Peace Women
I got involved with 1000 Peace Women a few months ago. A group of incredibly diverse women got together virtually to translate, on a volunteer basis, nearly 200 of the Peace Women’s biographies, those of African women, for the World Social Forum to be held in January in Nairobi. I did my share (I was told I did more than my share, translating two bios a day for a while, but really it was such a pleasure: it started my every morning with a positive, peaceful, strong feminine vision and I only wished to do more; how could I not, from the comfort of my home, when I was reading about women who started homes for AIDS orphans or schools for little girls who had none, about women who are changing the rules of power and who dedicate their entire lives to improving those of others?), and on Thursday night eleven of us got together for a wonderful Iranian dinner at Byblos on Laurier. Seeing our table, you would never have believed that many of us had never met! Loud multiple bilingual conversations ranged from anything to everything. United by the cause were women from 31 (me) to almost 83, from the USA, Haiti, France, Québec…, from mothers to nuns, estheticians to interpreters! I got back home filled with love and joy. I never would have thought it, but being told by an 82 year old (you’d never believe it) nun that I represented beautiful, wholesome youth really made me feel appreciated and as a part of something much, much bigger than my little self. Strong, open-minded, joyful, fighting, peaceful, friendly, funny, dedicated, welcoming: women. What an overwhelming joy to meet so many persons with a common goal and a positive outlook. There are award-deserving women all over the place, fighting often in the shadows and doing their part to make this world a better place at every level. I consider myself extremely blessed to have been among them, both for the project and for that evening. I was given the book 1000 PeaceWomen Across the Globe (a wonderful work of love), a part of which will now be available in French, and I get choked up trying to express my gratitude.
