural labor, fishing, child marriage, and prostitution. And, the worst thing about modern day slavery is that most of us contribute to their oppression without even realizing it.

However, On Tuesday, March 14th the movement #MyFreedomDay is an opportunity to turn that around. CNN and Youth Underground are partnering together to form a student-led global fight for freedom. To spread awareness of modern day slavery, they are asking you to get involved on social media.

Here are some easy ways to become a part of the movement:

  1. Study Up.

    2. Reading this article is a great start! Be sure to check out the links provided on this page to get an in-depth understanding of what we’re up against and what we’ve accomplished.

    Here at WAR Int’l, we focus on ending cycles of poverty and informing people about the reality of human trafficking and slave labor. Through our worldwide safehouses, vocational training, education programs, microenterprises, medical aid, orphanages, and emergency intervention, we help prevent trafficking and slave labor even before it happens.

    We encourage you to sign up for our email updates or follow us on social media. To read stories of freedom and redemption, or to see how we have impacted women around the world, visit our webpage.

  2. Speak Up.

    3. Every time you access social media, you have a voice. Now is a time to use your voice to fight for those who have been silenced. On #MyFreedomDay, post a photo or video with the hashtag #MyFreedomDay on any social media and define what freedom means to you.

    At WAR, Int’l, we want to encourage you to continue to speak up for human rights year round. Sharing articles and facts are efficient ways in keeping your friends and families informed, as well. Spreading awareness is the first step in fighting human trafficking and slave labor.

  3. Sign Up.

    4. If you are interested in taking further steps to combat human trafficking in your community, we encourage you to not only speak up, but sign up. Volunteer at local organizations such as WAR, Int’l or visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline to see a map of organizations across the U.S.

    If you’re local, or can travel to West Michigan for a Saturday, click this link to register for our next Civilian First Responder conference that will be held on March 25th at Thornapple Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here we will discuss the lures used by traffickers, how to respond to crisis situations in a healthy way, what makes a community susceptible to trafficking and more.

  4. Stock Up.

    5. Another great way in fighting slavery is by putting your money where your mouth is. Out of the 30 million slaves, nearly half of them are exploited by economic activity. Most of our favorite products such as chocolate, coffee, electronics, clothing, and diamonds are produced mainly by slave labor.

    By being conscious buyers, not only do we reduce our slavery footprint and support people who are at risk of being trafficked, but we also stop the demand for slave labor altogether. Always look for Fairtrade labels and shop at our store where we believe in “Beyond Fair Trade” to not only ensure that our products are ethically made, but also provide a positive human connection from producer to consumer.

Your typical, everyday actions affect modern day slavery. Each time you walk into a grocery store, shop for a pair of jeans, or log in to your social media accounts, you have the power to make a difference. This Tuesday, make the choice to be a part of the #MyFreedomDay movement, and then continue to make daily choices that help give freedom to millions of slaves. By speaking up about human trafficking, signing up at local organizations that fight slave labor, and stocking up on only ethically made products, we can fight slavery together.