The one and only women’s shelter in Malawi＊マラウイ唯一の女性救済施設

Lately, I got involved in the group called “NGO Gender Coordination Network.” They were planning the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence (25 November – 10 December), which is a global campaign to eliminate violence against women. The launching ceremony in Malawi was held on the last Saturday, and I attended it along with the regional director of my sending org. Through this group, I got acquainted with Malawian women’s rights activist.

She runs an organization, Society for the Advancement of Women, which helps women who are victims of domestic violence. They have services, such as counseling, provision of legal advice, advocacy and most importantly the one and only women’s shelter in the whole country. I went to visit this organization this Friday. I spoke to some of the staff members, got some posters, and saw the shelter etc. It was quite impressive.

It was very interesting to see how their organization operates, as I used to work a lot with the VAW (Violence Against Women) issues back in Canada. This issue, no matter where you are and no matter how developed the country is, is universal unfortunately. The situation here in Malawi is accelerated because of the poverty.

The shelter has four bedrooms, and they are always at the full capacity. They have to scramble to get food and other household items for the women and their children who stay there. They recently started to create a children’s play area, but they have nothing, no chairs no toys, no crayons.

I am hoping to make some donations to this organization to particularly support this shelter. If you like to support this cause, I would like to ask you to donate some money.

My goal is to raise around $150CAD to buy some toys and things for the shelter just to make a small difference. If you would like to help, please send me an e-mail specifying the amount that you like to contribute. The suggested amount is $10-$20 (or less or more.) I will donate the money on your behalf and collect the donation when I see you next time. I can’t give you a tax-deductible receipt, as this is just my personal project. But, I will send you a report with photos of purchased items and the shelter etc.

Running non-profit organizations is hard both in Canada and Malawi (and in Japan, too.) You are at the mercy of government policies and are always threatened by the budget cut. You need to keep looking and applying for funding to maintain or expand the essential services, which should really be the responsibilities of the government.

Please join me in supporting this organization that provides valuable services to the Malawian women.

最近マラウイの NGO Gender Coordination Networkというグループと関わる機会があり、先週の土曜日に16日間のアクティビズムのマラウイの開会式典に出席してきました。これは国際的に行われている、女性に対する暴力をなくすためのキャンペーンです。このグループを通して、マラウイ人の女性の権利の運動家と知り合いになりました。彼女はSociety for the Advancement of Womenというドメスティクバイオレンスの被害者を救済するNGOを運営しています。活動内容はカウンセリングや法律関係のアドバイス等、それからマラウイに一つしかない女性のシェルター運営です。

金曜日に彼女の団体の見学に行ってきました。スタッフの人から話を聞いたり、ポスターをもらったりし、最後にシェルターを訪ねることができました。

私はカナダで女性への暴力関係の仕事やボランティアをしていたので、現地のNPOがどんな活動をしているのか学ぶことができとても興味深かったです。女性に対する暴力は世界中どこにいても、その国がどれだけ発展しているかに関わらず、大きな問題です。マラウイは貧困のせいで状況がもっと難しいといのが現状です。

このシェルターには4つの寝室があり、いつも被害者女性で一杯だということです。運営費用の不足で女性やその子供達の為の食料品や生活用品を満足に買うが大変らしいです。最近、子供達の遊び部屋を作ろうとしているのですが、椅子も玩具も何もおいてないガラガラの部屋でした。

私は個人的にこの団体を少しでも援助したいと思います。つきまして、この団体へ寄付をお願いしたいのです。目標は１５０ドルぐらい集めて、生活用品や子供への玩具を購入したいと思っています。メールでいくら寄付できるか知らせて頂けるとその金額を私が寄付するので、今度会った時に私に渡してもらえたら結構です（来年の春か夏には日本に帰ります！）。購入した品物やシェルターの様子の写真とレポートをお送りします。千円から2千円ぐらいの寄付をお願いしたいです。（もちろんそれより多くても少なくてもよいのですが）どうか御協力お願いします。