Dear UNIFEM Singapore members,

Join us for networking breakfast and talk by Ms Farida Sultana from Shakti Community Council Inc. New Zealand on –
 

 Breaking the Bonds of Cultural Oppression

WOMEN TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES BREAKFAST

Friday February 24th 2005

UNIFEM Singapore, 2 Nassim Road, Singapore 258370 (please see map attached)

7.45am - 9.30am

UNIFEM Singapore Members - $3

Non-Member - $5

Seats are limited so RSVP ASAP to   contact<remove this>@unifemsingapore.org.sg


Breaking the Bonds of Cultural Oppression

Some women are oppressed without even realizing it. They have always been told that it has been that way for generations. They accept it without questioning and live with the abuse and many forms of violence in silence. It may be worse when the women is taken away from her support system and is a migrant in a new country.  

How does one spot a women who may need her help? How does one be aware and raise awareness of forms of oppression and violence that’s been imposed by cultural or traditional practices? How does one distinguish what is a healthy cultural practice by minority group and what is just simply oppression? How does one break away from the bonds of some cultural oppression in a strange land? And if she does is she then just falling into another form of oppression? How does one reclaim one’s dignity and break away from oppression and live a life free of violence?  
 


ABOUT MS FARIDA SULTANA AND SHAKTI

Farida Sultana of Bangladeshi origin, along with 7 other Asian women set up Shakti in New Zeland in 1995. Shakti was set up for ethnic women by ethnic women to overcome the barriers that come with migration and break the bonds of cultural oppression imposed on them for generations. Shakti in several Asian languages means ‘Strength’. Shakti takes solace in offering strength and motivation to thousands of migrants and refugees in New Zealand from Africa, Asia and Middle East in overcoming isolation, insecurity, fear and frustration. The Group provides domestic violence intervention services, Women’s Refuge, education, family support and employment to migrants and refugees, with core services being for women. The organization now serves these migrant and minority communities all over New Zealand.

Farida, a feminist, a Queen’s Service Medal for Community Service award recipient and a migrant ethnic woman herself personally sees to many aspects of the organization –
    •    
Networking and building profile of services
    •    
Developing training programmes on Domestic Violence
    •    
Developing rehabilitation and support programmes
    •    
Staff Training in conjunction with other institutions/agencies
    •    
Secure approval from Child, Youth & Family as a provider

She also sits on many other boards in New Zealand and also works with Asian women who has been tricked by men into coming to Australia and New Zealand for the purpose of marriage and often end up on the streets or in brothels.

 To find out more, visit www.shakti.org.nz and  http://faridasultana06.tripod.com/WAV

United Nations Development Fund For Women, Singapore Chapter
 (UNIFEM Singapore)
 2 Nassim Road
 Singapore 258370

Tel: 6238 6761
 Fax: 6238 6762
 email:  admin<remove this>@unifemsingapore.org.sg
 www.unifemsingapore.org.sg