crossroads cintl.org
VOL. 13 NO. 1 • SPRING 2013
CROSSROADS
international
media & development
Stepping up and speaking out Partnerships in Ghana empower women to lead IT HAD BEEN AN EXHAUSTING WEEK spent rattling through villages on dusty, pot-holed roads in tropical heat, but Crossroads volunteer Kelsey Parsons couldn’t have been happier. She was nearing the end of a week-long trip to the eastern region of Ghana, where she had been gathering testimonies for Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF) and observing their workshops educating rural communities about domestic violence and mediation. Domestic violence in Ghana is epidemic; one in three women experience physical violence. WiLDAF Ghana addresses these alarming statistics by improving women’s access to justice and democratic participation through a combination of advocacy, training, legal literacy, education, and research. “The support of women’s rights and women in politics is so variable in Ghana,” says Parsons. “Some people believe that if you fight for a woman’s rights, you’re causing an imbalance, and that if women have power it will ruin things in the home.” It was while collecting women’s testimonies on the long and winding road trip that Parsons met Comfort, who, like many women and rural Ghanaians, had no access to the justice system. When Comfort’s father transferred all of his land to his son a few years ago, leaving Comfort with nothing to call her own, she had no one to turn to for advice. Ghana
Cont’d on p. 2
WiLDAF Communication and Advocacy Manager Patricia Essel and Crossroader Kelsey Parsons in Accra, Ghana.
CHANGE THE WORLD P. 3 Legacy giving
crossroads international
49 Bathurst Street, Suite 201 Toronto, ON M5V 2P2 Canada
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: P. 3
Young entrepreneurs in Mali
then & now: P. 4 Crossroader Linda Burnside
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new Girls’ Empowerment Clubs will launch this year in Swaziland
“ Being in the club has brought me pride in knowing how valuable and important I am in the world. I have discovered my talents and I have big dreams which I’m looking forward to making come true.” – GIRLS’ CLUB MEMBER
because of the generosity of Crossroads supporters
Cont'd from p. 1
STEPPING OUT AND SPEAKING UP It was a property rights session led by a WiLDAF legal literacy volunteer where she learned about her rights and that she too had a claim on her father’s land. Legal literacy volunteers are Ghanaians from diverse backgrounds who are dedicated to helping others, often in remote areas, navigate the complicated maze of the country’s rights and laws. Thanks to the generous support of a Crossroads donor, in the past year WiLDAF trained 35 of these devoted volunteers in human rights, family and gender laws, and the Domestic Violence Act. They’re equipped with leadership, mediation, and community mobilization skills to facilitate outreach in their communities. Armed with knowledge acquired during this WiLDAF session, Comfort informed her father of her right to the land and prompted him to divide the property between his children. When Parsons met Comfort it was on her own land, among the orange and cacao trees that provide her main source of income. “It was awesome to see the work WiLDAF is doing in the rural regions and it made me proud to work for such a great organization,” Parsons says. As a communications officer with WiLDAF, Parsons’ role has been crucial in spreading the organization’s message of equality. Since October, she has developed WiLDAF’s social media capacities by setting up Twitter, Facebook and Flickr accounts and developing training manuals, in addition to arranging media outreach and conferences. Awareness is key to creating change, explains Frank Bodza, Governance Program Manager at WiLDAF. “The discourse on women’s issues has changed totally due to continuous education,” he says.
Comfort and her father on her newly acquired land. (Photo by Crossroader Kelsey Parsons)
On May 23, 2013, Crossroads International was awarded the Canadian Council for International Cooperation’s inaugural Civil Society Effectiveness Award for our work with WiLDAF. Public education and awareness is crucial to Abantu for Development’s work as well. Crossroads International has been working with Abantu since 2007 to eradicate cultural, legal and political obstacles facing women in attaining economic independence and equality before the law. Hamida Harrison, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Manager at Abantu agrees with Bodza that slowly, public opinions of women, their rights, and their place in politics is changing. With 30 women elected to parliament in December 2012, it is clear the electorate is becoming more accepting
Abantu political trainees displaying their campaign posters. (Photo by Abantu for Development)
of women in power. In some ridings women who were running against six or seven men succeeded in capturing the vote. “They are increasingly choosing women to lead because they have been satisfied with women’s work in parliament,” Harrison says. Women’s rights will only become a priority when women are in power, so for Abantu the key is to provide training to improve women’s capacity and confidence to take their rightful place in politics. With the generous support of the Hawthorne Foundation, Crossroads has supported Abantu programming to recruit and train female electoral candidates. Leading up to the December 2012 national elections, Abantu ran training sessions in Accra and Kumasi to prepare women to run for parliament. The training agenda included an overview of the political history of Ghana, the role
of women in politics, public speaking, the parliamentary system and campaigning. “I noticed a huge difference in the participants before and after the training session,” Harrison says. “Afterwards these women were more emboldened, confident, and felt capable of being viable candidates.” Their hard work speaks for itself. In 2012, 134 women ran in Ghana’s national elections, and 30 were elected, representing 10.8 per cent of parliament. Of these women, four completed the Abantu training. These figures are still far lower than the 30 per cent female representation in parliament suggested by the United Nations, but this doesn’t dampen Harrison’s dreams. “I think a 50/50 representation is fair,” she says, “and I’ll keep fighting for that.”
FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE
WORKING WITH WOMEN FOR LASTING CHANGE
F
OR YEARS MY PASSION HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING MY TIME WITH WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS in Canada and overseas with a focus on sustainable livelihoods, so when I encountered the work of Crossroads International, it represented a convergence of my own interests and values. It was Crossroads’ vision of One World where poverty is eliminated, equality prevails, and the rights of women and girls are fulfilled, that inspired me to get involved with the organization. This ethos of working as equals toward our common goal of equal rights for all, across cultures and with varying resources, encouraged me to join the Board of Directors in 2007, and to embrace the Crossroads programming that is transforming lives every day.
creating possibilities for growth and success that many women never thought obtainable.
It has been a privilege being involved with Crossroads, and as I prepare for my last meeting as Chair and member of the Board in June, I’ve been reflecting on the expertise of our volunteers, our visionary partners overseas and in Canada, and the committed donors who have leveraged their networks to help us make all of our work possible. In 2009, the board set a plan in motion to scale up our programming to advance the rights of women and girls. Four years later we can celebrate the leaps and bounds we have made. Our programming in Ghana is putting power in the hands of women by helping them assert their rights and speak out about issues that matter to them. At the end of last year, four women who completed Abantu’s training for women in politics won seats in the national elections. In Mali, entrepreneurship programs are helping women support themselves and their communities while
Thanks to the perseverance of Crossroads partners, volunteers, donors, and team members, thousands more people enjoy basic human rights and have new opportunities to earn a living to support themselves and their families. We have a lot of work ahead, but with such promising results and the support of such a dedicated group, we are up to the challenge.
Our concentrated efforts as Crossroads champions make a significant and tangible difference. We’re seeing enormous results with a small pilot project we started in Swaziland. Girls’ Empowerment Clubs have made an impact in the lives of young women at risk of abuse and living in extreme poverty. In only a few years the program has more than doubled its reach, opening the doors of opportunity to hundreds of girls. It is the support of so many generous foundations and passionate people who, by donating time and funds, help us work towards a future where equality is attainable.
In solidarity,
ETHEL CÔTÉ, Chair, Board of Directors
“It was Crossroads’ vision of One World where poverty is eliminated, equality prevails, and the rights of women and girls are fulfilled, that inspired me to get involved with the organization.” ETHEL CÔTÉ, CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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new businesses
“ AJA-Mali’s training program has enabled me to be autonomous and has turned me into an entrepreneur for life.” – AWA KONE, beneficiary of AJA-Mali entrepreneurship training program, now a successful restaurant owner
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women elected
“ It is our right as women to be part of the process of development. If we’re outside politics we fail.” – HAMIDA HARRISON, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Manager at Crossroads partner Abantu for Development
established by young
in Ghana’s national
entrepreneurs in Mali
elections
A LEGACY TO CHANGE THE WORLD
OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN MALI
James Robinson Legacy Circle promises brighter futures Times have changed since Charles Brown first became involved with Crossroads, but his commitment to ensuring the future of the organization is as strong as ever.
Charles was among the early Crossroads volunteers to travel to Africa in 1963. Inspired by the vision of American civil rights activist Dr. James Robinson, who was instrumental to founding Crossroads in Canada, small groups of volunteers like the one Charles led set off to work on grassroots projects in the independent nations emerging across the African continent. The spirit of solidarity that spawned those early exchanges still characterizes Crossroads today, and remains one of the core values that have inspired Charles Brown to remain engaged over five decades. Along the way, Charles has been a loyal and generous donor and has been active through numerous leadership roles, including as Chair of the Board. In his current role as Honorary Chair of the James Robinson Legacy Circle, he is encouraging others to join him and a group of loyal donors who are ensuring Crossroads’ future by naming the organization in their will, or by choosing one of several ways to make a planned gift. “I have always felt that we’re supposed to leave this world a better place than we found it,” he says.
Young entrepreneur Awa Kone serving food at her restaurant in Baguinéda, Mali. (Photo by Idrissa Kone/AJA-Mali)
Charles Brown
Including Crossroads in your will is one way to make a planned gift to help bring an end to social and economic disparity in developing countries. To find out more about leaving a legacy to change the world, we invite you to contact us by calling 1-877-967-1611 ext. 259 or by e-mailing carine@cintl.org.
LEGACY GIVING OPTIONS SUPPORT CROSSROADS AND REDUCE YOUR TAXES THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PLANNED GIVING OPTIONS that let you make a significant gift to Crossroads while reducing the taxes owed by your estate. The most common option is to include Crossroads in your will. By naming “Canadian Crossroads International” as the beneficiary of all or a portion of your RRSP/RRIF, you can:
make a meaningful contribution towards reducing poverty and improving women’s rights
receive a tax receipt for the value of the RRSP/RRIF donated offset taxes owing by your estate
LIFE ISN’T EASY IN MALI. The West African nation consistently falls among the world’s poorest countries, and in the UN’s 2012 Human Development Index ranked 182nd out of 187 countries. Making a living here has always been a challenge, but even more so since the coup d’état in March 2012. Millions of Malian youth face extreme poverty, with little hope of finding reliable work. With 66.7 per cent of the population aged 24 and under, this could have disastrous consequences for the economy of the country and the livelihoods of a generation. Yet one year after the coup, there is hope in Mali. Crossroads and our partner Association Jeunesse Action Mali (AJA-Mali) are building the capacity of young Malians to take control of their future by creating their own jobs. With the support of the Québec International Development Program (PQDI), the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), and donors, youth entrepreneurship training programs through AJA have been made possible. In Bamako and in rural Baguinéda, 121 young women and men so far have learned the tools of their trade, including construction, animal husbandry, food processing and garment making, as well as skills in accounting, management, and marketing that are crucial to their success. Eighty-nine youth have already opened businesses, testimony to the strong skills they’ve acquired and the professional support they’ve received. “The creation of businesses is one thing,” says Nathalie Roy, Crossroads Program Officer for Mali, “but
ensuring that all young entrepreneurs have clear goals and business plans is the key to success. The program has really taken off because it supports young people in planning for the future and, at the same time, strengthens their work through continuous learning.” Particularly now, with political turmoil and economic uncertainty, the support of Crossroads is vital. “Since the coup d’état, potential entrepreneurs have been scared to invest in new opportunities and hesitate to open businesses, and this increases the number of unemployed youth,” says Awa Kone, a new entrepreneur and one of the program’s many success stories. “This AJA program represents new hope.” Kone had to leave school at 13 years old to help support her family when her father passed away. For years she harvested food with her siblings and sold juice door-to-door to earn extra money. She knew she wanted more out of her future, but didn’t know what direction to take. Now, at 30 years old and running her own restaurant in Baguinéda, Kone is a thriving business owner. “I must admit that I never thought I’d be able to get enough money together to start anything. Now, only two years after my training, I have my own business that is profitable and runs smoothly because of the skills I acquired through the AJA training. I’m proud of myself.” Mali
preserve other estate assets for other beneficiaries reduce probate fees retain the asset for your personal use during your lifetime.
In March 2012, Crossroads International evacuated 18 Canadian volunteers following the coup in Mali. Since then, Crossroads has provided financial support and volunteer exchanges between Mali and other partner countries, as well as South-North placements for volunteers and staff from Mali to Canada. Through these placements, Crossroads continues to support the organizational capacity of our partners by leveraging relevant networks and increasing the exchange of ideas and expertise.
where Are they now? monthly Linda donor: Burnside Volunteered: India, 1979
Maurice April
Then: Had just completed her first year studying psychology and sociology at Trent University.
I grew up in a small town in northern Saskatchewan where I learned about the outside world through our radio, so volunteering with Crossroads International was truly an eye-opening experience for me.
Now: Owner of Alternative Grounds, a fair trade coffee roastery and café in the Roncesvalles Village neighbourhood of Toronto.
WHEN LINDA BURNSIDE went to volunteer in India
In her words: “My whole interest in fair trade is that it’s a matter of justice. It’s a way that each of us individually can make a difference as a collective whole.” Don’t live in Toronto but would like to taste Alternative Grounds coffees? Shop online at alternativegrounds.com/shop
crossroads
34 years ago, it gave her the “experience of seeing a world that would never have occurred to me existed,” she says. For three months she taught English to children in a Tibetan refugee settlement. Living side by side refugees sparked her interest in social justice by “opening my eyes and fuelling my curiosity.” Once she graduated, she spent 15 years working with marginalized people in the Toronto area before enrolling in a Master’s of Environmental Studies at York University. She felt strongly that environmental concerns must include the people inhabiting that environment, and fair trade was a great way to bridge the two. Since 1995 she’s been roasting fair trade coffee, well before it was a widely known concept. Three years later Alternative Grounds became one of the first licensees of Fair Trade Mark Canada, and they’ve been brewing coffee with a conscience ever since.
Crossroads International gratefully acknowledges the support of:
international
Crossroads International is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Ministère des Relations internationales of the Government of Quebec, other government and non-government funders, as well as many individuals around the world. Crossroads is published twice yearly for Crossroads International alumni and friends. Please send us your comments, letters and ideas. • Executive Director: Karen Takacs • Director, External Relations: Christine Campbell • Coordination and writing: Liane Cerminara • Linguistic services: Renée Hébert • Contributors: Carine Blin, Idrissa Kone, Kelsey Parsons, Lisa Sheaffer • Art Direction: Egg Design • Crossroads International, Toronto Office: 49 Bathurst St., Suite 201, Toronto, ON, M5V 2P2; Tel: 416.967.1611; Toll-free: 877.967.1611; Fax: 416.967.9078; email: christine@cintl.org; Montreal Office: 3000, rue Omer-Lavallée, Suite 126, Montréal, QC H1Y 3R8; Tel: 514. 528.5363; e-mail: liane@cintl.org
Learn more about our worldwide network of people driving change:
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I
travelled to Togo with a group of 12 other Crossroaders in 1968. Our mandate was to build a cultural centre in a small village called Nuatja about 100km inland from Lomé. This was during the civil rights movement in the U.S., and I decided to sign up with Crossroads to volunteer because I strongly believed in their inspirational founder’s vision of working together cross-culturally to achieve common goals. Dr. Robinson believed in “One World” where there would be a mutual respect and understanding for racial and cultural differences. I was a university student and these were impressionable years for me. Volunteering brought people of different backgrounds together and
highlighted that there are more similarities than differences between us. It helped me look at issues on a broader spectrum, and I can honestly say this had an influence on my decision to pursue a career in social work. I decided to become a monthly donor because I believe in the work that Crossroads is doing and their vision of ONE WORLD. I have seen first-hand the commitment that Crossroads has had over time. I think this is a great organization worthy of my support and I want to give back. I think that we all have a global responsibility to help one another, and I consider this money well spent.
OPENING DOORS TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE GENEROSITY AND COMMITMENT OF MANY WILL LAUNCH 20 NEW GIRLS’ CLUBS IN SWAZILAND Girls in Swaziland face many hurdles. Growing up in a society where they cannot exercise even the most basic human rights, they’re at extreme risk of abuse and HIV, and they have limited civil rights. Girls’ Empowerment Clubs, run by Crossroads International partner the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), increase girls’ awareness of HIV/AIDS in a country that has the highest proportion of infection in the world. The clubs have proven to be extremely effective in teaching young women how to recognize and stop abuse, and are giving girls the skills and confidence they need to be leaders in their communities. This has been a banner year for raising funds for the clubs. Crossroads champions gave their all, and the results were tremendous! By March, enough funds were raised to launch 20 new Girls’ Empowerment Clubs, giving more girls than ever the opportunity to stand up and speak out. We can’t say thank you enough to the many foundations including the Blossom Foundation, the F.K. Morrow Foundation and others that prefer to give anonymously, as well as Sisters of Charity in Halifax, the Sisters of St. Joseph London, Whirl Inc., KIK Products, Club2Club and Open Doors Campaign volunteers, and the many generous individuals who contributed to these campaigns. Robert Sheaffer, Managing Partner at Harris-Sheaffer law firm, set a record by raising the most funds as an individual in the four-year history of Crossroads’ Open Doors online campaign. He leveraged his personal and business contacts to contribute more than $8500 to the campaign. Sheaffer was motivated by women close to his heart; “My two daughters grew up in Canada free from the worries of abuse and HIV. They had a safe place to call home and a good education. It is essential that we strive to achieve these same basic human rights and
Robert Sheaffer
opportunities for all young women, regardless of where they live. This is my small part in trying to bridge the gap for girls in Swaziland.” “With volunteers like Robert behind us and with foundation and corporate partners, there is no doubt we will meet our goal of launching 20 new clubs each year for the next five years,” said Christine Campbell, Director of External Relations at Crossroads. “With that kind of reach, this program will transform a generation of young women into leaders in Swaziland. Make no mistake, when you invest in girls, they will change their world.” We can’t say thank you enough to everyone who helped us achieve this amazing accomplishment— with 20 new clubs and counting we’ll be opening doors to a brighter future for hundreds of girls! To learn more about how you can support Girls’ Empowerment Clubs, visit cintl.org/ club2club