Today we feature a special Silver Lining post to share ten uplifting stories about using Mother’s Day as a catalyst for action on the issue of violence against women.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 1: Actor Javier Bardem talks about violence against women in the Congo, where rates of sexual violence against women and girls are the highest in the world. In a PSA for Raise Hope for Congo, Mr. Bardem asks people, on Mother’s Day, to give mothers and daughters in the Congo a chance for peace.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 2: Nicholas Kristof writes in the New York Times about people who have chosen to “commemorate motherhood by saving the lives of mothers halfway around the world.” His story focuses on Edna, a nurse and midwife in Somalia who provides family planning services and works to end female genital mutilation.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 3: Florence Crittenton Programmes in the U.S. state of South Carolina has started an interesting initiative. Called “Adopt a Mom to Honour a Mom,” the programme enables donors to sponsor a young mom to help end the destructive cycle of violence and poverty.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 4: The idea of a creating a Mother’s Day gift with meaning is behind this idea from Inspired Gift Giving: small cello bags filled with toiletries, cosmetics, or fragrance for the women in a shelter. Full details are here, in a post called Honour Victims of Domestic Violence This Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 5: A mobile spa in the U.S. state of Michigan is also hoping to pamper women in a local shelter. The Lavender Mobile Spa will spend Mother’s Day weekend at HAVEN, a centre that counsels victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 6: In Rhode Island, also in the U.S., the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County holds a Mother’s Day Garden Campaign to raise money for victims of domestic violence. The campaign sells cards and put out a call to local artists for a design that signifies the theme of “new beginning.” The winning design was submitted by an artist who is an abuse survivor herself.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 7: Still on the theme of gifts, middle school students in the American city of Stamford, CT are teaming up with a moving company in the Movers for Moms programme. The programme collects everyday necessities, such as toiletries, soaps, lotions and baby formula, and donates them to local shelters.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 8: A consortium of domestic violence activists in San Francisco, CA held a Mother’s Day press conference on May 5 to ensure that funding for their services is maintained despite the city’s budget deficit. They noted that because of their work, domestic violence homicides are down 80%!
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 9: The Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence in Corvallis, OR held an upbeat event on May 7. Called the Mother’s Day Run/Walk for Safe Families, the event included a 5K run/walk and a Family Fun Fair. Funds raised help sustain the organisation’s shelter, advocacy services and education programme.
Mother’s Day Silver Lining Story 10: Lastly, a lovely fundraising and awareness-raising idea from a group of women’s shelters in Ontario, Canada. The annual Daisy of Hope campaign runs during the month of May. The campaign sells daisy pins as part of a “province-wide public awareness and fund raising initiative aimed at ending the vicious cycle of domestic abuse and promoting violence-free living.”
We wish a mothers everywhere a happy and peaceful Mother’s Day full of love and laughter!