International Women’s Day, March 8, launches a month-long campaign of remembrance, protest, and celebration! This Women’s History Month, Heartland Alliance International (HAI) asked women across our global community to share who inspires them, what motivates their work, and how they avoid burnout.
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Meet Farah, a detention lawyer with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Iraq! Farah plays a critical role on our team, providing legal support to marginalized and vulnerable juveniles involved with Iraq’s broken prison system.
When we asked Farah why she advocates for access to justice, she said, “Trying to understand and empathize with people is crucial. It doesn’t matter if it’s a colleague, friend or relative – sometimes the people around you just need an extra push to get going. That doesn’t mean they’re inferior or incapable.” |
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Meet Ivon, a psychologist specializing in gender with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Colombia! Ivon ensures HAI’s programming considers and adapts to the unique experiences of women and LGBTQI+ individuals. She also designs intervention strategies that engage men and boys to confront harmful gender norms and stereotypes.
When we asked Ivon what books inspire her, she said, “Many! I owe a great deal to Isabel Allende’s ‘Paula’ and ‘Maya’s Notebook.’ I also love Marcela Serrano’s ‘Ten Women,’ ‘The Second Sex’ by Simon de Beauvoir, and of course, ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.” |
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Meet Mary, an occupational therapist with the Marjorie Kovler Center in Chicago. When we asked Mary why she was drawn to the Kovler Center, she said, “I was living in Ireland when I learned about the US intervention in Central America. I knew then that I wanted to visit the region and help, but life took over and I returned to Chicago. In 1990, I met Mario, now director of the Kovler Center, and he invited me to volunteer with a group of youth from Guatemala. Marianne, a friend turned colleague, volunteered too and we’ve been with the Kovler Center ever since! The lessons I learned during those early years still inform the work I do today. Because of the people I’ve met through Kovler, my world has opened up in ways I would have never imagined.” |
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Meet Olufunke, a gender technical advisor and program manager with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Nigeria. Funke started with HAI in 2009 as a volunteer. Today, she manages HAI’s new Sexual and Reproductive Rights for All (SARRA) initiative. SARRA is an inclusive, intersectional human rights and movement-building project to reach marginalized women and girls with reproductive health information and services in Nigeria. When we asked Funke why she is excited to work on SARRA, she said, “Because I know that when you empower a woman, you empower a whole community.” |
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Meet Fatima, a protection and registration lawyer with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Baghdad, Iraq. Fatima represents deportees from western countries, including the U.S., and helps them secure legal documents and access to social services. When we asked Fatima what career achievement she is most proud of, she said, “Most of my cases with HAI involve people who were deported to Iraq from the countries they lived in their whole lives. They often end up homeless, which leads to mental health challenges and even suicide. So I’m proud when I’m able to coordinate with institutions and help deportees start new lives.” |
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Meet Diana, a psychologist and program officer specializing in gender with Heartland Alliance International (HAI) in Cali, Colombia. When we asked Diana what people can do to improve gender equity in the workplace, she said, “I think gender equity is something that involves both men and women. We must think about gender equity as a concept that goes beyond the binary definition of gender, and must include the LGBT community. In countries like Colombia, LGBT individuals faces severe barriers to employment and education. Leadership should make intentional efforts to breakdown those barriers and embed affirmative actions into all aspects of the organization.” |
