|
VG Flash September 2006 |
|
Bring a Girl to the Commission on Status of Women |
|
The Mary Purcell Grants for Girls, sponsored by the Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, has received indications from 13 NGOs who wish to "sponsor" a girl for the 2007 Commission on the Status of Women meeting. The theme of the conference is "The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence to the girl child". There is the possibility that girl applications will be received from: Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Peru, Ukraine, Haiti, Ghana, Togo, Uganda, Antigua and Germany. $1,000 travel grants will be awarded to a number of girls based upon the amount of money raised by November 1. If you would like to make a contribution in recognition of Mary Purcell, who served as VGIF treasurer a number of years ago, please make your check out to: NGO Committee on UNICEF. In the memo section of the check, please write: Purcell Fund. Mail your check to: Dagmar McGill, Chair, Mary Purcell Grants for Girls Task Force, 515 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. |
| Dagmar McGill VGIF Representative Working Group on Girls, NGO Committee on UNICEF |
|
On-Site Visit to Goma, the Congo |
|
On September 2-3, 2006 Shirley Randell, Rwanda and Gerda Leushuis, The Netherlands traveled to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to visit Project Grant 2055. They received a warm welcome from the project leaders and stayed overnight in the center's guest house. Shirley and Gerda observed that activities were consistent with the project description - literacy, tailoring, animal husbandry, joinery and arts. The dormitories and classrooms are being used even though construction is not yet complete. About 60 children live permanently in the facility. They raise chickens, pigeons and rabbits to help feed the children and are currently planting gardens. Shirley and Gerda were greatly impressed with the work in Goma and are sure the VGIF has been used well. Project Director Dr. Kabutu has provided a complete statement of the accounts and receipts for expenditures. We are all extremely grateful to Shirley Randell and Gerda Leushuis for making the trip to the Bethsaida Street Children Activities Project in the Congo, and for their report. |
| Evelyn Cumming VGIF On-Site Committee Convener |
|
Support Solicited for Additional Grant Requests |
|
Each year VGIF receives many more grant requests than we can support. For the past few years we have identified a worthy project for which we seek additional support from our contributing members. This year we have selected two projects. The Glory Women's Fellowship Fund (GWF) of Ghana proposes a year-long human rights and sensitization campaign to raise awareness about the basic facts of women's human rights. The Project for Helping Children and Young Women - Landmine Victims initiated by the Croatian Association of University Women proposes to: * Create a database of children and young women victims of landmines * Attract attention of local communities, authorities, and potential donors to the challenges in collecting funds to support victims * Establish a foundation for permanent help for landmine victims * Organize schooling or professional training for these war victims If you would like to know more about either of these projects, contact maggieford@adelphia.net. If you would like to support one or both projects, your gift of $50 or $100 will go a long way toward making their dreams a reality. |
| Maggie Ford VGIF Development Committee Convener |
|
Department of Public Information Conference Summary |
|
The 59th Annual Department of Public Information/NGO Conference took place on September 6th through 8th at the United Nations with some 1,200 plus delegates in attendance representing civil society and governments from all continents, but mainly from North America. The Conference theme, "Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development," featured speakers and discussions that emphasized "on the ground" partnerships and success stories while always recognizing there was more to be done in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Interestingly, efforts to empower young people were clearly visible at this conference; many youthful faces were active participants on panels. Among the issues of "unfinished business" woven into five plenary sessions, six roundtables and 30 workshops were: accountability and transparency in equitable trade policies; financial and ecological sustainability; science and technology for education; healthcare; human security; and peacebuilding. The final session highlighted the rapid growth of the media and communications technology in reaching the MDGs. Micaella Walsh, Co-Chair of the conference, concluded the opening plenary session with the perceptive observation that "women often know better what they need than experts even if they are academics or UN experts." This theme resonated througout the conference and is certainly central to the mission of VGIF. VGIF was represented by Leslie Wright, who took a leading role as Co-Chair of the Mid-Day Workshop Committee, Camille Macdonald-Polski, Virginia Maynard, Dagmar McGill and Astrid Paniagua, our under-30 representative. |
| Camille Macdonald-Polski Member VGIF UN Representatives Committee |
|
Unsubscribe from the VG Flash On Line .. if you continue to receive issues after unsubscribing, please contact vgif@vgif.org |
The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund