CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU!

Ms. Elizabeth Aihe, WFWP DC Chairwoman

Food for the mind, the soul, and the body: That's how the WFWP Washington, D.C. chapter celebrated International Women's Day this year.

The afternoon program on March 22, entitled, "Change Starts With You: Women Empowering Women; Tell Your Story," drew 43 people, including 6 men and 3 teenagers.

The success stemmed from much prayer and many phone calls, which produced three wonderful speakers and truly soulful entertainment.

A beautiful song by Ms. Nazeeha Howard and an invocation by Minister Reiko Jenkins of the American Clergy Leadership Conference's Women in Ministry created a great foundation for WFWP USA President Angelika Selle's opening remarks. These were read by the afternoon's emcee, Mrs. Kim Dadachanji, chairwoman of WFWP Maryland. We then showed a video introduction to WFWP USA, followed by a poem entitled, "What a Blessing to Be a Woman," which I wrote and recited.

Musical selections by the Japanese Peace Choir prepared the audience to hear Rev. Susan Taylor, national public affairs director of the Church of Scientology. Rev. Taylor spoke about spirituality, and specifically about how she has used the nuggets from Scientology's teachings to build her character. She is an advocate of human rights, has attended many events organized by WFWP, and said she is happy she has met the founders, Father and Mother Moon. She feels strongly that if many organizations can partner together, more can be accomplished and greater peace can surely be achieved.

Ms. Howard gave another moving performance before the second speaker began. Ms. Eucharia Mbachu, founder of Voices of Women and Children, spoke on the topic of family. She shared about her own family and how her parents instilled family values in her, emphasizing that the family is the cornerstone of God's kingdom. As a journalist, she explained how the media have eroded family values.

A song by the African Women Human Rights Group called "International Women's Anthem" prepared the way for the last speaker, Madam Nkamcho Emilia, inspector general of the Ministry of Women's Affairs of the West African nation of Cameroon. Madam Emilia stopped off in D.C. on her way back to Cameroon after attending the UN international Women's Day events in New York. She shared about education and women's equality in Cameroon, telling the audience how her government is involved in girls' education.

Traditionally in Cameroon, she said, girls are not sent to school in many villages because they are married early by their parents in order to get a dowry. Her ministry goes from village to village to ensure that as many girls as possible are sent to school. She emphasized that to achieve gender equality, men need to be involved in the decision-making about women's advancement.

The afternoon ended with a pot-luck meal shared by all.

One guest said she was touched by the love she experienced at the event, and five people signed up for membership.

African Women's Human Rights Group - singing

Ms. Elizabeth Aihe, WFWP DC Chairwoman

Rev. Susan Taylor, speaker from church of Scientology

Eucharia Mbachu, founder of Voices of Women and Children

Japanese Peace Choir

Kim Dadachanji

Madam Nkamcho Emilia, the speaker from Cameroon

Reiko Jenkins

Group Photo