Why I am doing the trek

This November 2013, I will be embarking on an extraordinary challenge by trekking across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including the mountainous region of Wadi Rum, in aid of three charitable organisations - Women for Women International UK; UN Women Singapore and AWARE-which advocate for a variety of women’s causes.

I am thrilled at the prospect of giving back to society and lending a hand to others. What is my story? Many years ago, pestered by a pesky friend (Abdul, I hope you’re reading this!), I participated in a marathon. At the time, I was only confident of running 10km.

At the 3km mark, struggling to keep up, I heard a gentle, yet strong voice, urging me to jog slowly and breathe rhythmically.  I turned and I saw a cheerful man running beside me.  Something made me look down. I saw that he had no feet, only specially made Adidas soles around his heels. While jogging with me, he continuously encouraged me with a stream of motivational words.

From the 5km mark, and without my motivator by then, I went on to complete the marathon. To this day, it is a milestone in my life, but not because of the distance I completed.

More than that, it showed me the immense power of support from just one individual.

The trek through Jordan will be tough but it cannot in any way be compared to the daily arduousness of life for women in crisis. Nevertheless, through this trek, my team mates and I, hope to support women in crisis by bringing international attention to the need for societies, governments and corporations to get involved and help end violence against women.

 

How you can help

I’m asking for support to raise vital funds for Women for Women International, UN Women Singapore and AWARE. I am personally committed to raising S$10,000 (equivalent to £5,000 or USD$7,000) for these organisations and need your help to reach that target. Our team of 13 women hopes to raise a total of S$100,000. You can see our team page and progress here https://www.justgiving.com/teams/womenonamission

I ask you to join me in helping women around the world whose lives have been shattered by war and violence. Let us together help by giving them the tools and resources required to rebuild their lives. Any contribution, no matter what size, will make a difference. All funds will go directly to the organisations (50% to WfWI; 25% to UN Women; 25% to AWARE) and all members are financing their own expedition costs.

 

About the trek

The 10 day trek will commence in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and continue on to Wadi Rum, following the magical trail of the Bedouin people of the deserts of the Rakebat Canyon. We will camp each night in a land of dunes and rocks. The trek will include an average of about 7 hours of hard hiking each day, on different terrains and will culminate with the scaling of the steep rocky façade of Jebel Um Adaam, the highest mountain in Jordan, located near the border of Saudi Arabia.

Jordan’s significance in this endeavour is important. As the crossroads of the Middle East, Jordan has strived to play a noteworthy role in brokering peace between governments at war. It is with this same essence of camaraderie and compassion that the team strives to achieve its mission of ending violence against women.

This trek brings together women from diverse cultural and national backgrounds, connected by a shared sense of adventure and a desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

 

About Women for Women International UK (WfWI)

It is an independent non-profit humanitarian organisation which provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.

They operate in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Sudan, with its headquarters in Washington DC and executive/fundraising offices in London and New York. The organisation was founded in 1993 by Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi American who is herself a survivor of the Iran-Iraq War and counts Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan as its Global Ambassador.

 

About UN Women Singapore

It is a United Nations branch working for the empowerment of women and girls.  It supports programmes that provide them with access to education, healthcare, economic independence and a life free of violence and abuse.

It supports the general mission of UN Women in developing nations throughout the region by providing funds and support for economic empowerment programmes; conflict area programmes; UN Women Trust Fund and Governance and Leadership programmes.

 

About AWARE

The Association of Women for Action and Research is a non-governmental organisation concerned with promoting gender equality. It believes in the rights of women and men to make informed and responsible choices about their lives and to have equal opportunities in education, marriage and employment.

Since its formation in 1985, AWARE has carried out research into numerous issues affecting women, including workplace sexual harassment, poverty of older women and Singapore’s compliance with UN anti-gender discrimination standards.

 

Thank you very much.

With Warm Regards,

Devika Tay

Here are some examples of donation amounts and how they can help:

USD $20 – 1 Sewing Kit: Needles, Thread, Yarn, Tape Measure - As tailors and seamstresses, women in Afghanistan, Kosovo and DR Congo are using simple tools to provide an income for their families.

 

USD $50 - 1 Goat - In Afghanistan, goats can be raised for milk or cheese to be sold at market.

 

USD $100 - 1 Bicycle - In countries like Rwanda and South Sudan, the women often use bicycles as their means of transportation from the farm to the market and back. A bicycle helps a woman quickly transport more goods to market.

 

USD $200 - 1 Tie Dye Kit: Dyes, Fabric, Rubber Gloves, Bucket - Women in our DR Congo programme learn to make beautiful batiks that can be sold or used to create a variety of clothing and accessories. Dyes, fabrics, buckets and rubber gloves are the tools the women need to bring their artistic visions to life. Sold in local markets or overseas, the tie-dyes are a foundation for a better future.

 

USD $500  - Bread Oven - In South Sudan and DR Congo a simple brick oven can bake a variety of baked good, like bread, doughnuts or rolls. By having a bread oven, women are able to create cooperatives and sell these products in the market or out of their home.

 

USD $1000 – Could provide 15 women in Nigeria with 1000 chicks each to raise as a business.

 

USD $2000 - One Year Training Program for 10 women in Kosovo with Life Skills to help them learn how to rebuild their lives and find manage a job that will help them provide for themselves and their family

 

USD $5000 - Could provide 1000 women in Afghanistan with support from a traditional birth attendant and health education kits 

 

USD $7000 - Could provide trucks so that women in Rwanda can sell their products to other villages