This month’s Monthly Focus has been on landmines. Here we hear from one young woman who has made a huge difference in Croatia – a country still plagued by landmines. Sara Shawesh is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia in Canada and Soroptimists have been supporting her in one way or another for many years.
Sara became involved with landmine issues when she was Night of 1000 Dinners Coordinator with the International Relations
Students Association. This fundraising event was founded by the Canadian
Landmine Foundation and Adopt-a-Mine Field. After graduation she worked in Geneva,
Switzerland with the International Peace Bureau at the United Nations promoting
the ban on cluster bombs at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
(CCW). She writes…
Students Association. This fundraising event was founded by the Canadian
Landmine Foundation and Adopt-a-Mine Field. After graduation she worked in Geneva,
Switzerland with the International Peace Bureau at the United Nations promoting
the ban on cluster bombs at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
(CCW). She writes…
In 2003 I received the Violet
Richardson Award from Soroptimist International of The Langleys. Even at this
young age, Soroptimist International believed in my work with the Michael
Cuccione Foundation for childhood cancer research.
Richardson Award from Soroptimist International of The Langleys. Even at this
young age, Soroptimist International believed in my work with the Michael
Cuccione Foundation for childhood cancer research.
In December of 2008 at the signing of
the Treaty banning cluster bombs in Oslo, I met yet another soroptimist, Kate
Moore, who has reconnected me with Soroptimists of the Langleys, for which I am
very grateful. And then, at the launch of the charity I
founded, the Canadian Croatian Deming Foundation (CCFD), I saw another familiar
face in the form of Mrs. Sharon Fisher, who was kind enough show her support!
the Treaty banning cluster bombs in Oslo, I met yet another soroptimist, Kate
Moore, who has reconnected me with Soroptimists of the Langleys, for which I am
very grateful. And then, at the launch of the charity I
founded, the Canadian Croatian Deming Foundation (CCFD), I saw another familiar
face in the form of Mrs. Sharon Fisher, who was kind enough show her support!
The Canadian Croatian Demining
Foundation is a Canadian registered non-profit charity. Our objective is
to raise awareness and funds for the clearing of landmines in Croatia. The
Foundation’s goal is to gather Canadian expertise and resources in an effort to
remove landmines that have been plaguing Croatians and visitors to Croatia for
nearly a generation.
Foundation is a Canadian registered non-profit charity. Our objective is
to raise awareness and funds for the clearing of landmines in Croatia. The
Foundation’s goal is to gather Canadian expertise and resources in an effort to
remove landmines that have been plaguing Croatians and visitors to Croatia for
nearly a generation.
It has established a team and
relationships with institutions that will ensure all raised funds and resources
are directed to the demining effort. CCFD is governed by a volunteer Board of
Directors, who have grown the data-base of cooperate and private
members, sustained government support and have now begun their first demining
project.
relationships with institutions that will ensure all raised funds and resources
are directed to the demining effort. CCFD is governed by a volunteer Board of
Directors, who have grown the data-base of cooperate and private
members, sustained government support and have now begun their first demining
project.
A legacy of war still haunts the nation of Croatia. Up to 900,000 civilians have been crippled by land mines leaving them unable
to farm land, use playgrounds, work or participate in fully in community life. They often require long term or lifelong care for
the permanent injuries sustained. Official reports indicate that over 820 km/sq
are still affected by land mines. War leaves behind serious long-term problems.
to farm land, use playgrounds, work or participate in fully in community life. They often require long term or lifelong care for
the permanent injuries sustained. Official reports indicate that over 820 km/sq
are still affected by land mines. War leaves behind serious long-term problems.
For such a beautiful country with so
much potential, it is of capital importance that Croatia become fully de-mined,
or else it will never develop properly. Croatia has one
of the world’s highest landmine populations within it, with little realistic
future of salvation from this title unless there is help from others. I’d
like to thank the Soroptimists for their continued support of women in
leadership and my on going work.
much potential, it is of capital importance that Croatia become fully de-mined,
or else it will never develop properly. Croatia has one
of the world’s highest landmine populations within it, with little realistic
future of salvation from this title unless there is help from others. I’d
like to thank the Soroptimists for their continued support of women in
leadership and my on going work.