Women Who Know the Power of Joining Hands to Create Change
by MADRE | June 4, 2010 at 1:44 PM
When I first met Mirna Cunningham nearly thirty years ago, her grip as we shook hands and embraced told me more than I can ever hope to express in words. It was just the beginning. From that day, our friendship grew as we built together a very special women’s organization: MADRE.
In the summer of 1983, as a long-time peace and justice activist, I joined a group of US women invited by Mirna and other Nicaraguan women to see for ourselves the devastation caused by the US government’s undeclared war on their country.
I was deeply moved by what I saw and heard on that visit. Above all, I was moved by Mirna and other Nicaraguan women like her; women who wielded joy as a weapon against despair and knew the power of joining hands to create change.
After the visit, we set out to build an organization that would respond to the needs of women and families threatened by US policy and give people in the US concrete ways to build alternatives to unjust policies.
Our commitment ran deep, but we never dreamed when we founded MADRE that we were laying the foundation for an international women’s human rights organization that would last for decades and grow to encompass a network of women activists, advocates, educators and community leaders in more than a dozen countries. I had no idea then that being among MADRE’s founders would be one of my proudest accomplishments.
In 1991, I became MADRE’s Executive Director. Since then, we’ve expanded our programs to the Middle East, Africa and Asia. We’ve advanced the fight for women’s human rights at the United Nations and we’ve produced educational material that’s helped shift the conversation about social justice and women’s rights—in the US and globally.
I know now that, almost thirty years ago in Nicaragua, we planted a seed. Over the years, with Mirna and with all the many women with whom I have been proud to partner, we nurtured that seed. Today, as I hold Mirna’s grandchildren in my arms and laugh with her children, as Mirna and I continue to strategize and advocate for women’s rights, I know that together we have built a family unlike any other.
-Vivian Stromberg, MADRE
Comments
Great!
I liked it because it is so inspiring for me! I am dreaming actually about creation of an organization in Ukraine where it is really hard as the society is drawn back in the development and women stick to the old-fashioned model of the family, not wanting to be helped. Thank you much for such nice story of your rise.
I wanted want to be a part of
I wanted want to be a part of such organizations but never had a chance. When i read such stories and posts, I start portraying myself in the picture.Your story has encouraged me in a very very positive way.
Keep writing such encouraging posts
Pooza
Beautiful
This has no other name than beautiful, I hope that one day we will be able to write this type of stories too. WELLDONE. My prayer is that MADRE grows yes.
Olutosin Oladosu Adebowale
Kanthari 2013 Set
Global Change Leader (COADY 2013)
Founder/Project Coordinator
Star of Hope Transformation Centre
512 Road
F Close
Festac Town
Lagos-Nigeria
https://www.facebook.com/olu
Inspiring
This is the story of friendship and activism coming together so beautifully. Thank you for sharing your story which is already inspiring others.
An amazing story. Keep doing
An amazing story. Keep doing the good work. The world needs more people like you.
Nusrat
people don't know what they can create
The grass-roots element of this story is very exciting. It doesn't necessarily take experts and lots of money to make things happen. When women get together, metaphorically holding hands around a cause, they can make a huge difference. Thank you for the inspiration.
Frances