Sky Posted May 27, 2005 Virginia:- Recognition of Achievement Award for Hawa Aden Mohamed, Education and Human Rights Activist The Somali community of North America (USA and Canada) came together on Saturday, April 23, 2005, to honor Hawa Aden Mohamed – the founder and Executive Director of the Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD) for her achievements in strengthening the capacity of women to defend and advocate for their rights in all spheres of life and the promotion of education for girls, women, youth and the community at large. On accepting the “Al Ummu Madrasa†award, Ms. Mohamed expressed her gratitude for the support and recognition from the Somali community. In the last few years, Ms. Mohamed has received several awards, including The 2005 11th Annual Ginetta Sagan Award, awarded by Amnesty International for outstanding contributions to the human rights of women and children. The 2004 Marie Claire Top Ten Women of the World award, an award “for the unsung heroines of our times, women who fight against the odds in order to help others.†The 2003 Outstanding Girl-Child and Transparency & Efficiency Award, from Novib at the Somali Civil Society Symposium in Hargeisa. The 2001 Voices of Courage Award, by the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children in New York, for bringing education to refugee and displaced children and women in the midst of conflict. The 1994 Woman of the Year Award from the Ontario Women’s Directorate in Toronto, Canada. Speaking on Saturday to representatives of the Somali community from North America, Ms. Mohamed expressed her deep gratitude, adding that the awards represented recognition for the hard work and commitment of the entire GECPD staff, the volunteers, the girls, the women, and the funders. This recognition, from one’s own community, she said, was as important as financial support. Since 1999, GECPD has been raising funds for its programs through private contributions, collections from Somalis in the Diaspora, and international organizations. All the contributors were thanked and recognized. Ms. Mohamed spoke of the importance of receiving support from the Somali community overseas saying that by raising even a small sum from the Somali community, other donors are often more willing to match, and exceed that. More importantly though, she mentioned that whether someone contributed $10 or $100, the value of the contribution was the same – knowing that there is support out there , especially from the Somali community is heartening and serves as encouragement for the people in Somalia. There is value in knowing that one’s community overseas is still concerned with the development of their homeland. Ms. Mohamed also spoke about the opportunities for skills transfer from the Diaspora to efforts within Somalia. The skills and know-how of the Somali community worldwide are a precious resource and she urged everyone to employ them to achieve the greatest improvements at home. Despite the lack of a central government for the last 15 years, a lot of work is being achieved in Somalia, as can be seen from the successes of organizations such as GECPD, and there is plenty of room and need for engagement from Somalis everywhere. About GECPD: GECPD’s dual mandate is to strengthen the capacity of women to seek, defend and advocate for their fundamental rights in all spheres of life and to promote education for girls, women, youth and the community at large for social reconstruction and the peaceful rebuilding of the Somali state. Established in 1999, GECPD has been implementing education training, and awareness raising development initiatives for the education of women and girls. GECPD does this in 3 district towns (Galkayo, Jariiban and Galdogob) and 5 villages (Harfo, Ba’ad Weyn, Beyra, Bali Busle and Bur Sallah) in the Mudug region of Puntland. After 6 years of hard work, there have been radical changes in the attitudes towards the activities of the Centre and GECPD has been successful in becoming a fully-fledged education and resource center for women and youth in Galkayo. With 38 classrooms, skills training, computer and nutrition units, a resource centre, a library capable of holding 100 people, a conference hall with the capacity to hold 80 people, two hostels and training institutes, and tree planting areas that make the Center green and environmentally friendly. The Center is also a focal point for women organizations, female teachers, women professionals and businesswomen. The centers outside Galkayo include 3-4 classrooms each as well. In addition to formal primary education for young girls and second chance education for older girls (with a total of 781 girls aged 8-18), GECPD offers integrated adult literacy programs for women. GECPD is also involved in skills training (e.g., tailoring, tie and dye, crocheting), teacher-training and capacity building programs and awareness raising programs on issues such as human rights, peace, governance, democracy, “zero tolerance for FGM†and environmental conservation. Contact Details: Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development, P. O. Box 3885, Postal Code 00506, Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone: 252-543-6457, Fax: 252-543-4501 (Attn: GECPD). Email: gecpd2004@yahoo.com. North America Contacts: In Toronto: fjdirie@yahoo.com In New York: sabshir@hotmail.com In Virginia: istanbulyusuf@yahoo.com Powered by AllPuntland.com Copyright ©AllPuntland.com more info about gecpd and xaawa aadan camey= http://www.somali-civilsociety.org/partners/partner_gecpd.asp http://women.amnestyusa.org/defenders/hawaaden.asp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
