Injustice
The word ‘injustice’ conjures many
images in our minds. Human trafficking, terrorism, war, poverty, unequal distribution of wealth, and world
hunger are a few. Injustice in its simplest terms is any unfair act or wrong
treatment toward an individual or group. The most recent news story of the
young American who died after being imprisoned in North Korea for 15 months is
one more reminder. Recently I have been made aware of two examples that tear at
my heart. One is FGM – Female Genital Mutilation. I barely knew what this was
until this year. While this practice has been largely eliminated in Kenya, in
some areas it still exists, often in secret. Some tribes and cultures still
consider this procedure to be something good for young girls - a way to prepare
them for marriage or even considered as a sign of beauty and respect. Yet, it
seems like such an unfair attack on the innocent bodies of precious young
women. FGM can be damaging physically, mentally, and emotionally. Many of the girls affected are trapped and have
to run away from home to escape - but they have no place to go. I feel sad that
what some may view as a normal expectation can be so harming.
Another example of injustice came to
my attention while I was preparing to go into the field with one of our Women’s
Ministry groups called WORTH. This income
generating program started in 2012 and has been successful in several areas.
Through the support of The Salvation Army initially from New Zealand and now
through the US (SAWSO), financial support is enabling this program to continue.
Groups of women in rural villages meet weekly, giving them opportunity to save
and borrow money, mostly to help start their own businesses but it also
provides literacy training and other life skills. During my first visit to the
program, I heard many success stories.
Women testify to being more self-sufficient and better able to support
their families – pay school fees, install electricity in their homes, buy
milking cows, and pay for funeral expenses were a few of the stories I heard.
On route to my first WORTH group
visit, the Officer at THQ who is in charge of the program shared with us a
terrible injustice that happened in another group a few days ago. As part of
the program, the treasurer takes the money box to her home for safe keeping. (I
know this would not be an acceptable practice in Canada but it is here). The
box is locked with three padlocks and three different people have keys so there
is no way for the treasurer alone to have access to the money. This is part of
their accountability procedures. The tragedy which happened, though, occurred
late one evening. Someone broke into the
treasurer’s home and began to beat her, demanding she hand over the money box.
The speculation is that someone leaked information into the village that this
lady was keeping the box of money in her home and thus the attack. The treasurer
survived the attacks. Instead of giving
them the group’s money, she gave them some of her own hard earned money to get
them to leave her. The incident shook
her and I am sure she is now quite fearful in her own home.
Whenever we hear of injustice
happening, we often ask – what can we do? In the cases I just shared, the
Women’s Ministry Department is responding. Even if we cannot eliminate all that
seems so unfair or prevent them from happening again, we can hopefully make
some difference. At the Africa Women Officers Zonal Conference in August,
Commissioner Grace Chepkurui, will be presenting a workshop on FGM. Included
will be a discussion with the women leaders across Africa to consider further
preventative measures to help cease the practice and increase the awareness of
the damage it can cause. Commissioner Grace and I also have plans to share this
with the divisional and district women officers at a working retreat we are
having in September. We realize two things in these action plans. One,
discussion is not enough. We must act. Two, it will take initiatives in the
local areas from the local people to really make the difference.
As for the situation with the WORTH
program, there is now a review of the practices and procedures concerning how
we can better protect the women involved.
Some challenges are very difficult to overcome but we are working
together towards better days.
I have no doubt that there is
injustice happening all around us. It isn’t always what we hear on the news. Sometimes it’s in our own backyard – or yes,
even in our church. Let’s keep ourselves attentive to anything that promotes
inequality, violates basic human rights, causes unjust injury of any kind, or
disturbs any person’s sense of dignity. It’s wrong. Let’s not be satisfied to
simply feel pity. There just may be something we can do. Something I can do and
you can do. Be willing to get involved. You just might make a difference in
your corner of the world.
Some pics of
my visit to the WORTH program.
The money box
Every group loves for visitors to come and speak with them.
And of course, dance with them!!
The group started small but quickly grew to fill the corps building
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