The Motivational Speaker

Archive for the ‘Social Justice’ Category

I just got this feedback letter:

Dear Ronit,

Our very sincere thanks for your wonderful presentation at our recent Annual General Meeting, on the topic: ‘Helping Children and Young People Address Racism and Prejudice’.

We always try to have at our AGM a speaker who will challenge and stretch our ideas about the way we, as a small interfaith women’s association, can fulfil our aspiration towards building a culture of peace.  Issues of racism and prejudice are at the heart of this challenge.

Your presentation about the Together for Humanity project, and in particular the findings from your surveys of children and young people, as well as descriptions of some of the processes you use in your transformational work, was a truly engaging experience for all those present.   This was evident from the high degree of participation throughout, in questions and comments to yourself and the general discussion which the ideas provoked.

My own hope is that some of our members may have been motivated by your presentation to volunteer for the Together for Humanity project should the opportunity arise.  We look forward to continuing contact with you and your important work.

Sincerely,

Wendy Flannery
Coordinator
Believing Women for a Culture of Peace

The Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre invites members of all communities to its International Day of Peace Commemoration on Thursday, 17 September, 2009, 7:15-9:00pm.

I will be delivering one of the key presentations of this evening.

In 2002, the United Nations designated September 21^st each year as the International Day of Peace (IDP), as a day to encourage all peoples and countries to make a commitment to world unity, a global ceasefire and non-violence.

This event is an opportunity for individuals, communities and organizations to witness and participate in a multi-faith commemoration for peace. In the lead up to the IDP, it will enable participants to link with millions of people and many governments, regional and non-government organizations, faith/religious communities and educational institutions engaged in IDP events.

The Program will include:

• A multimedia, multi-faith reflection on Peace
• Two presentations on peacemaking
  • A lasting peace in Sri Lanka?
    The way forward from a Christian perspective
    - Rev. Pan Jordan
  • The challenge of peace-building among children and youth
    The Together for Humanity experience
    - Ronit Baras
• Musical performances for peace

Please RSVP by September 11
Dianne/Yaseen  3735-7052 or mfc@griffith.edu.au

For MFC location (Bldg. N35) and parking
see map at http://www.griffith.edu.au/ofm/parking/

Full invitation flyer fo IDP 2009

See you there,
Ronit

I have just run a cultural awareness workshop for government officers dealing with the provision of housing to low-income families. While I was telling them about cultures, languages and acceptance, they also told me some amazing things.

Low-cost housing is provided to many migrant and refugee families. In fact, as soon as people are recognized as refugees, they are immediately entitled to government housing until they can afford their own residence.

As humane as this may seem, the locals object to this privilege and protest against it as being discriminating against them. They say, "Why should someone come into the country and get something straight away, while others who grew up here don't?"

The obvious answer, "Where would they go if they have no family and no friends here?" But this answer doesn't satisfy some of the locals in government housing, who sometimes abuse the newcomers verbally and even by damaging their property.

If this is not bad enough, reports are that migrant families in government housing are polite, quiet and considerate. They take excellent care of their dwellings and carry out all of their obligations on time, despite the occasional harassment.

Another amazing fact is that in some migrant and refugee units, there are as many as 21 people living in 3 bedrooms! Compared to where they came from, they think it is better, because at least nobody is trying to kill them...

Now, equipped with their new cultural awareness, the housing officers can help refugees and migrants assimilate quicker into society, while making the locals feel a lot better about accepting them.

God, I love my work!
Ronit