September 2017 Issue
"A Quality Fruit Company Committed To Bearing Fruit...Fruit That Will Last"
(John 15:16)
Power of Storytelling
What
does it take for people to collectively stand with the vulnerable,
create a culture of inclusion, and become advocates for change when that
means confronting violence, shame and risks your own security? As I
traveled to Haiti last month, that question was on my mind.
Rather
than being known as a country of strong, resilient, creative people who
have persisted in the face of tremendous exploitation, Haiti is
synonymous with poverty. International aid has contributed to a sense of
dependence and despair and violence has reached such proportions that
some are calling for it to be treated as a public health issue. One in
six girls & one in ten boys live in domestic servitude and seven out
of ten girls will experience sexual, physical and emotional abuse by
the time they are 18.
For
change to take hold at the community level, it must be believed in by
the people themselves. Using storytelling material based on peoples
lived experiences; Beyond Borders fosters dialogue and raises community
consciousness. In these safe spaces, people are invited to reflect on
their life experiences, sharing their own stories of exploitation and
abuse, and come to discover that they are not alone. As people open up
and begin to trust each other, they become liberated, shame that led to
distrust and silence lessens, what flourished in the shadows is no
longer tolerated by the community. They are compelled to take action,
not only bringing home their own children, but in caring for others and
speaking out against abuse of power. This is how change takes hold.
To learn more about Beyond Borders, visit www.beyondborders.net
Melanie Lopez-Grewal, VHF Grants and Communications Coordinator
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