http://www.morungexpress.com/regional/16610.html
Courageous women activists honored for social change morungexpress (Left to Right) Sr. Judith Shadap WISE, UNANIMA International Co-ordinator Sr. Catherine Ferguson and Hasina Kharhbhih Impulse NGO Network. Dimapur | March 8: Two Shillong-based human rights activists and ‘defenders’ are the joint recipients of UNANIMA's Women of Courage Award for their determined and effective approach in combating poverty, HIV/AIDS and human trafficking in North-East India. They are the first Asians to be conferred the award, informed a press note issued by Rachael Kilsby of Impulse NGO Network, Meghalaya. The two awardees are Hasina Kharbhih, founder-president and team leader of NGO Network Impulse and Sr. Judith Shadap, founder of the NGO Women for Integrated Sustainable Empowerment (WISE). “Both Sr. Judith and Hasina are symbols of strength, determination and hope. They have selflessly shown daring initiative in advancing and protecting the rights of vulnerable and oppressed women and children,” stated the press note. Both of them work against great odds, in an area of the world that is geographically isolated and politically torn by ethnic conflict. “Despite such adversity, these remarkable women have been effective in creating social change,” the NGO network said. UNANIMA International, comprising 16 congregations from 65 countries, is an NGO working for justice at the international level. It works in harmony with the charter of United Nations for the economic and social advancement of all people. This year UNANIMA says it has honored Hasina and Sr. Judith in recognition of their ability “to transform the daily injustices experienced by women and children into sources of empowerment.” As mentioned Hasina is the founder of the NGO Network Impulse, which developed an effective model, known as the Meghalaya Model, to combat child-trafficking. She has implemented an expansive tracking system. The system masterfully brings together the state government, security agencies, legal groups, media, and citizen organizations to combat cross-border trafficking of children in the region and on the nearby crossings to Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Bangladesh. “Hasina's commitment to building a world fit for children also pursues issues of child trafficking, HIV/AIDS intervention, and livelihood support initiatives for rural North-East India,” the NGO said. Sr. Judith Shadap, RNDM, the founder of the NGO Women for Integrated Sustainable Empowerment (WISE), one of the NGOs supported by Impulse, uses the self-help group ideology with poor and marginalized women to promote vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, knitting, handicrafts and candle-making, to mention a few. She also organizes and conducts programs at the Shillong District Jail and the Juvenile House. Through her work, Sister Judith alleviates poverty and encourages holistic development among the people of rural areas. ------------------------------------ -- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTMedia mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE Share media news, discuss journalism issues and network with media professionals across South Asia on this mailing list. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTMedia by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
