Over the course of the past few years there have been some very exciting developments for women in the Balkans and as such, for women everywhere. The Women in Black led the Women’s Court Initiative to support women in redefining and achieving justice for their war experiences and creating opportunities for testimony from some of the women. There was a great deal of effort in creating services leading up to the testimony as this is a very dangerous thing for the women to do and the women needed a great deal of preparation and protection. Continue reading
Globalgirl Media
Globalgirl Media is dedicated to empowering high school age girls from under-served communities around the world through media, leadership and journalistic training to have a voice in the global media universe and in their own futures.
We at Ashlar Center believe in this IMPORTANT work! See the video’s witnessing Kosova women.
GlobalGirl Media invests in girls as agents of change by providing concrete skills with which to improve their personal situations. Continue reading
Love is what makes me strong – Elife’s Story
You may have everything and then lose everything, but still you continue living, because human beings are stronger than stones. From my story I want people to understand from all that I have been through and that life has no guarantees. Kosova: I’m Elife, a 45 year old mother of two children. Married to a man that I loved. I was lucky because my parents gave me permission to choose my own husband compared to… Continue reading
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Teuta: Escape and Return
In this piece, Besire, a trauma psychotherapist/psychologist in Pristina, Kosovo interviews and makes a few comments for context. She herself was a refugee who survived very difficult times. She wanted the women’s stories to break through the walls of her office into the world and did the women. here must s be pointed out that stories are given with the consent of clients. These stories need to be held, cradled and the women celebrated for their… Continue reading
Unable to Speak Their Truth
An Ashlar associate describes a barrier to healing for women in traditional cultures who were raped during war. (note: English is not her native language – these are her words with little editing) Before the war, our society had close connections, large families which were very close emotionally. Since the war ended, not only had huge losses, with regard to the dead, but also has a sense of detachment, lack of connections. Many large families… Continue reading
Childhood Trauma and Lifetime Health
Journey of Survivors: Sexual Violence in War
Eliminating Sexual Violence in War, was the summit held in London on June 10th, 2014. This Summit welcomed over 900 experts, NGOs, survivors, faith leaders, and international organizations from more than 140 countries. It was the biggest global meeting on this issue ever convened. According to Amnesty International, rape is now used deliberately as a military strategy… by the spread of AIDS, and by eliminating cultural and religious traditions. British Foreign Secretary William Hague co-chaired… Continue reading
Odette: No home, no shoes
I did not know that I was a refugee until one day in school in Uganda. I must have been six or seven years old. We were playing a skipping rope game with teams. I was very good at it jumping up and down in my little bare feet – I did not get shoes until I was much older. My team was winning. One of the other team’s children didn’t like that. “Go back… Continue reading
Flora: Tanks in the Front Yard
Flora, a 50 year old woman, and mother of six children, is from rural Drenica Valley in Kosovo, the valley that was the hardest hit and most destroyed by war. When the war started in Drenica in February 1998, Flora’s civilian husband, Faton, was attacked in their home by the Serbian police several times and nearly beaten to death in front of Flora and the children. When the beating was over, Faton knew he would… Continue reading
Using Christmas Lights to Fight A War
Peace Building with stories, trees, and Christmas tree lights. “Being generous makes us stronger.”
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” (Rabindranath Tagore)