From Maria: GUATEMALA!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

I am very excited to hear from everyone!!! This program has really accelerated the rythm at which things are happening.

I have some amazing news. I am totally excited that the First Lady of Guatemala, Wendy de Berger, is travelling to Washington (I get to go with her) to meet with Vital Voices and other organizations from September 4-9!!! The idea is to see how in Guatemala, we can form an organization that can keep up the work she has been doing while in Government, and keep supporting women that are starting to feel good about themselves, that are starting to see there is an amazing world out there. The dream is to set up an organization in Guatemala that " generates opportunities for Guatemalan Women in Political, Social and Economical spaces", in Wendy`s words!!! AID Guatemala and the Embassy are helping us to do this!!

She is an amazing woman that has been working for other women long before becoming the First Lady of Guatemala. When she talks, I get chills because of the energy and spirit of how she expresses herself!!! She connects people to the VISION!!!

I knew this program what going to be great, but it is oppenning possibilities for our BIG, BIG DREAMS!!

Thanks again, Janet, for this great program!!!!

A big hug to all,
Maria (from Guatemala)

From Xoliswa: Thoughts about war...

I returned from Germany Mid August, it was a swell experience. It coincided with South Africa being handed the burner for 2010 and the unveiling of the FIFA. It was really a great experience for me. Of course these wonderful experiences get tainted by what the world is doing. As global citizens we cannot ignore what is happening between Israel and Lebanon. I happen to know two women one from Beirut and the other from Israel. Its all atrocious, the one tells of her daughter’s house being flattened down, then the other tells of a sister and family killed, its horrible. Oh goodness, you really wonder if WE as individual human beings, as families, as communities as interest groups etc, really cannot do anything? You hear that the Congo is getting its first elections in more than 40 years and you go wow!!! This is the world I want to belong to and the world my children must grow up in, the next you hear some testosterone driven men are killing civilians and you wonder why you chose to be a parent….. I guess we each have a role and there are many silent ways in which we can play it effectively, as mothers, business people, community members etc. I think about you all.

Regards,

Xoliswa