MEETING WITH WFWP JAPAN PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES NEW GOALS FOR WFWP SCHOOLS IN AFRICA
Fannie and Moriko
All women, especially mothers, want the best for our children. With the continued vision of WFWP founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, WFWP USA Schools of Africa Project is dedicated to developing curriculums in our eight schools designed for the advancement of girls and boys facing disparities in health, housing, education, and empowerment.
That said, Women’s Federation for World Peace International pulled all the stops to celebrate this year’s annual CSW (Commission of the Status of Women), in a special way. The CSW61 took on an even more important meaning for WFWPI because first we celebrated our 25th Anniversary of existence; and second, we celebrated having the General Consultative Status as an NGO at the UN for 20 years, which is a great achievement for any organization.
I had the pleasure once again to join the thousands who gathered in New York City for most of March to attend hundreds of events pertinent to all humankind at CSW. Because of the horrific snowstorm that beset areas from the Midwest to the East Coast, unfortunately, a couple days of CSW events were cancelled. Notwithstanding the blizzard and instructions to stay indoors, our President Angelika Selle invited the few of us in the building to the WFWP Office for coffee and collaboration. I expressed my desire to have a meeting with WFWP Japan President, Mrs. Moriko Hori to discuss issues that stemmed from our last Assembly.
Even with her extremely busy schedule, the opportunity presented itself when I called her room and requested a few minutes of her time. It pleased me to know she had received my message for a meeting and was eager to chat. It was my hope and desire to meet especially this year, so I was anxious to speak with President Hori one-on-one regarding the WFWP US role, and working together to shorten the distance between our members in both distance and communication. As fate would have it, the best opportunity to meet was just prior to the WFWP International 25th Anniversary Celebration dinner that evening.
Students showing their accomplishments
While speaking with her, I relayed some of the wishes and concerns from the ladies who lead the march and vision that produce very successful fundraisers for the Schools of Africa. Our chapters request donations and genuinely love to see how students advance and how money is allocated for construction, supplies, and technical equipment and other things. I expressed our vision for the 2020 goals and the challenges we have to provide the materials to support requests for financial donations. We also discussed the women’s self-help activities, vocational training, medical assistance, hygiene instruction, child care, and nutrition among other aids to empower the women and youth in Africa.
President Hori was pleased to share her excitement and interest to join our efforts to increase the amount of donations by assisting us in preparing a “SOA Donation Package” for prospective donors. This would include a letter of introduction, an updated brochure, and a specific method for donations and in-kind contributions, etc. During our meeting we also discussed the following:
Our sincere gratitude for the work and dedication the Japanese sisters exemplify;
The desire to improve communication between Schools of Africa and US Administrators (reports, photos, wish lists, activities);
The creation of a basic program to promote the interaction between SOA students and young people in US chapters (e.g., pen pals, student exchange, travel scholarships)
For SOA students to share with US chapters the results of their dressmaking, crafts, knitting, hair designs, personal stories, and technology by shipping items to “show & sell” at chapter events
In the future for a team to visit at least one of the WFWP schools
Our overall goal to substantially increase the amount of donations to SOA from WFWP USA
Students working
President Hori introduced me to two very distinguished women from Africa: Ms. Susan W. Kone WFWP Kenya Chairperson and Mme Ilboudo Mau Ngoma, WFWP West Africa Region. I had an incredibly illuminating discussion with these delegates regarding the WFWP schools because of their firsthand experience with the schools, teachers, parents, as well as their current major challenges. Most important was their gratitude for the funding provided by WFWP USA. They also agreed that communication was an integral part of the success going forward and pledged their support by sending activity reports, pictures, letters from students and other projects. From our talks, I feel a need for us to provide clarity in the breakdown of sources from donations to the schools from WFWP USA.
As the WFWP USA National Coordinator, I am proud of the chairwomen, members, volunteers, and friends across the country, who continue to make strides for children they may never see, embrace, or understand their language. We can make the difference between pride and disappointment, between hope and despair.
Thank You.