Dripping In The Bucket

  Through this blog, I will look for organizations and how they might use donations for their causes by sharing all collected information based on research and interviews of people that have been working in or by supporting the cause.         

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Finding new job

Finding a job is, in fact, a job. It requires time, dedication, experience, and follow up. Even though I have a job, I decided to look for a new job; and while I have been looking for a job, I learned a lot about finding a job. In my view, there are three steps to follow: find a vacancy that my profile matches with the job description, then create the CV and write the cover letter, and wait to hopefully get a call from one of those that I applied to, and if I get lucky to get an interview, then prepare for it. 

Finding a vacancy is not that easy; there are several facts that have to be considered once you decide to apply for that opportunity. For example, a friend of mine found the perfect job description, but, it was in a duty station that is not a family-friendly duty station. With this, I want to explain that at the moment to look we have to consider if we are allowed to move to a new place, are we conforming with the situation in the duty station? What about the culture? All those topics are just extras that we have to put in the list of consideration plus the fact that not all people have the full profile that the job descriptions are written. For example, they ask for five years of experience in the specific field job plus specific BS or MS than a number of courses. Anyway, if you consider that at least 50% of the requirements fit your profile, then it can work to proceed to the second step.

Write a cover letter and CV: now that we have finally decided what job we can apply to, we need to decide what I have done in my previous jobs that can match with this one, ah! And write it in short sentences and try to explain as much as you can, and of course, all that experience has to be on two pages no more. In those two pages, you have to also write your references, degrees, courses, training, and core values. Once we complete the CV, we have to have a short but complete cover letter telling them what is not in the CV and why you are the best candidate for that position. Sound easy, but how could it be easy to write what they want to see that no one else has written before that surprises the person who reads the letter? And that person is not even the person who is looking for that worker. This is when you get lucky to get a call for an interview.

If you got to the stage of getting an interview, it could be because either you have a nice cover letter and CV and the Human resources person took the time to read it or you know someone who helps you to get your CV to someone who took the time to read it. In any way, now is the time to show that you really know what you wrote in the CV in person and that you have an idea about what they were described in the job description. 

So, how long does it take to find a job? It is not easy to know but based on all the time that we have to spend looking for a new post, writing a good CV and cover letter and then, if we get an interview, preparing for the interview. It is like when we need to work for a project. That is why I consider that looking for a job is a job indeed.

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What can we do to help to prevent, fight, or to respond GBV?

When I started to research about GBV, I found many documents; and as much as I keep reading and as much as I  get more information, at the same time, I find my self in a particular situation. I started to feel that I was holding my breath at any time that I read about it. I stopped for a while, and I asked myself why I am feeling in this way? The truth is that, as I said in my previous post, Who is at risk of GBV? We all have been or are being affected by GBV, and I have been and seen how it affects my family and me.

I will start by saying that when I was a child, I saw how my father hitting my mom became common because it happened almost every day. I am not saying that I got used to it. Actually, it made me scared, and I always wanted to run away, and eventually, I did. The point is that after year and years of seeing how all this happened, I hadn’t thought that it was GBV. I didn’t even believe that there was a way to fight, prevent, or respond. The best solution always was when my mom decided to escape. I say this happens always because, for many reasons, she used to go back to him and go through the same situation again. I don’t want to go into details of what was happening, but with this, I want to say that all that she was going through was because she was a victim and didn’t know it. She didn’t have the way to understand it; and if someone talked to her, she would surely blame herself; and she would always want to keep the hope of keeping her husband.

So, after I took the time to think about all that, I thought that all would be different if i had the information that I know now. Questions like: What would I do to help that woman to prevent, fight, or respond to that situation? The truth is that after being in that situation I know that it is hard to go into someone’s life and try to show her that it is not ok, that there are many ways to fight Gender-Based violence. What I want with this post is that all of us take a stand against GBV, and we all help girls, women, and LGBTI members, to realize their full potential that we all have. Here are my suggestions for what we can do and I will talk about some of them.

-         We will need to educate ourselves and others about GBV

-         Challenge and speak out about violence at home

-         Tackle violence against girls in school

-         Raise awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions

-         Listen from people that have been affected and respond to their needs

-         Help make the journey to school safer, especially for girls

-         Connect specialist with at-risk communities

-         Engage respected communities elders in the fight against violence

-         Engage boys and young men to become agents of change

-         Embolden girls and LGTBIs members to speak out  

We will need to educate ourselves and others about GBV: like me; I started to know once I learned about what GBV is, how it happens, and how to prevent it. But How can we learn? Well, thanks to the internet nowadays we can find books, articles or blogs like mine. The idea is to get information about how sexualized violence against women, LGBTIs and girls addressed in your country, in your region or the world.

Challenge and speak out about violence at home: it is essential to empower women with the thought that violence against women should not be tolerated.

Tackle violence against girls in school: Girls and boys are harassed and abused at school or on their way, where the girls are more vulnerable, statistics indicate that around 246 million people are victims among them, girls and boys. Counseling sessions will help girls and boys to gain confidence.

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Who is at risk of GBV

Every hour in the day, there is a victim of some form of violence, and unreported in most of the cases. It does not matter what race, class, income, ethnicity, culture it can impact everyone. “GBV does not discriminate.”

Despite all the effort of organizations around the world. It is sad to accept that nowadays still the possibility of being in risk of GBV. Women and girls are more at risk than men and boys because of their low social status or the imbalance between men and women. Follow by this fact, Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transsexual, and intersex people LGBTIs are at risk because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination is based in the presumption that all people are heterosexual, so LGBTIs don’t fit into this mould, this discrimination is the cause that LGBTIs persist in the risk of hate crimes and GVBV.

In conclusion, every one of us is in risk or friends around us, relatives, someone in the street. The point is that many times, we see and we don’t do anything either because we are scared, or as I have heard that is not my business. I remember once, we try to help a woman that was bitting by her husband, and we saw how hi every time was treating her and one I told my friend's let's do something we need to stop it. After a long argument, some decide to come with me and try to do something, the guy stops and left for a while, (I think he was embarrassed) after that, the women told as that it is not our business, that she deserves that, that all that is her fault. Of course, my friends, turn to me and were so mad more because they told me that. The point about that experience is that she does not know that she is a victim, and the way she answered and became mad to us is part of the phycological affection that that guy has on her. Like her, many women around the world have the same situation, and there is not a way to stop if we don’t try to help.

What would I do now that I know more about GBV if I would face a situation similar the one I said? That is part of the next post. Look for options and what we can do to help.

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How Can Gender-Based Violence Be Prevented

I believe the way to know how to help or find a solution is by understanding what the roots of the problems are or what are the causes. Therefore, I want to start by talking about the root causes of all forms of GBV and what are the contributing factors, and then I want to talk about the actions that can help prevent GBV.

So, what are the root causes? Most of the research indicates that the main problem lies in a society’s attitudes and the practices that have been creating gender discrimination, such as abuse of power, gender inequality and lack of belief in equality for all. Moreover, during reading different research and articles, I found three key factors: harmful gender norms, hunger, war, and conflict.   

So if these are the root causes, then what are the contributing factors? Contributing factors are those that perpetuate, influence, and extend GBV although they are not associated with it, that increase the risk of GBV, and that doesn’t directly cause it. For As an example we have: Alcohol, drug abuse, poverty, conflicts, lack of police protection, impunity, loss of the male power or roles in the family and community, retaliation, the strategy of war and collapse of traditional society and family support system.

The first step to combat the factors of GBV is to acknowledge what is happening, talking about stories of GBV life experiences, this will be important to identify strategies that help to eliminate gender-based violence. Many organizations around the world have been working to identify practices and promotional plans. Most of them include engaging men and boys, developing healthy relationships, and offering women tools that help identify violence.

I believe that the best way is preventing it from happening in the first place, addressing those roots and the structural causes. And Prevention should start early in life with public policies and interventions. A prevention strategy that we can start will be awareness-raising and community mobilization, through social media.  

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Reminder to be Generous

Today starts Ramadan, an important month for the Islamic religion. For the westerners, it is not well noted as it is more significant in Arab countries. Anyway, as I have been living in Middle East, I have found it interesting to learn and know about Ramadan. So, last year I fasted for the entire month. I would wake up in the early morning before the sunrise to eat something and drink enough water to face the day. I got too much advice of what to eat and how to face each day by day, but nothing is enough when you face how time passes and you can not drink water nor/neither eat anything for 16 hours and in the summertime. The first week was the hardest one; then I guess the body got used to it. I tried to eat as healthy as I could and drink enough water to keep my body hydrated till  I go to sleep after sunset.

But more than just learning how to fast for so long, I also learned how families gather for “iftar” (the time for eating when the sunset comes). They share a meal with everyone, families come together most of the time in the parents' house, they share their experiences, talk about how the kids are doing, and they cook the most delicious and typical dishes. I was so happy to meet a Palestinian family during my stay in Jordan. They invited me for “iftar” and shared with me many Palestine dishes. They taught me why Ramadan is essential and that it is not just about fasting; it is also a moment of reflection. The act of fasting is a call to practice self-discipline and sacrifice.

At that time, I researched more about what Ramadan means and why this month is important in Islamic culture. First, I asked all my Muslims friends what they feel during Ramadan. Most of the answers were the following:  that it is a time to reflect upon and to show compassion for the poor and less fortune, it is also a time for remembering to be generous and charitable not just by donations but also by participating in philanthropic activities. Additionally, I was told that the holy month is one of the five pillars of Islam, which also includes praying and charity, known as a “Zakat and it is obligatory for those who are financially able. There are two types of Zakat: Zakat al-Mal; which requires to give at least 2.5% of their assets to the poor and hungry, and the second one, known as Zakat-al–Fitr; it is in smaller amounts and it is required to pay before the commencement of Eid al-Firt (is the celebration at the end of Ramadan). Like fasting, Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. As a result, during this month, the people usually donate to those highly rated charities which have specific Zakat designated funds and look for the alleviation of poverty and hunger all over the world.

Thus, I looked for a way of how to donate and I found that there is a charity navigator, there you can find what cause to support. For example; I found the Humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, protecting the environment, Famine & Drought and so on. I do believe that this a good cause and that it is essential that we have time to understand human suffering. I wish that the Zakat lasted all year and not just for the reminder to be generous and compassionate for the less fortunate. I learned a lot about this experience and I hope that we all can always find ways to support those in need. Happy Ramadan for all the Muslim community.

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GBV – Gender-Based Violence

In my previous blog, I talked about GBV, and after that, I thought that not all the people know what is GBV stand for, and why it is so important or why we are even talking about it. So I decide to create a tiny summary of what I learned from GBV, why I want to learn more and why it is essential.

As women for centuries despite all the legal instrument that has been implemented, no all women and girls are benefiting from educational programs that exist. What are the reasons? Well, there are many complex and varied reasons. But the facts are that girls and women can not claim equal rights because exist exclusionism in the economic, social, and cultural environments. That is why, international organization and people that are working to generate changes, they are seeking to transform attitudes and behaviors that help to change the moral and social exclusion. Then the term GBV comes out to raise these issues within many other genders problems.

So, what does GBV mean? Gender-Based Violence is violence that is directed at an individual base in her or his biological sex or gender identity. It can be in the form of verbal, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, educational o economic deprivation and it can happen in private or public life.

Are there any effects of GBV? There are significant health consequences for the survivors as well for the families. For instead, when a member of the family has to spend money on health issues, there will not be enough money for food. Additionally, when women experience health issues as a result of GBV it can have a severe negative impact on their ability to work. This impact the community as the productivity decrease; there is absenteeism and lower earnings.  Many costs are difficult to quantify as some hide the facts for cultural beliefs or for the impact that the perpetrator has on the victim. Some of the specific impacts are injuries, self-harm, fatal outcome like homicide or suicide, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder or anxiety disorders, unwanted pregnancies, miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and low birth weight babies, alcohol, drugs, and sexually transmitted infections.  

What are the forms of GBV? It can be manifest through multiple forms of actions. One example can be a forced marriage of young girls, female genital mutilation (FGM), female infanticide, male rape, violence directed at lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender(LGBT) individuals, sexual violence, verbal abuse, trafficking persons, laws that limited women and girls’ rights. All those practices are not just violations of human rights are also an instrumentalist approach to sustain the hierarchy of gender identities. In most of the cases, women in poverty are particularly vulnerable as they don’t have access to legal services or health.

Many other specific topics are essential to talk about, that is why for the next post I would like to talk about:

Who is at risk of GBV?

How can gender-based violence be prevented?

What can we do to help?

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GENDER EQUALITY IN EDUCATION - FACTS

It is unfortunate that in 2019, girls are more likely than boys to never set foot in a school regardless of the progress we have made over the last 20 years. Most of the countries around the world have achieved gender parity in primary education, but there still are disparities for mostly girls. According to UNICEF data; Africa, The Middle East, and South Asia are the areas where there is persistent gender disparity in primary education. We all know that when a girl has the opportunity of attending school, she will provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

When I read statistics that indicate that the number of primary age girls out of the school  have decreased globally by 40 percent from 58 million to 34 million, and that the barriers that deter them from attending are associated with poverty, armed conflict, geographic remoteness, lack of school infrastructure and low level of quality education, I imagine  cases of girls across African countries that don’t have opportunities to attend schools and how they have to marry early and live teenage pregnancy, like in the Sub-Sahara where 40 percent of the girls have to marry before 18 and between 30 and 51 percent of the girls give birth before are 18. For example, cases like Rita in Tanzania, where  she was expelled when she became pregnant at 17, are common in many communities.

Key elements such as life skills building could help girls to acquire what enables them to make informed choices in the day to day challenges. When girls and women have the opportunity to have an education, they reduce their vulnerability to violence, mainly because they are aware of their rights. If Rita were educated, she could have more opportunities for employment and could have a positive impact on future generations, she could be more likely to have a late sexual debut, raise a healthy child and support her children in obtaining an education.

As the government policy is so weak or the government is working with an international organization to build them, National organization and women rights activist advocate providing comprehensive girls education within their communities. The activist that are part of a worldwide network (Gender-Base Violence Prevention Network (GBV-NET)) have pioneered an intervention to counter violence against women in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia. National Organization like The Coalition on Violence Against Women (COVAW) and The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Zambia, have been advocating for a more conducive and safe environment for girls.

These initiatives with long term goals to support the leadership of youth girls are essential for a comprehensive education of girls and the provision of safe space for their learning. These work from organizations like COVAW and YWCA show us that it can be done and we should support them and scale up to reinforce their work.

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Use of social media for a cause

Today I will like to talk about social media and philanthropy.

We are surrounded by social media. When I made this blog to discover organizations and jobs and show how they can use donations for different causes, I found many organizations everywhere. Working in philanthropy, I’ve realized that many people have found a way to earn money through social networks. Many organizations are working with it, as many people think that this is a new way to earn money at the expense of some tragic stories.

I ask myself, what is the impact of social networks in this field?  

To dimensions the impact  I would like to highlight vital social media statistics and facts. The Worldwide population, as of January 2019, is 7.7 billion of which 4.2 billion use the internet; 3.397 billion are active in social media; on average, people spend 116 minutes a day on social media; the internet user has an average of 7.6 social media accounts. The list goes on with the statistics. Thanks to the invention of the internet, 44% of the population has access. This is why companies can work with social media advertising to earn an estimated $8.3 billion per year. So I thought to myself if we watch around of 3.2 billion images shared every day, 76% of Facebook users check it daily with the average user spending 35 minutes on Facebook a day, plus having the average count of 155 friends.

Despite the exposure in social networks, using tragic stories has earned a bad name for non-profit organizations and philanthropic causes - causing more harm than good as people start to ignore negative stories as if they were guilt-inducing commercials.

With good information, applicable stories of hope, and practical application - we could use social media to elevate a social cause in a more memorable and a rewarding way. We should use the media as a tool to share the story of our participation and how it impacts someone else's life.

As Nelson Mandela says: “Millions of people …. are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free. Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.”

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Pursuing happiness while transforming lives  

In today’s life, among money issues, work, family stress, and many other obligations, it can easily feel frustrating, overworked and stressed. According to the American Psychological Association, stress is a common experience, and too many of us have felt or feel stressed regardless of any ability to deal with it. Yoga or meditation are part of the techniques that we have found that helps to relieve it. But what if I tell you that helping others, is also an influential form of stress release. Helping others and improving the lives of people that haven’t got opportunities can also provide physical health. A lot of research has found that there exists a correlation between helping others and happiness.

For example, when I feel stressed, I can help someone. In turn, when I help that person, I feel somewhat happier, and I will like to continue helping that person - or another - to continue feeling happy. Now I will continue helping people in need. The people who are more likely to assist others to make an excellent way of involving a cyclical support system between those who need help and those who need to improve their levels of stress.

So, why not? While we are pursuing our happiness, why can’t we help transform the lives of women, girls, and boys that are in a vulnerable situation? I will tell you something; I grow up in an area where there have been not many opportunities. It wasn’t easy to study, but thanks to people that helped me, I was able to complete my studies. Today, I am working in the humanitarian sector because I want to help people. I feel at peace knowing that those who helped me now has given me the power to help others, and this makes me happy.