While this post lacks Slam Dunks and Jump Shots, it holds much more importance to the month of March. March is Women’s History Month; “Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.”
What does this mean to me and my trip? Well, This month I’ve been thinking more, researching and praying(even more) for the women who I will be working with in Albania, the Philippines and South Africa. Here in America the start of the month brought a lot of attention to what American women still struggle with here. While women in America still struggle with equal pay, occupational segregation, sexual violence, and much more – women have the right to wear what they want, vote, speak when they’d like and stand up for themselves. The statistics of abuse, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mutilations, and simple women’s rights are FAR more alarming elsewhere. When I am in Albania, the Philippines, and South Africa I will get to reach out to women who have suffered through horrific events; without knowing how loved they are. I will get to bring some light to the darkness of their lives by sharing how God loves them unconditionally, how much their brothers and sisters in Christ love them, and that even on their darkest days – they are not alone.
So, before I share my Call To Action for March – I’m going to share some facts about where I am going and the lives of women there.
Albania
European Commission says that 120,000 Women and Children are trafficked through the Balkans annually. Balkans serve as a pipeline between eastern and western Europe with Albania being a major route. Albanian women are vulnerable due to countries past including the fall of Communism and economic hardship that followed leaving many desperate to fall into promises of traffickers.
Hundreds of years ago and still some today, there is a tribe in Northern Albania known as Burrneshas. This means a lifelong pledge to live as a man and to live a life of celibacy. So while its not uncommon to be trafficked as a female in Albania, some female are sworn to live life as a man.
Philippines
The Philippines have established Women’s Rights and many women hold higher-up employment positions and governmental seats. This favorable occupational distribution does not mean that women are without problems. Although women were eligible for high positions these were more often obtained by men. It is said that women in The Philippines have a “double burden.” This “double burden” is because men delegate their positions in the household. For many years, it was prohibited for a female to divorce for the fear of abandonment of their household and husband. On rare occasions a divorce was allowed, with the understanding of not being able to legally re-marry in the future. Still today, Domestic Violence is considered a private matter in The Philippines, so it is only between Husband and Wife.
South Africa
For many years, The migrant labor system meant that many African women could not obtain permits to live in cities with their husbands, so they were forced to remain in rural areas, caring for their children there and leaving many women without their husband. It is believed in South Africa that women do everything they do on behalf of the men so with that, Women and girls are the most affected by the poverty in South Africa. Socially, economically, and legally – women in the poorest of cities and countries get the short straw; from the girl child who is denied education or forced into marriage, or for the mother who risks death when she gives life, or the farmer prevented from owning the land.
While the numbers of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) drop annually it is still practiced in parts of Africa. These women may find comfort in South Africa, where it is outlawed and restricted. So while, it won’t be happening in the communities I will be living in – it will be around in the women I will get to teach and pray over.
MARCH CALL TO ACTION :
For the month of March, I would like each of you to pray for the Women of the World – but particularly for the ones I already love unconditionally and cannot wait to meet and share with them how loved they are by God and their brothers and sisters of Christ. Please open your hearts and consider supporting me financially so I can reach the nations and share this love with these women who at their darkest don’t know how loved they are.
I’d also like for US raise $2,000 (or more) dollars by the beginning of April to be on track to meet my deadline of $5,000 dollars in the middle of May. With your help- no matter how big or small WE can make that happen! I say US and WE because without your help, I cannot make this happen. Thank you for all your support this far!
With love, Juliette Remington-Carter
