COMMUNITIES THRIVE WHEN
WE ELEVATE AND PROTECT
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN
Visit www.biggerthanourborders.ca to learn more.
May • 2022
globalheroes.com The power of positive, solution-based journalism.
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Investing in Women Around the World The pandemic has exacerbated the struggles faced by those in vulnerable communities, especially women. Even before the global health crisis, women bore the brunt of poverty. Statistically, women earn less, take on the majority of responsibility when it comes to caring for their families, and often hold less secure jobs. This is especially prevalent in low- and middle-income countries around the world, where traditional gender roles can prevent women from making decisions about their bodies and their lives. However, with a heavier focus on investing in reducing gender inequality, these gaps can be closed. According to a UN Women report, over 100 million women and girls can be lifted out of poverty if governments implement comprehensive policy strategies to improve access to education, family planning, and equal wages. Women bring with them different skills, perspectives, and ideas. Investing in their equal presence in society leads to better decision-making and benefits for all—and both
men and women on the ground exemplify just that. In Chatorkhand, Pakistan, Adiba gathers peers in her community to discuss issues like gender discrimination. She uses theatre performances to increase awareness about genderbased violence, women’s roles in decision-making, mental health, and maternal health. Her work is funded through the Access to Quality Care Through Extending and Strengthening Health Systems program, supported by Aga Khan Foundation Canada and the Government of Canada. Through this program, implemented in Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, and Pakistan, over 400,000 women and girls gained access to comprehensive reproductive health services, helping them make decisions for their own bodies. Similarly, in Benin, West Africa, Soumanou Oumarou is working to change the minds of men in his community. Since becoming a peer educator with CARE’s PROJEUNES project, he has supported men in making gender equality a priority while
also inviting women to be decision-makers in their homes and communities. As a result, the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls is improved, and early and forced child marriages are reduced. In Ethiopia, Waga works with other women in her self-help group to create recipes using
locally sourced ingredients. The women mix, grind, and sell complementary feeding flour, creating jobs while improving food diversity in their communities. Supported by Save the Children, this work has brought sustainable feeding practices to ten villages and hundreds of mothers, resulting
in healthier and stronger children, families, and communities. Canada’s support to UN Women’s work in the African region has enabled the movement of legislative practices and frameworks to promote gender balance in politics and increase the effective participation of women as political leaders at local, national, and regional levels in countries like Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Communities thrive when we elevate women in all their diversity. Empowering women helps them overcome systematic inequalities in their homes and communities, which is essential to creating a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world for everyone. With the support of the Canadian government and the hard work of Canadian civil society organizations, women’s rights worldwide will become stronger. Let’s keep the progress moving; visit www.biggerthanourborders.ca to make your commitment to supporting Canada’s international aid.
HEALTHBRIDGE VIETNAM © COURTESY OF BIGGER THAN OUR BORDERS
Redefining Possible: The Power of Perspective ALLIE MURRAY
At the age of five, Spencer West lost both legs from the pelvis down due to a genetic disease. Having to learn how to navigate a world set against those with disabilities, he began his mission
to redefine what living with disabilities meant, showcasing that he—and anyone—could do whatever they put their mind to. Today, West works as a motivational speaker, a content creator, and a disability and LGBTQ+ activist.
Over the course of his life, West never aspired to be a motivational speaker. However, in 2008, he went on a volunteer trip to East Africa and had the opportunity to spend time with the kids of the school they were visiting. It was an opportunity that changed his life. “They were eager to learn all about me and asked many of the questions I have been asked my whole life, ‘What happened to your legs?’ ‘How do you go to the bathroom?’ ‘Can you drive a car?’ But at the end, after answering all their inquiries, a young girl raised her hand and when translated from Swahili said, ‘I didn’t know that this sort of thing’ meaning the loss of my legs ‘could happen to white people too.’ That sentence stopped me cold,” West explained. “For the first time in my life, I realized the power of my story. I realized I could use my story to help teach people how to look at challenges differently.” After returning from Africa, West quit his corporate job in
SPENCER WEST © RYAN BOLTON PHOTOGRAPHY 2021
Arizona and moved to Canada to work with the organization he had been volunteering with and began his journey as a motivational speaker, later starting his own business both as a speaker and content creator. West’s story quickly inspired everyone he spoke with, which led him to opening for Demi Lovato’s 2014 World Tour, starring in the documentary “Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West,” writing and publishing a memoir titled “Standing Tall: My Journey,” and even climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Similarly, West’s story took the social media world by storm, garnering him 179,000 followers on Instagram and 3.7 million followers on TikTok. “One of the positive things about social media is that it allows you to access and connect with a global audience,” West shared. “For many folks with disabilities, that has become a very important tool for telling our stories and discussing the barriers we face. But truthfully, social media is the wild west; you never know what
people are going to like and what content will do well. For me, as long as my content has a mixture of heart, humour, honesty, and awareness, I’ve done my job.” A driving force for West as he began his content creation and motivational speaking career was to show others that they weren’t alone. “Any time I receive feedback from a young person or adult disabled or nondisabled that says I empowered them to come out or live their life more authentically, that’s what really touches my heart,” he said. “Growing up in a small town in Wyoming in the 90’s, there was almost zero queer representation on tv, in the media or elsewhere, especially when it came to queer disabled folks. I hope I can be another face in the crowd that says we exist, you’re not alone and when you’re ready we’ll be here with open arms because your life has meaning and value.” In his speeches, West encourages audiences to redefine possibility and embrace the mindset that anyone can overcome obstacles. ADVERTORIAL
More Than a Place to Stay At Halton Women’s Place, we know that domestic violence has no boundaries and can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, economic status, sexual orientation, or education. Statistics tell us that at least half of all women in Canada have experienced one or more incidents of physical or sexual violence since turning 16, and on average, every six days a woman is murdered by her intimate partner. Over 6,000 women and children are sleeping in Canadian shelters on any given night because they are not safe at home. These numbers represent our co-workers, friends, family, and neighbours. There is not a single community across our country that is free of domestic violence. Intimate partner violence, also called domestic violence, continues to be an issue affecting individuals and families across the globe and right here in our community. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, economic or include psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes a pattern of behaviours that are meant to frighten,
intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Here at Halton Women’s Place, we continue to provide safe spaces, information, education, and crisis intervention services to women experiencing domestic violence and abuse. We are committed to advocating and raising awareness about the issue and the resources available in our community to help. We are also deeply committed to preventing violence before it starts. Our public education team provides hundreds of presentations each year to teach about healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and communication. We teach about the importance of bystanders using their voices. We explore how crucial it is to believe a survivor’s disclosure and respond without judgment. We believe that domestic violence cannot be addressed when met with shame. This violence in our communities must be addressed openly, with compassion and understanding towards those with the courage to come forward and tell their stories. We believe that the survivors of violence within our community
are the heroes. They are the reason that our staff work tirelessly to explore options, establish safety, and provide comfort. The safety and success of the women and children we serve is about so much more than just having a place to stay. When women feel supported and valued, they and their children are more likely to thrive. To effect change for women across Halton impacted by violence, we need the community to recognize the beginning stages
of violence. Commit this year to take a workshop and gain tools and knowledge about how you can help someone you care about if you suspect they are experiencing domestic violence. We will be expanding our public education offerings throughout the year to inform you about these topics and work in partnership with all of you to stop violence before it starts. As well, as Mother’s Day is celebrated around the country, please pause to reflect on those 6,000
© IMAGES COURTESY OF HALTON WOMEN’S PLACE
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Mother’s Day Campaign haltonwomensplace.com/mothers-day
mothers and children in Canada who were unable to spend the night in the safety of their own homes due to domestic violence. Halton Women’s Place is the only women’s shelter in the Halton region providing emergency safe shelter and community outreach services to women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. To learn more about how you can help in addressing the issue of domestic violence, please visit www. haltonwomensplace.com. If you or someone you know is in need of support, call our 24/7 crisis, information, and support lines at 905-332-7892 or 905878-8555 or reach out through our online chat tool at www. haltonwomensplace.com/chat. For a list of local organizations across Canada working to address domestic violence please visit www.sheltersafe.ca to see how you can help. Domestic Violence affects us all. If you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out. You are not alone.
