phil borges

a global movement
toward gender equality

Advocate Safe House Project : Day 6 of Inspire Changemakers

Mar 6th, 2012 by

Advocate Safe House Project by Sarah Schwab

Advocate Safe House Project is a community based non-profit in Glenwood Springs, Colorado whose mission is to, ‘promote healthy relationships free from violence through education, advocacy, empowerment, and safe housing.’

In 1986, a group of community members felt a need to respond to the growing awareness of domestic violence survivors.  There was a desire to provide resources to help answer the questions these survivors faced upon taking the first steps towards violence free relationships.

Manning

Since that realization, the Advocate Safe House Project has implemented numerous comprehensive resources for these survivors of both domestic abuse and sexual assault, including a 24-Hour Help Line.

The 24-Hour Help Line, staffed by volunteer advocates, offers crisis intervention, counseling, emotional support, advocacy, information and referrals by telephone, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Helpline: 970-945-4439

Whitney Manning, the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for ASHP, took a moment to describe the impact that Advocate Safe House Project has had within the community.

        

If you want to get involved, please visit their website at
www.advocatesafehouseproject.org

Tags: , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field, Interviews | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Advocate Safe House Project : Day 6 of Inspire Changemakers”

  1. Danielle says:
    March 6, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Great work! Solidarity to my sisters at Safe House and around the world, working long and hard to address the epidemic of domestic violence and violence against women!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

PACE Center for Girls : Inspire Changemakers Campaign

Mar 5th, 2012 by

Pace Center for Girls by Maisy Page

 

PACE Center for Girls began in 1985 with one Center in Jacksonville, Florida and now includes 17 Centers throughout Florida that serve over 2,000 girls each year. PACE began as a response to a realization in the community that girls involved with the justice system were either being placed in boys programs or placed further into the system for their own protection. There were no effective alternatives.  The PACE mission has now transformed into on that provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. PACE has now not only created a new alternative to institutionalization or incarceration but also provided thousands of young women with the tools they need to build the foundations for very bright futures.

Volunteer Opportunities

Pace has several volunteer opportunities available for those interested in helping. If you are interested in volunteering, visit www.pacecenter.org to find the PACE Center nearest to you. Some volunteer opportunities that would be available at the typical PACE Center are: mentoring, tutoring (especially in math), assisting with serving breakfast/lunch, clerical assistance (phone, copying, filing, office work), database entry, proctoring tests, laundry, donation sorting, decorating the Center for the Season/Holiday, scrapbooking (archiving), grounds beautification (garden), facility maintenance, helping with special events and fundraising, and being a guest speaker/facilitator (based on availability and relevance).

How is PACE unique?

I interviewed Katelyn Uhler, one of the Lee County PACE center’s three counselors.  Along with welcoming the girls with a smile every morning, Uhler meets with them for one-on-one sessions and also group sessions for the Spirited Girls session that the girls have at the end of the day. “Our program is unique in that it is a preventative program that focuses on girls. It is a program that emphasizes both strong academics and counseling components.” PACE provides the young women in their program with the proper tools to combat the issues they are having both academically and personally and realizes that these issues are often intertwined.  Without receiving the counseling that they do at PACE, they would often be doomed to repeat the behavioral patterns that got them into trouble in the first place. PACE gives these young women the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and positive environment.

Can you give us an example of the impact your volunteers have?

“The volunteers play a major role. They provide individual tutoring to our girls, which is so important. The girls love the one-on-one time and it really helps them to better understand the material. “ Not only do volunteers assist the girls academically but often times volunteers are able to make certain connections with the girls that help them succeed in different aspects of their lives. PACE is such a warm and welcoming place and the volunteers are one of the biggest factors in helping to make it this way.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field, Interviews | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Reel Grrls: Inspiring Changemakers through Media and Film

Mar 4th, 2012 by

Reel Grrls by Sunni Campbell

During the summer of 2011 I had the privilege of interning for a non-profit organization named Reel Grrls, dedicated to empowering young women from diverse communities through media literacy.  Each year over 80 young women participate from several programs offered through out the school year and during the summer.  Reel Grrls is a unique media and technology training organization that empowers young girls to not just critique the media images that surround them, but to learn important technological skills in order to create their own media.

Circle up mainspace

Doc Arts Camp 2010

Residing in the Central District of Seattle, Reel Grrls fosters the importance of educating young women and cultivating important leadership skills vital to their future.  Reel Grrls offers a variety of hands-on workshops for adolescent and teenage girls in technology skills such as animation, cinematography, script writing, video blogging, apprenticeship programs, and other teen video camps.

These workshops take place during the school year as after school programs, and during spring, summer, and winter breaks.  The workshops also vary in skill levels, some are directed at younger youth ages from 9-13, while other programs are more advanced and target youth 13-18.  The tuition varies based on the length of each program and technology being used, but Reel Grrls does offer scholarships for youth that simply can’t afford to pay full tuition for programs!

framing 9
Teen Video Camp June 2011

There is a small dedicated full-time staff of five women including the executive director who keep Reel Grrls going, as well as several rotating Mentors and instructors who come in to help with different aspects of each workshop.  I was one of two interns at the time, and I mainly worked with the technical media and program managers.  There are so many different ways to get involved with Reel Grrls, and they are always looking for new talent, fresh minds, and strong, creative, independent young women who can be mentors, volunteers, and interns to help inspire and teach young women and girls.

If you’re interested in being an intern, I can tell you from my experience that this is an amazing organization to be a part of, and the experiences and skills you will pick up are invaluable.  I was not only inspired through my internship time spent at Reel Grrls, but I took away a passion to continue my education with digital media, film, and technology, and have learned both from the staff and the students.  Internships at Reel Grrls vary, but they are always seeking technical, program, and marketing interns. Volunteer positions are similar to those of interns, and vary depending on skill sets, and the capacity in which you would like to help out at Reel Grrls!

Animation in classroom 2

Animation Camp 2011

Becoming a mentor for Reel Grrls is another great way to get involved, and their main requirement: “is a commitment to empowering young women through media production. In exchange for their hard work, mentors gain access to Reel Grrls video equipment and the opportunity to network with other Seattle-based filmmakers, artists, activists, and educators.”  Technical mentors are experienced filmmakers familiar with either camera, audio, lighting, or editing.  Youth Development mentors  “help to create an open and safe environment for girls in the program by leading group-building activities, being active listeners, and providing girls with emotional support during the program.”  There are also curriculum mentors, and workshop leader positions; check their website for more info, or you can apply online.

Other ways to get involved are are becoming a Reel Grrl yourself if you are age 12-19, its fun and you will not only learn about the technology to create your own media, but you will learn about teamwork, leadership, and responsibility. For those who need extra financial aid for programs at Reel Grrls, they offer schoalrship as I mentioned earlier. This however would not be possible without donations, and scholarship contributions.  If you don’t have the time to volunteer or intern, you can donate to a great organization to support the grrls fund, and give a young girl the gift of media!

In the current climate where digital media is so prevalent, organizations such as Reel Grrls play an important role in social learning education.  The value of media literacy is growing as the technology for self expression grows, and the work that Reel Grrls does in educating young women in digital media is key to the technological competency of the youth.

For more information:

Reel Grrls Website

or you can Follow them on Twitter and Facebook

info@reelgrrls.org

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field | 3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Reel Grrls: Inspiring Changemakers through Media and Film”

  1. Danielle Prince says:
    March 4, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    Love it! Great blog about this amazing organization!

    Reply
  2. Jennifer Geist says:
    March 11, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    Putting girls behind the lens…changing what we see and how we see it… great work Reel Grrls!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Women for Afghan Women : Inspire Changemakers Campaign

Mar 3rd, 2012 by

Women for Afghan Women by Roya Jalili

 Women For Afghan Women, is a non-profit, human rights organization based out of  Queens, New York and Kabul, Afghanistan.  WAW advocates, empowers, and shelters women and children. Most of the clients in Queens, New York are refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Morocco.  WAW works with NGO groups in Afghanistan, and is one of the only organization that has several women’s shelters, safe houses, family guidance system and programs in Afghanistan.  They also work with children who were born in prisons and have spent most of their life in a women’s prison. I wanted to know how people can volunteer with WAW and help make a difference; So I interviewed Jessica Whitney, the volunteer coordinator  from the Queens New York center, but who works in many different facets of WAW.

For my first question I wanted to know what WAW has to offer in terms of what programs are offered, and who their clients are.

“WAW offers assistance with immigration, citizenship preparation, asylum assistance, domestic violence cases in the US and in Afghanistan. Women don’t have anywhere to go here in the state, they are not familiar with what rights they have, so its much more dangerous especially for the DV victims because they are isolated by friends and family and language barrier.  The main clients are refugee women and families.  WAW is here to advocate any needs of their client.”

WAW is unique in many ways, but one thing I found fascinating is that WAW offers leadership programs for the girls, and will soon offer similar programs for the growing population of boys.  ”For this coming years curriculum we have a United Nations field trip planned, and the objective is to teach the youth the history of human rights and different facets of human rights” said Whitney.

My next question led me to what types of positions does WAW have for volunteers, and how can one become involved with WAW?

“If you’re local in Queens or the surrounding areas, WAW needs volunteers to assist with the classes that are offered, multi-level ESL, Computer basics, and Yoga taught 4 days a week. Helping clients study for citizenship test, help preparing for Driver’s Test, assist with after school programming for youth. WAW also needs administrative support.  We only have 3 regular staff members and the center is open 6 days a week in Queens, NY.  The Queens location is demanding more attention, funding, space and therefore needs more volunteers to take on projects” says Whitney.

WAW is especially in need of volunteers with specialized skills such as Social media, grant writing, technical media, and fundraising.  All of which can be done remotely if you are outside N.Y. or even over seas,  you can still get involved and help spread awareness.

Whitney says: “volunteers are critical because they are the human side, they are not here because there is a source of income, rather they are choosing to be here and they bring their passion here daily. This is a wonderful opportunity for these women to meet different types of Americans, where they can laugh, and can feel free talking about anything they want. I Love having the volunteers because they make WAW have arms, eyes, and shake your hand and they are the human connections. Otherwise the organization is spread really thin.”

So who are the ideal volunteers for WAW?

“The Ideal volunteers are people who are dedicated, flexible, self motivated- people who don’t have to wait to be told to do something, driven people.  Male volunteers are needed with children’s after school programs, but all of the am classes we are looking for female volunteers only because the women clients would not be comfortable with male presence. The current Executive Director, Manizha Naderi was herself a volunteer, leaving the possibility for volunteers to grow within the organization.”

To inquire about specific volunteer opportunities:

contact Jessica Whitney: office@womenforafghanwomen.org

or visit their website: Women for Afghan Women

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field, Interviews | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Women for Afghan Women : Inspire Changemakers Campaign”

  1. Danielle Prince says:
    March 3, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    What a great organization! Keep up the wonderful, and necessary, work!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Inspire Changemakers Campaign : Lower East Side Girls Club

Mar 2nd, 2012 by

Lower East Side Girls Club – By Amanda Coen

What began in 1996 as a means to address the lack of social services for women in the Lower East Side of Manhattan has now grown and seen much success. The Lower East Side Girls Club is a fun, creative haven for girls aged 8 to 23 to share passions, learn valuable life skills and explore new possibilities. An array of arts, literacy, science, health and leadership-based programs help girls develop the environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership skills that will allow them to thrive in the future.

Several social ventures including a gallery, a fair trade and gift shop, a community farmers market and a bake shop provide on-site job training that prepare girls for the commitment and dedication necessary for employment.

To make this all possible, the organization relies heavily on a dedicated group of volunteers and mentors to provide the girls with a sense of stability and offer engaging programming. The organization asks that mentors commit to at least nine months and mentorships usually begin in the fall, coinciding with the start of the school year.

Mentors can choose between a variety of programs. The Museum Club Mentoring Program happens one Saturday a month, and the mentor and their mentee visit a museum and then have lunch together. The Crafty Chicas Craft Making and Mentoring Workshop also takes place one Saturday per month with a different project focus each time. Mentors looking to help girls plan their future may want to be involved in the College and Career Activities and Tutoring program.

Positions are also available for those who want to work on the administrative and planning side of the organization through the Club’s Angel Alliance. The Girls Club hosts a variety of fundraising and special events and organized, driven volunteers are a huge part of their success. For instance, they are in the final stages of a recent $20 million capital campaign that will see the opening of a new, LEED Gold certified Girls Club Center for Community in 2012. It will serve hundreds of economically disadvantaged girls and their families.

Above all, the Girls Club is a place for girls to feel empowered and learn of the many possibilities that exist in the world from other strong, independent women. The organization looks for mentors who can serve as role models and inspire their mentees through the relationships they develop over time.

Dedication is highly valued as many of the young women come from somewhat troubled backgrounds, and lack the stability necessary to feel confident in making important decisions.

For more information, visit the organization’s website or email kate@girlsclub.org.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, Interviews, Organizations | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Eastside Domestic Violence Program: Changemakers for 30 years

Mar 1st, 2012 by

Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) has been working for 30 years in East King County to help survivors of domestic violence (DV) along their path to safety and raise awareness within local communities of this wide-spread social problem. Started in 1982 by volunteers moved by two consecutive DV homicides in the Bellevue area, EDVP has grown to one of the largest DV organizations in King County and has served over 110,000 survivors of domestic violence since its inception.  Interested in volunteering? EDVP’s next volunteer training starts on March 5, 2012. Please contact Rachel Olsen no later than March 5th at: rachelo@edvp.org.

EDVP frames domestic violence as a human rights issue; this aligns with other international organizations work on women’s human rights such as UN Women. Indeed, DV affects 1 out of 3 women globally and 1 in 4 in the United States. In King County alone, a 2006 Group Health study reveals that 44% of women are survivors of DV.

One.

A core reason for EDVP’s success in serving survivors of domestic violence is its extensive and committed network of volunteers. EDVP relies on volunteers to provide between 10,000-15,000 hours of work a year. This enables EDVP to continue to provide quality services despite the challenging economic times. At any given time there are between 400-500 volunteers who provide non-direct service assistance (fundraising, outreach, event-planning) as well as approximately 75 volunteers who provide direct service (crisis line,support group facilitation, shelter support).
Volunteer Coordinator, Rachel Olsen, has been instrumental in recruiting volunteers and increasing volunteer retention over the last three years. In an interview with her, she explained why volunteers are so vital for EDVP.

“We literally could not function without volunteers as they provide thousands of hours of service. Without them our crisis line would not be adequately staffed after hours, our on-going prevention work in the schools would be compromised, we couldn’t offer the same number of support groups. In addition,volunteers talk about DV to their friends and family and learn how to respond appropriately to DV outside the context of EDVP. They become important allies in the DV movement.”

In.

What are possible volunteer opportunities at EDVP?
“For direct service we need people in the following areas: answering the crisis line, co-facilitating our women’s or children’s support groups, shelter advocacy, legal advocacy and even internships. For internships we have opportunities in the Youth Outreach program, for legal advocacy and at our transitional housing program, My Friend’s Place (MFP). MFP is unique because it offers both confidential shelter and DV services as well as out-patient chemical dependency treatment. We also create personalized internships to fit the needs of the individual. We can accommodate Bachelor’s and Master’s level interns.”

What can volunteers expect to learn or gain from volunteering with EDVP?
“When volunteers go through our training, this is seen as a jumping off point for direct service work. The 25 hour training, which is offered twice a year in March and August, is packed with information. We strive not only to give facts and figures, but context and depth to our work, so they’re learning compassion, patience, boundaries and how to be an effective helper. They learn sad truths about the way things are; how life-destroying DV can be and that DV is more pervasive than they once thought. I think it is world-view changing for a lot of people. They also learn about how a non-profit runs from the teamwork of the staff to fundraising, to understanding requirements placed by donors, to seeing how few options exist for survivors of DV and how much non-profits could benefit from more resources.”

Can men volunteer too?
“Of course! We love our male volunteers. They provide a unique perspective and we appreciate their allyship. Their presence shows survivors and their kids that good men are out there. Due to the nature of trauma, especially if they experienced DV as a child as well, survivors can have a warped perspective on DV – that it is the norm for intimate partner relationships. With male volunteers survivors see that it is possible for men to be compassionate, nurturing and caring. We would love to have more men involved.”

Three.

Lastly, EDVP functions on an “empowerment philosophy” – what does that mean and why is it important?
“This is the theoretical framework underlying our work. It dictates our day-to-day interactions with our program participants. In an intimate partner relationship where DV is present, the survivor’s personhood and agency has been methodically taken from them. We view our job as providing a safe space for them to grow and heal and regain their sense of self without being directive. We want to support them in having their journey happen naturally because lasting change is only truly possible when it comes from within. Hiccups and mistakes have to be OK and we are there to support them through the process.”

To find out more about EDVP services, visit www.edvp.org.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, Interviews, Organizations | 1 Comment »

One Response to “Eastside Domestic Violence Program: Changemakers for 30 years”

  1. karen and richard says:
    March 1, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Thank you, Danielle, for your ongoing effort to educate the public and your work in behalf of the betterment of womens’ lives. And yes, we really need good men to help! We hope your appeal for volunteers for EDVP is very successful.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Inspire Local Changemakers in Your Community

Feb 16th, 2012 by

Do you know an awesome Non-Profit Organization empowering women and girls? Do they have volunteer opportunities?

With Stirring the Fire’s “Inspire Changemakers” campaign we are reaching out to you, citizen journalists, to share on our blog the great ways to become a changemaker in your community.

For International Women’s Day, March 8th, we will feature 8 volunteer opportunities with organizations working to empower women and girls for 8 consecutive days from March 1st to March 8th.  Stirring the Fire will advise chosen contributors to meet the following requirements.

Requirements

You must interview the organizations about the positions available.
You must write a guest blog post that includes at least one image.
Phone interviews transcribed into the post are acceptable.  Video interviews are a bonus.
The organizations must have programming and volunteer opportunities that works directly with women and/or girls.
The volunteer opportunity can either be local or global.

Email sandy@stirringthefire.org to pitch your idea by Feb 28th.  Interview guidelines and tips will be provided.  7 contributors will be chosen and published on stirringthefire.org/blog.  Each contributor will receive a small signed print from the Stirring the Fire exhibition, by our founder, Phil Borges.

Tags: , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

All in a Month’s Work: Emily Lohmeyer Wraps Up her Experience at Sure 24

Feb 7th, 2012 by

Editor’s Note: This week our fellowship recipient Emily Lohmeyer checks in with us about her volunteer position with Sure 24, a children’s orphanage in Kenya, and wraps up her one month experience abroad.  Below, she talks about the changes at Sure 24 that she has been a part of, and the challenges some of the children have been able to overcome.

I’ve returned to the States and settled back in to my school and work routine. It’s a little jolting to transition between such drastically different environments. However, it’s been helpful to return to a learning and working environment that lets me reflect on my experience. It was difficult leaving the kids after I had spent every waking moment with them for a month, but I was happy to see the progress that had been made since I had first arrived.

I spent my last day in Kenya waiting with Nancy to see her surgeon.  My patience was tested as we spent hours traveling to the hospital, the rest of the day in the waiting room, and then she was never seen by the doctor. Fortunately she was able to be seen a couple of days later, and her checkup was positive. The doctor said that there was no discharge, which is a good sign that she is not in any danger. Nancy has also received invitations to a number of good secondary schools based off of her KCPE exam results. She is eager to resume her studies, which will begin later this month.

Nancy, cheerful as always, cooking ugali

It was incredible to see the progress that was made on the girls’ dormitory while I was there and I am happy to say it is now open!

Sammy and I in front of the Girl's Dorm, just finished shoveling.

When I first arrived the inside was far from finished. The girls and I would frequently walk by and check on the progress as they awaited the completion of their new home. They each knew which room they would be moving in to and their smiles easily betrayed how very excited they were. On some days we were able to help with the construction by shoveling sand and rocks from the inside, painting doors, and fitting window panes.

Nova and Nikky, a fellow volunteer, installing window panes

After the doors had been installed

Yesterday I received an email from Sammy, the director, who informed me that the girls dorm officially opened on Thursday and the girls have already spent three nights there. I wish I would have been able to see the grand opening, but witnessing the quick progress and the girls’ anticipation was a gift in itself. The nine girls who I was primarily working with make up the first of the 48 girls who will occupy the dorm. Another twelve girls will be transferred from the Jamii center. First and foremost, the new dorm means greater security for these girls. They have never been in an exclusively female institution, and the old center was still in a vulnerable part of the town. Secondly, it will give them greater access to education. They used to walk over an hour to school every day, which made it difficult for the young girls to attend classes. The school they will now be attending is only a two-minute walk from the dormitory!  These girls will transform their communities by showing what girls are capable of when they are given an opportunity to succeed. They are bright, hard-working, and have the vision to better their own lives and those around them.

The stories and kindness that the girls shared with me melted my heart and inspired me. My experience made me more appreciative of the power of international aid yet also aware of the complexities involved. In the coming weeks I will be attending lectures on this and other topics at the Institute for Peace and Justice on campus as I continue to reflect upon my experience.

Tags: , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Transforming Steps: Stand with Survivors of Sex Trafficking, Stand Against Exploitation

Jan 30th, 2012 by

Editor’s Note: This week we would like to feature Kolkata Sanved, an NGO that is utilizing dance movement therapy as a means of rehabilitation for survivors of human trafficking. Sydney Skov shares with us her volunteering experience with the NGO and how it has inspired her.

Passions for dance and human rights brought me to volunteer in Kolkata, India with an incredible organization using dance to perpetuate social change. While volunteering, I have seen how dance can save lives.

Rehearsal

 Kolkata Sanved is an NGO utilizing dance movement therapy (DMT) as a holistic and innovative method of rehabilitation for survivors of human trafficking and violence. Sanved holds DMT classes in shelter homes, schools, red light areas, on railway platforms and in hospitals, allowing youth who have experienced trauma to heal, develop confidence and identify their potentials as human beings.

 Their work inspires me every day. I have been lucky to teach and perform with amazing women who have been through the Kolkata Sanved DMT program and who have gone on to train as dance movement therapy trainers. They now work for Sanved, earning livelihoods for their families while advocating for human rights through performance.

 Seven of these young women who are dancers, artists and anti-trafficking advocates have the opportunity to perform in London this March as part of a huge international campaign, Transforming Steps, designed to raise awareness of human trafficking before this year’s Olympic Games. This is no ordinary opportunity; the dancers have been working with the brilliant choreographer Mafalda Deville to present a piece highlighting the true stories of survivors and they will be performing the work at the world famous Sadler’s Wells Theater. It’s an amazing opportunity for the dancers as well as a groundbreaking way to raise awareness of human trafficking on a global scale through the arts.

 To make it happen, Kolkata Sanved needs your help! Funds are still needed to send three of the dancers to London. Stand with survivors and stand against sex trafficking by contributing to the campaign through indiegogo (http://www.indiegogo.com/Transforming-Steps?a=374374). Learn more about the initiative on the Transforming Steps blog (http://transformingsteps.blogspot.in/). Let’s help these dancers make history.  

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, Organizations | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

Intimate Interviews in Pabna: Portraits & Words from Two Sex Workers

Jan 23rd, 2012 by

Editor’s Note: Jeremy Fokkens is a self-taught photographer from Calgary, Canada in both mediums of film and digital photography.  Jeremy travels extensively capturing images while fulfilling his appetite for adventure, cultures, and his love for portraying people around the world.  He hopes to inspire others through his imagery and story telling from around the world.  Below he shares with us his most recent encounters in Pabna, Bangladesh.

Bornna & Lobani

On the bus to Pabna I met two fantastic Bengali’s who offered to take me around the town of Pabna by getting me access to anything I so curiously decide to photograph. In my previous blog post you had the opportunity to see inside the mental institution where Reza and Licholn were able to volunteer their time and them-selves helping me gain the access I needed. Reza and Licholn also work for a local initiative where basic health education, STD testing/treatment, condoms, and support is offered to the thousands of sex workers (8,000-10,000) that call Pabna and the surrounding area home.  Lighthouse supports woman,men, and children involved in the sex trade offering free services for sexual education, psychological support (counselors), and treatment for any basic medical attention.

This blog post is dedicated to the woman and children that are continually being exploited around the world through trafficking, prostitution, and abuse. This is a topic that has always interested me. I do not know exactly what specifically it is about this topic that interests me but I can not help but think how sex workers have no alternative choice in a life when there are no other options available.

Lincholn

One evening Reza, Licholn, and I were walking through one of the markets after dinner talking about the organization they work for. Suddenly, a woman came up to the two of them and started enthusiastically joking with them. She was short, wearing a beautiful dark maroon Sari that was covered in sequence and gem stones. Her hair was beautifully curled and her make-up done as if she was about to take part in the next up and coming Bollywood film. Suddenly Reza opens his bag and hands this woman what looked like to be about 20-30 condoms. After the three of them saw my reaction they immediately started laughing and told me that she was a very close friend, she was also a sex worker in Pabna.

This woman was smiling, laughing, and I could not help but notice how confident she carried herself through her posture, body language, and how open she was open about her sexuality in a Muslim society as she joked around with the three of us, Reza obviously doing the translating. My curiosity got the best of me and I couldn’t help but wanting to seize an opportunity asking her if she would be open to an interview, followed by having her portrait taken, and if she knew any other woman that would be open to this suggestion. Without hesitation, tilting her head to the side with a cheeky smile letting me know she would be more than happy, not before expressing how excited she was to get all dulled up for a photo-shoot and having her photograph taken. We agreed on a time, date, locations, we then said our goodbyes, and parted ways until the interviews the following day.

Reza

The day of the interview, Lobani (Woman I met at the night market), Reza, Licholn, Bornna (Lobani’s friend and sex worker), and I went to a guesthouse where the owner of the guesthouse gave us a meeting room free of charge. When we entered the room there were couches and chairs surrounding one main table in the center with two windows offering ample enough light to take photographs. I briefed Reza and Licholn before the interview on what I was going to ask Bornna and Lobani and what I needed from them in regards to translating. As always they were SUPER awesome, supportive, and cooperative.

I sat Lobani and Bornna down and told them what my intentions were behind the interviews, asking them to answer the questions honestly, and to not feel obligated to answer or talk about anything they felt uncomfortable with. I wanted them to be as comfortable and open with me as much as they would allow me to.

When I first met Bornna she had a stone cold sarcastic attitude about her. She was very direct and to the point. She walked with confidence and would speak her mind without hesitation to anyone her challenged her, including men. I found loyal characteristics in her personality surviving on her “treat me as how you want to be treated” attitude or you will feel this woman’s wrath…. Literally.

Lobani

At first glance Lobani is very short in stature with curves similar to Aretha Franklin. Her eyes are bright allowing her to smile with her eyes like a shy eight year old with a subtle carefree softness to her personality. I found her a bit mysterious yet her smile and child like attitude could melt anyone’s soul with pure love.

The interviews lasted about 1.5 hours, which included a list of questions that I asked both Lobani and Bornna.

The following text will go through the interview so you have an idea of what was asked and how they responded.

LOBANI INTERVIEW:

How old are you?

L-I am 32 years old.

Are you married?

L-I was once married but my husband left me. He left me for another woman when I was 19.

Do you have any children?

L-I do not have any children.

How long have you been a sex worker?

L-Ten years.

Lobani immediately breaks down and we take ten minutes so she can regain her composure.

Where are your parents?

L-My parents have passed on.

Who are the men that come to you for sex?

L-Police, politicians, husbands, NGO executives, charity workers, and single men.

Where do you live?

L-I live alone in town and usually every two months or so I have to find a new place to live, as my landlord does not want a prostitute living in his building.

How much are you able to earn from each man that comes to you for sex?

L-I make on average about 300-500 taka per session ($3.50-$6.50) it works out to be around 10,000 Taka per-month ($125.00)

Do you see yourself getting married again?

L-No

Why not?

L-I have lost faith in ALL men, and I will never trust another men as long as I am alive.

Bornna

Bornna Interview

How old are you?

B-I am 27 years old.

Were you ever married?

B-My husband left me just like Lobani’s husband left her for another woman.

Do you have any children?

B-I do, her name is Shonile and she is nine years old.

How long have you been a sex worker?

B-Eight years.

How often do men come to you for sex?

B-It depends; some months and weeks are busier than others. It is never consistent it’s always up and down.

Where do you live?

B-I live with my mother.

Does she know you’re a sex worker?

B-NO.

What would your mother do or how would she react if she found out about your situation?

B-…(Making a choking action with her hands).

Have you re-married?

B-No and I will never get married again.

Have you ever suffered from any physical abuse from the men that come to you for sex?

B-Every week.

What exactly do these men do to you?

B-Spit on me, kick me, punch me, call me names, and rape me when I don’t want to give them sex.

How many times have Lobani and you been raped?

B-It happens about twice a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. On some occasions groups of men will come where only one person commits to payment and the rest of them will rape me.

What do you Lobani and Bornna hope for in life?

B-We pray for when life will get better, to stop doing things we are ashamed of, to live a life with happiness.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted in Announcements, From the Field, Interviews | No Comments »

Leave a Comment

Comment moderation is in use. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly.

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »