The Heart of the Matter

August was a busy and significant month for UNIFEM Singapore, with the National Committee not only celebrating its tenth year in Singapore but also playing host for the first time to international delegates, including the Executive Director of UNIFEM, Ms. Ines Alberdi, for the UNIFEM Global National Committee meetings. Also on our calendar was the UNIFEM In Conversation Series with distinguished guest Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan, winner of the Women of Courage Award 2009, who provided an enriching afternoon of insight into various issues related to governance, religious freedom and women's rights.

These momentous occasions served to remind us that a sustained commitment towards the empowerment of women lies at the core of our organisation. However, just as we celebrate our milestones and achievements, we also want to pay tribute to the people who have not only worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these events to fruition but who have also committed time and effort to ensure the smooth running of these events in ways big and small. This month's issue is therefore dedicated to our wonderful volunteers and interns - thank you and kudos to you! We would also like to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Pia Bruce and Ms. Mellisa Chong, who have recently joined us as General Manager and Office Manager respectively, and our new interns, Alexandra Wharton-Smith and Sonia Sandhu.

First off, we bring you an interview with our lovely interns Wu Dan and Danielle Zheng, who will be sharing on their experience with UNIFEM. We are also pleased to introduce a brand new section, UNIFEM Recommends, which will be our monthly guide to good reads, films or events. Last but not least, we also bring you reports from our latest events.

Help us keep UNIFEM Singapore going by supporting our fundraising events, attending our film screenings, or simply by participating in discussions on our Facebook page! Your support will go a long way in helping us assist women in the region.

UNIFEM Singapore wishes you a fantastic month ahead!

Behind The Scenes - Wu Dan and Danielle Zheng

Our interns, Wu Dan
and Danielle Zheng

Ever since they joined the UNIFEM team three months ago, Dan and Danielle have become indispensible members in our office, helping out with day-to-day tasks with great aplomb. Danielle took care of media relations and events management while Dan helps to coordinate our public education program and helps with administrative duties.

Danielle recently graduated from the National University of Singapore with an Honours degree in English Literature, and will be in the UK this coming fall for her Masters degree. She hopes to enact social change and empower others by pursuing a career in the government, in particular the education service. Dan hails from a small town in Hei Long Jiang in the northeastern part of China. She holds a bachelor degree in English Language and Literature at the Beijing International Studies University and is currently studying for a Masters in International and European Relations at the Linkoping University of Sweden. She would like to work in the arena of international development management in the future.

This month, we get them to share their experience at UNIFEM with us.

1. What led you to take up an internship with UNIFEM?

Danielle: In University, I was exposed to many ideas and theories on feminism, cultural and gender studies, and I was looking to gain work experience in a place where these ideas are translated into social action. UNIFEM Singapore was especially appealing because of its affiliation with international and regional networks.

Dan: I was studying international relations in Sweden before I came to Singapore. Working in an international organisation is an ideal starting point for a career with a degree in international relations. Also, working in Singapore will be another international experience that will be very beneficial for me to pursue a career within international organisations.

2. What has your experience at UNIFEM been like?

Danielle: Extremely rewarding. I could not have hoped for a better working environment! As a rather typical Singaporean, most of my friends are Singaporean. But in the past months I've met so many people from all walks of life with diverse cultural backgrounds, and I have learned so much simply from friendships and conversations. Everyone is very encouraging and positive, and I look forward to work everyday. Also, I have had awesome opportunities to be involved in events and projects such as the Day Off campaign, the human trafficking campaign, and especially the recent National Committee Global Meeting, where we hosted representatives from UNIFEM National Committees all over the world. Even though work can get rather hectic and busy, it's not difficult to get inspired and motivated - not just because I truly believe in the cause, but more so because of the wonderful commitment from UNIFEM's staff, volunteers and supporters.

Dan: My experience at UNIFEM is exactly what I have expected. It is an office of great diversity, with staff and volunteers coming from all over the world. I am coordinating an overseas project and I am very excited to have gotten the chance to participate in overseas missions.

3. What lessons and skills have you acquired through your internship?

Danielle: Handling communications and events has compelled me to sharpen my interpersonal skills, and to be more organised and focused while handling a myriad of tasks. But more importantly, I've learnt that creating social change is real work - it takes great effort and planning to come up with an effective strategy that would engage the people who really need to be sensitised to the plight of the marginalised.

Dan: I have gained quite a lot of communication and interpersonal skills that are the ones I lacked the most before. I have learned to manage my time more effectively and efficiently, to work out a time frame for every task and to meet the deadline.

4. What have been some of your most memorable or rewarding experiences so far?

Danielle: I truly enjoyed all the projects and events I've been involved with, but organising the National Committee Global Meeting was definitely the best experience at this internship. Even though I had to work really hard to see to every little and large task, we had a great team and we managed to host one of the most productive and inspiring National Committee Global Meetings ever. I was in contact with the delegates from many countries - Japan, Finland, Australia, Italy, etc. - and got a first-hand experience of the international network of UNIFEM.

Another highlight of my internship was the 10th Anniversary Reception that preceded the Global Meeting. It was a great party where we got to meet partners and supporters of UNIFEM, and also have fun with the entire UNIFEM team. Actually, the best memories that I will hold dear are the everyday things about work - the compact (tiny!) office and the wonderful building we are housed in, the great fun we have we with all our staff and volunteers, and also the pre-event madness where we scramble to get everything done (but we always manage to pull it off, of course).

Dan: The field trip to Cambodia is one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences for me. I got to learn how international organisations, international NGOs and local NGOs operate on the field and how they collaborate with each other in this developing country blighted by war three decades ago.

5. What would like to see UNIFEM achieve in the future?

Danielle: I hope that UNIFEM will become more accessible to local Singaporeans. By bridging the language barrier and finding ways to relate to ordinary Singaporeans, I believe that UNIFEM can become a household name! We need more people to believe in the cause that women's rights are human rights, and we can definitely do more to encourage healthy debate over gender issues.

Dan: I expect the NC UNIFEM Singapore will be more influential and have a high profile around the region to raise public awareness on gender issues. I also would like to see UNIFEM cooperate more with field offices to conduct meaningful and inspiring projects in this region.

UNIFEM Recommends

The first in our monthly guide to good books, films or events, UNIFEM recommends brings you some great reads that are sure to inspire.

1. Promise to Mary by Paul Jellinek

Telling the story of the acclaimed nationwide grant programme, "Faith in Action", started by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Promise to Mary shows how it brings together Americans of all faiths to provide volunteer care and support to those in their communities who are confined to their homes because of a chronic health condition or disability.

Through a series of candid interviews conducted in different parts of the country, the book takes a look at the lives of some of the marginalised and forgotten people, as well as the volunteers, who come from all faiths and all walks of life.

2. Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson

An inspirational story of one man's efforts to address *poverty, educate girls, and overcome cultural divides, Three Cups of Tea chronicles Mortenson's experiences in building the first school in the small Pakistani village of Korphe, after he recovered from an unsuccessful attempt to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain, is one of them. The project has since grown into the Central Asia Institute, which has constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Just as the book paints a intriguing portrait of the people and places Mortenson met along the way, it also argues for the need to fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls.

3. "The Women's Crusade" by The New York Times

An insightful article by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn that posits that while the injustices faced by women in poor countries today are problematic, the opportunities for progress that they represent make them the solution, not the problem. Go to www.nytimes.com

UNIFEM NC of Singapore 10th Anniversary Reception

On 5th August, the National Committee for UNIFEM Singapore commemorated its 10th Anniversary with a reception at its 2 Nassim Road Headquarters. Special guests at this event included Ms. Ines Alberdi, The Executive Director of UNIFEM, leaders and members from UNIFEM National Committees worldwide, as well as several other distinguished guests.

The evening began with an opening address by Ms. Saleemah Ismail, President of UNIFEM Singapore, who welcomed the guests to the reception. This was followed by an address of guest of honour, Ms. Alberdi, who expressed her pleasure at being a part of the occasion and also thanked Ms. Ismail for her leadership in transforming the Singapore National Committee with her firm commitment. A cheque of SGD 60,000 was also presented to Ms. Jean D' Cunha, UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for East and Southeast Asia, in support of the programmes of the Regional Office, and Ms. D' Cunha thanked the UNIFEM National Committee for the contribution.

Guests were then treated to a delicious buffet and enjoyed an evening of friendship and celebration. All in all, the event was a success, and UNIFEM Singapore would like to thank all our guests and well-wishers for supporting our cause. Most importantly, we hope to surge ahead and work towards greater empowerment of women in Singapore and the region. Here's to another ten years!

UNIFEM NC Global Meeting

On 6th and 7th August, the National Committee for UNIFEM Singapore hosted the UNIFEM National Committee Global Meeting for the first time. Covering a span of two days, the meeting was attended by leaders and members from UNIFEM National Committees worldwide as well as the Executive Director of UNIFEM, Ms. Ines Alberdi. The meeting was also significant as it followed the APEC Women Leaders Network meeting, which was also proudly hosted by Singapore on 4 and 5 August.

Day One kicked off with Ms. Saleemah Ismail, President of UNIFEM Singapore, who welcomed the delegates to Singapore and emphasised the National Committees' role in cooperating with each other and building relationships with stakeholders worldwide. This was followed by an opening address by Ms. Alberdi, who thanked the Singapore National Committee for hosting the meeting and outlined the key areas of development for UNIFEM, noting that 2008 was a record year of contributions for the organisation. She also reinforced the importance of having greater operational presence on the ground in order to increase efficacy in helping women, UNIFEM's key stakeholders.

Ms. Jean D'Cunha, UNIFEM Regional Programme Director for East and Southeast Asia, then gave an update on the region, paying particular attention to the rebuilding of Aceh after the devastation wrought by the 2006 Tsunami. She highlighted UNIFEM's role in changing traditional mindsets about gender roles, encouraging gender-sensitive policy formulation and increasing the capacity of women to run elections and to be effective leaders. She also underscored the importance of Including men and young people in the process of empowering and enabling women in the communities.

Ms. D'Cunha's comprehensive and insightful speech was followed by presentations by representatives of each delegation, who introduced their respective projects and best practices. Ms. Claudine Lim, Exco Member of the Singapore National Committee, presented on the Day Off campaign on behalf of the Singapore delegation.

After a short tea break, the delegates were introduced to key initiatives that the UNIFEM National Committee of Singapore has embarked on since its inception. These included a presentation on the UNIFEM UOB Global Fund by Ms. Audrey Chin, Advisor and founding Executive Committee member of UNIFEM Singapore, which was launched in 1999 as a pioneer in the region in terms of socially responsible investing, and an introduction to the STOP Trafficking Campaign, a collaboration with The Body Shop Singapore, ECPAT, H.O.M.E and UNIFEM Singapore, by Ms. Daisy Tan, Marketing Manager of The Body Shop Singapore.

Next, Ms. Paula Bennet, Director, Corporate Citizenship, Citi Asia Pacific, gave a very appreciated presentation on private sector partnerships. This was then followed by Ms. Preeti Kaur, Associate Account Director of advertising firm BBH, who presented on the Day Off campaign as an example of cause advertising with new media.

Ms. Mitushi Das, Donor Relations Specialist for UNIFEM, then rounded up the day with an overview of the second phase of UNIFEM's Say No to Violence Initiative.

After a long day of introductions, speeches and presentations, Day Two of the meeting followed a relatively unstructured format. Mr. Nigel Seys-Phillips, consulting professional and Director of Fulcrum Business Management Solutions, facilitated the day's discussions using a concept called Open Space, which, as its name suggests, allowed for participants to freely suggest and prioritise the agenda for discussion.

The topics that were discussed clearly reflected the main concerns common to the National Committees present: membership, public education, fundraising, donor relations, partnerships with the private sector, and so on. After several rounds of engaging discussions, the delegates devised action plans which were aimed at synergizing efforts and boosting communication amongst the NCs. One important outcome of this year's meeting in Singapore is the formation of a Global Coalition of all UNIFEM National Committees, which marks a significant milestone for greater cohesion and cooperation amongst NCs worldwide. Many delegates remarked that closer relationships were forged over the two-day meeting, with the promise of greater working opportunities in the near future.

The NC Global Meeting was followed by field trips to UNIFEM project offices in Aceh, Indonesia as well as Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Through site visits and meetings with key personnel on the ground, representatives of the NCs gained first-hand experience of the projects and programmes that help empower women in this region.

Day One

Day two

UNIFEM In Conversation Series: Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan

'Ordinary Women: Extraordinary Lives' Monday 24th August, National Committee UNIFEM Singapore and the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore hosted a special luncheon to honour Dato Ambiga Sreenevasan, recipient of the prestigious International Women of Courage Award 2009, awarded by the U.S State Department this past March.

In its third year, the award was presented by, U. S. Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton and First Lady, Ms. Michelle Obama. It recognises the courage and leadership of women as they strive for social justice and human rights. The nominees for the 2009 award hailed from Afghanistan, Guatemala, Iraq, Malaysia, Niger, Russia, Uzbekistan and Yemen. The issues they represented ranged from slavery, child marriages, and human trafficking.

The Lunch event held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel was co hosted by Ms. Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, President of the FCA and Ms. Saleemah Ismail, President of UNIFEM. Ms. Ismail introduced Dato' Sreenevasan, highlighting her work in Malaysia, her dedication to the cause of equality and justice, in particular in the fields of inter-ethnicity and religion.

As Dato' Sreenevasan retold the stories of the seven women who shared in the award this year, she made a point to explain that they are "ordinary women, leading extraordinary lives," and "...they remind us of the battles that women have to fight around the world, battles that we might not even be familiar with and it shows that some women have to show courage everyday of their lives for their daily existence."

During the question and answer session, Dato' Sreenevasan discussed many current issues ranging from race, religion and politics. There were debates surrounding the constitutional rights of women versus Sharia Law. Dato' Sreenevasan commented on how the recent press coverage has reflected on Malaysia and pointed out that while NGOs and charities play a key role in changing mindsets, the local community also needs to step up to raise important issues and keep them on the political agenda.

And how do we encourage civil society to take a stand for what is right: Dato' Sreneevasan concluded " ...by your process of empowerment and by education. As I said, these other seven women were ordinary women, they were not big leaders or anything, they were just ordinary women who had a strong sense of right and wrong ... and the way we encourage people like that would be to show them our fullest support, whichever way, from wherever corner, wherever we are."

UNIFEM Singapore would like to thank Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan for accepting the invitation to speak at the event. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Ms. Deborah Abraham without whom this event would not have been possible and Datin Dulcie for her generosity and support.

Contributors:

Text: Baey Shi Chen, Lynne Hong, Louisa Mace, Cecilia Quintanilla, Wu Dan, Danielle Zheng

Images: Redzwan Aman (29frames), Khairi Boyani (InBloom Photos), Raspal Sandhu

Say No to Violence. Say No to Rape.

The 'No to Rape' campaign seeks to make marital rape a crime in Singapore.

Launched recently on 1 July 2009, the organisers are calling for a petition to the Prime Minister to repeal two instances of marital rape immunity in the Penal Code.

To date, 1410 have signed the online petition.

To find out more, please visit http://www.notorape.com.

Join the UNIFEM Singapore Group on Facebook

UNIFEM Singapore is now on Facebook!

Our Facebook group is an active platform for UNIFEM Singapore to share updates, photos and information to all group members. It will also serve as a forum for group members to share ideas and thoughts about women's issues.

The UNIFEM Singapore Facebook group is open to everyone. To join, simply search for 'UNIFEM Singapore' on Facebook. Just a small reminder, please note that you have to sign up for Facebook before you can join the group.