Women for Women International Celebrating Mother's Day 2011

A Journey of a Thousand Sisters

By Natasha L. Foreman, MBA

Author and Women for Women International supporter, Lisa Shannon has released her new award-winning book, A Thousand Sisters, in paperback. The book chronicles Lisa’s transformation from mere supporter to leader of a mass movement for Congolese women; as it shares stories of the world's deadliest war and crimes committed against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Lisa’s book captures the essence of why the DRC has been noted as what she calls, “…the worst place on Earth to be a woman” as well as the heart-touching accounts of friendship and bonds formed through a shared struggle for respect, dignity, freedom, independence, and equal rights.

The paperback version has a new epilogue as well as a guide for book clubs which would be perfect for YWTF chapters to consider for an upcoming book club selection. To learn more about the book and Lisa Shannon click here.  To purchase the book visit: A Thousand Sisters

Read Lisa’s story and then think of ways you can help women domestically and abroad so that you can do your part to help heal the wounds and eliminate violence against women of all ages.

Natasha L. Foreman, MBA is a Business and Entertainment Consultant, Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, and Blogger. She has been an YWTF-ATL advocate at large since 2010 and she recently joined the YWTF-ATL Board of Directors as the Communications and Marketing Director. Natasha can be reached via email at natasha.ywtf@gmail.com.

Also Don’t Forget to Register Today for the ASCEND 1^st Annual Leadership Conference for Younger Women at:

 ascendyoungerwomen.eventbrite.com

Be the Voice of the Voiceless: Fight Violence Against Women

By Natasha L. Foreman, MBA

According to an article written by Joy Wanja, a reporter for the newspaper the East African, in ten short years there have been tens of thousands of women and children abducted and raped in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the province of Goma, sexual violence is being used as a weapon of warfare to intimidate, instill fear, recruit children into the military, and clear out villages (leaving them exposed for looting and mining). The militia is raping women and children in front of their relatives, forcing the males in their family to watch or take part in the rapes. Since rape victims are seen as unclean in this culture, they are shunned by their families and seen as outcasts. Rape has become such the norm that it has grown into the cultural fabric of the DRC. 

These families will never be the same, and the militia members responsible may never be punished for this crime. Victims of rape in countries like DRC live in constant fear because either the attackers are never caught, or the ones who are arrested are never punished- only released a few days later and free to rape again. To read more about these horrendous stories and to find links about organizations that are joining forces to take a stand against this criminal behavior visit The East African website.

 

Natasha L. Foreman, MBA is a Business and Entertainment Consultant, Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, and Blogger. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in Management Education, and a certificate in College Teaching. Natasha has been involved in various philanthropic and grassroots movements for over 20 years. She is actively involved in her community, visiting and speaking with students at local K-12 schools throughout Metro Atlanta, Georgia and Orange County, California. Natasha can be reached via email at natasha@natashaforeman.info, through her Paradigm Life blog atparadigmlife.blogspot.com, or you can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/natashaforeman