February 2, 2012 - Pakistani Delegation visits Apna Ghar

On Friday, February 10, 2012, we welcomed six Pakistani women political leaders to Apna Ghar.  The women were part of a delegation sponsored by the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.  Their aim was to meet with fellow leaders in the United States to explore the role of women as agents of social and political change.  In particular, they were interested in hearing how they, as government and political leaders, could collaborate with non-governmental women's rights organizations in their country to integrate the concerns of women into the political discourse.

At Apna Ghar, the delegates focused on policies and programs to prevent domestic abuse and violence against women. They engaged Apna Ghar staff and board members in an in-depth discussion of the agency's role in the community and the special needs and challenges that come with serving immigrants from South Asian and other countries. The women leaders felt that domestic violence was an important and relevant topic to explore within the context of women's rights and legislative advocacy. Apna Ghar staff and board provided perspective on how some of the problems are tackled in United States programmatically and through legislation, such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA).

The women leaders were hosted in Chicago by WorldChicago. Apna Ghar has collaborated with WorldChicago since November 2010 to host similar international delegations and individuals, including two legal fellows from Tajikistan and Bangladesh in April 2011. 

April 26 - Taste for Life
River East Art Center
435 E. Illinois St.
Chicago, IL 60611
6:00 - 10:00 PM

June TBD - Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

June TBD  - Stride Against Violence Kick-Off Event for Team Captains

September 30 - Stride Against Violence 5k
Montrose Harbor
*If interested in becoming a team captain, please contact Ashley Tsuruda, Event Coordinator at atsuruda@apnaghar.org or (773) 334-0173 x226.

 

Vijaya* was pregnant when she escaped her abusive partner. Though it was difficult, she knew that leaving was the only way to keep her child safe. Vijaya's first stop was Apna Ghar's emergency shelter. When she arrived at the shelter, Vijaya was welcomed by a case manager. Once she was settled, Vijaya's case manager started helping her access public benefits for prenatal care. She also helped Vijaya identify the services of a free doula to support her during her pregnancy, childbirth, and post-natal period. Only a month after entering the shelter, Vijaya found out she was pregnant with twins!

 

Recognizing that Vijaya needed a safe, happy, and stable environment during her pregnancy, Apna Ghar invited her to extend her stay at the shelter until her babies were born and strong enough to make the transition to independent housing. Vijaya's twins were born six months after she entered our emergency shelter. They came straight from the hospital to the safety of "Our Home." Shelter staff helped Vijaya care for her babies in their first days and even accompanied them to their very first medical appointment. Vijaya's case manager continued to help her find and secure independent housing.

 

Two months after her twins were born, Vijaya signed the lease to her own apartment. Today, she and her children are living happy, healthy lives.

 

As a legal advocate with Apna Ghar, I share information with immigrant survivors of gender-based violence about their rights so that they can seek remedies and protections. I refer them to pro-bono and legal aid attorneys and I provide emotional support at court dates. In some cases, I provide interpretation and translation for French-speaking clients from Africa so that they can communicate with their attorneys or voice their stories in an affidavit.

When I'm not at Apna Ghar, I live in an intentional Jewish community. I travel from our bayit to apna ghar-from our home to our home. I came to Apna Ghar through AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. Through this placement, I have found new strength in my spirituality. I say the words of the Hashkiveinu, "Spread over us the shelter of your peace," and I feel supported in my hope for the protection of all people. 

The survivors who are my clients belong to different ethnicities, religions, and cultures, and they speak many different languages. Although their journeys are diverse, each woman has found a home at Apna Ghar. While their voices and stories are unique, their choice to confide in me is shared. In this way, my clients teach me about their experience, and I learn enough to provide them with accurate information and appropriate referrals. I respect their choices and support them in their goals.

At Apna Ghar, I witness courage, generosity, resourcefulness, resilience, and determination.  I speak with women who are brave enough to share what felt private, to refuse to be victims, and to voice their needs. These women trust me to be their advocate although I do not speak their language, may never have lived in their country, or met someone from their culture. I see women determined to claim their rights, protect themselves and their children, and find ways to heal from trauma. I see women who are resilient in the face of adversity, and who draw upon internal strengths, community, friends, family, and education as resources that allow them to thrive. Despite experiencing abuse that alienated them from society and undermined their sense of self, the women I know here are achieving belonging and independence. These women are determined to live happy and healthy lives.

The partnership between Apna Ghar and AVODAH has grounded me. From the women who are my clients, I have learned that we can create a home when we build caring and safe relationships-which require taking good care of ourselves. There is no more that I could have asked for this year beyond feeling at home in an imperfect world.

Gabrielle Friedman, from Newton, MA, attended Middlebury College. She works at Apna Ghar as a legal advocate through her placement with AVODAH Chicago. AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps strengthens the Jewish community's fight against the causes and effects of poverty in the United States by engaging participants in service and community building that inspire them to become lifelong agents for social change, whose work for justice is rooted in and nourished by Jewish values.

On February 3, 2012, Apna Ghar staff and board were deeply saddened to hear of Naiyer Rafathullah's passing. Naiyer was a dedicated member of the extended Apna Ghar family from October 1996 to October 2006 serving as the office manager and 40 hour domestic violence training and volunteer coordinator.

Naiyer was a person of admirable courage and conviction who embodied her beliefs. Clients, staff, and board alike respected her and enjoyed being in her presence. Naiyer was very accomplished, having had a long career in teaching and radio broadcasting prior to joining Apna Ghar. She was also multilingual, adeptly moving between English, Urdu, and Arabic in service of our clients.

 

According to Asma Waheed, Apna Ghar's current office administrator, "as the first point of contact, Naiyer was a voice of assurance and comfort to clients seeking Apna Ghar's assistance. Though she can never be replaced, she leaves behind an important legacy.  An example for us to strive towards and to emulate in our own work." Dr. Rambha Radhakrishnan, current board president says that Naiyer was "the voice and face of Apna Ghar," and she remembers fondly her calm demeanor and always smiling face.  Naiyer genuinely loved being at Apna Ghar, where she touched the lives of many, and we will miss her dearly.  We offer our deepest condolences to her children, grandchildren and the rest of her extended family.

On November 14, 2010, Naiyer was recognized with an award for her outstanding contributions to Apna Ghar at our 20th anniversary event, "a milestone in our journey of hope."