In recent months, Kenya has lost a missionary sister, who made an immense contribution to education. She was Sr Graziella Paladin, of the Consolata Sisters.
She came to Kenya just prior to Independence and was still active until shortly before returning to Italy in 2010 for medical treatment. She sadly died in July 2011. I would like to pay tribute to her memory and her work in education.
Sister was a Founder, a Principal and a teacher at a number of girls boarding schools in Kenyan dioceses, where Consolata Missionaries worked.
I first met her in January 1993 on taking up an appointment with CISRET (Centre for In- Service of Religious Education Teachers ). At that time, it was based at Nyeri Pastoral Centre and Sr Graziella lived at the Consolata Sisters Convent situated, nearby, within the Mathari compound.
She had been a tutor on the course for about a year before I came, and it was my very good fortune to work with someone who was so utterly committed to the training of teachers and who brought to CISRET, a whole lifetime of experience and skill, and many years of religious formation.
All of these she brought to the task, with great energy and dedication. Already advanced in age, when she could have taken things a bit easier, she immersed herself fully into the task. She did this, with a degree of energy and enthusiasm, rarely seen in someone much younger.
Living at Nyeri, one was conscious , of being in hallowed grounds. The Consolata Fathers came to Kenya in 1902. The Consolata Sisters followed shortly after. One lived in an awareness of the amazing pioneering work done by the Consolata. All round there were reminders of this: one of the earliest nurse-training hospital; the oldest printing press and print training school in Kenya; the Pastoral Centre; the Catechist Training Centre; the Parish Church and more.
Sister Graziella was steeped in its history and one could not ask for a better tour guide. At that time many of the older sisters of the Congregation were still living there in retirement. One felt in conversation with them, of being connected to a continuous living history.
During our time there, we were privileged to contribute with our Centre choir to the Solemn liturgy surrounding the re-interment of the remains of the Servant of God: Sr Irene Stefani, a Consolata Sister, to a shrine in the Parish Church at Nyeri.
Similarly we took part in the annual November Memorial Mass for the Italian prisoners of War, held in the Memorial Chapel, with the Italian Ambassador present and celebrated in Italian. At all these, Sr Graziella took a leading part in the organization. On occasions like that her special flair for decoration and ornament came fully to the fore.
Her contribution to the CISRET course was immense on many fronts: her lively faith and deep sense of vocation to teaching; her infectious enthusiasm, reliability and sense of humour. I suppose most of the teachers will remember her especially, for her great artistic ability. She was particularly skilled in the production and use of visual aids. She did a lot to help teachers discover their own talent and helped them to develop it.
Our move to Tabor Hill Nyahururu in 1996, called for a further degree of self-sacrifice on her part, as it meant her moving from her Mathari community. She did this for a further six years at Tabor Hill without complaint.
The superb hospitality given us by the Dimesse Sisters and Paduan Fathers, did much to make our time at Tabor, a very happy one.
A particular highlight at Tabor Hill, was the celebration of Sr Graziella’s 50th Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession in 2002, attended by Bishop Davies and led by Bishop Panti with very many priests, religious sisters and laity present.
In 2006 the Silver Jubilee of the CISRET course was celebrated and Bishop Davies, its founder was present along with most of the Kenya bishops. Sr Graziella received special acknowledgement at this ceremony, having been the longest serving religious sister on the staff of CISRET, since its foundation in 1982.
On retirement after her 50th Jubilee , Sr Graziella went back to Nyeri and once more took up an apostolate with the poor in Mathari and with visitation and instruction classes for the prisoners at Nyeri Prison. She had a wonderful proficiency both in Swahili and in Kikuyu which gave her instant connection with all people.
During this time, she was instrumental in helping the prison, to have its own chapel for Mass and instruction. It was funded by her Italian family and friends.
Archbishop Peter Kairo of Nyeri during the 100th celebration of the Founding of the Consolata Sisters, gave special honour to Sr. Graziella as “a living example, of one, who at the age of 81 was still engaged in ministry”.
She was a friend to the famous recently deceased Wangari Mathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who was from nearby Tetu, and who was present at the 100th Celebration.
Sometime in 2009 Sr Graziella was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. She responded well for many months but in 2010, her condition deteriorated. She retained interest and enthusiasm right through her illness.
I look back on almost 20 years of close association with Sr Graziella. I know that she is very fondly remembered by many, especially the thousands of students taught by her. I join them in giving thanks for the privilege of knowing Sr Graziella Paladin.
May God rest her noble soul.
Fr. Nicholas Motherway (St. Patrick’s Fathers)
nickmotherway@gmail.com
Friday, December 16, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
OPINION: Counter Human Trafficking Report
The second Nairobi Counter Human Trafficking Symposium for the Faith Based and grassroots Organizations took place in Shalom House, Nairobi from the 22nd to the 24th November 2011. The Symposium brought together 57 organizations from the East African countries. Key during the Symposium were the strategies used by FBOs and the grassroots organizations in combating the human trafficking problem in East Africa. The participants benefitted from a moral reflection given by the Jesuit Hakimani Center (JHC) and KARDS and various field strategies in combating this problem from the representatives of the organizations that attended the symposium.
The Symposium was sponsored by the Mensen met een Missie and organized by Consolation East Africa, KARDS, Jesuit Hakimani Centre, Trace-Kenya, Inter Religious Council of Kenya(IRCK), International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA) and Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART) among other Faith Based and grassroots organizations to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking, brainstorm on practices and strategies to counter human trafficking and explore the laws and policies to mitigate against human trafficking.
According to the US government, media reports and other literature human trafficking in East Africa takes place for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and witch craft. Human trafficking is considered as an endemic social problem, pervasive and heinous crime and one of the most pressing human rights problems. The Symposium acknowledged the salient fact that there is a growing awareness in the international community about the gravity of the problem of trafficking in persons as well as the pressing need for sustained and concerted actions at the national, regional and international levels in order to prevent, monitor and combat human trafficking. The objectives explored during the Symposium included:
Creating peer to peer linkages aiming to promote effective collaboration and networking amongst the FBOs, CSOs working to combat TIP.
Enabling the new participants understand the problem of human trafficking.
Sharing knowledge, skills and experiences from different FBOs and grassroots that work to combat human trafficking.
Understanding tools and resources( both legal, economic and psychosocial) available for victim assistance
After the symposium the following conclusions were arrived at:
1. Poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment, porous borders, widespread corruption, gender discrimination and deteriorating economic conditions are the major factors fuelling human trafficking.
2. The East African governments need to improve the economy, empower girls and women with educational, economic, employment and necessary professional opportunities in order to assist them to resist the temptation of human trafficking. Increased opportunities for women render them less vulnerable to human trafficking and ensure their well being and security. Providing women empowerment schemes, providing necessary protection, micro credit assistance and vocational training for better income generation possibilities, improvement of the economy etc.
3. Adequate prosecution of traffickers without compromising the rights of the victims to privacy, dignity and safety must be done by providing necessary assistance to trafficked persons during the pendency of criminal, civil or other legal actions against traffickers. Protection of human rights of victims/survivors should be the basic and paramount consideration and not only crime prevention. Victims of human trafficking should not be criminalized but the traffickers and their accomplices engaged in the illicit trade and exploitation must be severely punished to serve as a deterrent.
4. Legislation and law enforcement alone cannot provide sufficient prevention. The root causes that drive women, children and the socially excluded people into human trafficking such as poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment, porous borders and economic conditions must be addressed through measures such as raising public awareness regarding human rights and the risks of trafficking. Others factors inherent within the patriarchal culture that promote oppression of one gender also should be addressed.
5. In addition to legislation, the Symposium noted that concerted efforts against human trafficking by governments, Faith based organizations and grassroots organizations at the local, regional and international levels are critical in order to effectively address the complex problem of trafficking in persons and to provide adequate redress for the victims. Governments and FBOs should systematically partner with each other to ensure the implementation of anti trafficking policies, laws and action plans. Education systems on the other hand should include human trafficking in their curricular.
6. Collaborative efforts at both the local and national levels should include Religious and community leaders, parents, teachers, other stakeholders e.g. Police, immigration, customs, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters, Law enforcement agencies, Judiciary, Media and Civil society organizations etc. Governments should collaborate with FBOs, CSOs and all interested stakeholders in the development and implementation of national plans of action in accordance with the national Counter Human Trafficking Laws. Understanding of the legal processes will also be of additional fundamental value.
7. Functioning families do help quite a lot in preventing TIP. FBOs have a great role in helping to strengthen families as the fundamental social fabric. Coupled with the role of the family, there is a need to help the patriarchal society in the transformation of the construct that end up treating women and the vulnerable people as objects for economic purposes or self gratification.
8. Advocacy and Awareness programmes on human trafficking should be intensified to expose the dangers of human trafficking and improve knowledge of the anti- human trafficking laws. The public information campaigns against human trafficking should be extended to the rural areas where women and girls have less access to information and are usually poorer and easier to influence using small promises.
9. Effective data collection and information systems should be developed to inform policies and laws on human trafficking and programming at all levels. It is a fact that data collection in this area is quite challenging hence creative ways should be sought such as case studies, and the development of ethnographic studies.
10. Trafficking in persons could be effectively addressed through a multi-faceted, coordinated and integrated national and international plan of action. Hence individuals have an important role to blow the whistle when they witness exploitation. Organizations on the other hand are called to continuously build their capacity in order to be able to deal with the complexity of the human trafficking problem effectively. Coupled with this there is a need for strong partnerships amongst the FBOs and other stakeholders to address the root causes of trafficking in persons. Donors and international community was requested to support data collection exercises and other programs against trafficking in persons. Key in the intervention process is also to heal the wounds of the trafficked victims hence organizations should adequately arm themselves with skills in psycho, social and emotional counseling.
11. Finally, the symposium emphasized that the human being is made in the image of God. Any immoral acts affecting the human dignity have deep repercussions and do affect the society too in a negative way. The faith communities, the society, governments and media should therefore continue promoting a greater awareness of the human dignity to their followers.
Contact consolationeastafrica@gmail.com or 0736 935 387, and 0720 812 638 or 0720 444 545
The Symposium was sponsored by the Mensen met een Missie and organized by Consolation East Africa, KARDS, Jesuit Hakimani Centre, Trace-Kenya, Inter Religious Council of Kenya(IRCK), International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA) and Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART) among other Faith Based and grassroots organizations to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking, brainstorm on practices and strategies to counter human trafficking and explore the laws and policies to mitigate against human trafficking.
According to the US government, media reports and other literature human trafficking in East Africa takes place for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and witch craft. Human trafficking is considered as an endemic social problem, pervasive and heinous crime and one of the most pressing human rights problems. The Symposium acknowledged the salient fact that there is a growing awareness in the international community about the gravity of the problem of trafficking in persons as well as the pressing need for sustained and concerted actions at the national, regional and international levels in order to prevent, monitor and combat human trafficking. The objectives explored during the Symposium included:
Creating peer to peer linkages aiming to promote effective collaboration and networking amongst the FBOs, CSOs working to combat TIP.
Enabling the new participants understand the problem of human trafficking.
Sharing knowledge, skills and experiences from different FBOs and grassroots that work to combat human trafficking.
Understanding tools and resources( both legal, economic and psychosocial) available for victim assistance
After the symposium the following conclusions were arrived at:
1. Poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment, porous borders, widespread corruption, gender discrimination and deteriorating economic conditions are the major factors fuelling human trafficking.
2. The East African governments need to improve the economy, empower girls and women with educational, economic, employment and necessary professional opportunities in order to assist them to resist the temptation of human trafficking. Increased opportunities for women render them less vulnerable to human trafficking and ensure their well being and security. Providing women empowerment schemes, providing necessary protection, micro credit assistance and vocational training for better income generation possibilities, improvement of the economy etc.
3. Adequate prosecution of traffickers without compromising the rights of the victims to privacy, dignity and safety must be done by providing necessary assistance to trafficked persons during the pendency of criminal, civil or other legal actions against traffickers. Protection of human rights of victims/survivors should be the basic and paramount consideration and not only crime prevention. Victims of human trafficking should not be criminalized but the traffickers and their accomplices engaged in the illicit trade and exploitation must be severely punished to serve as a deterrent.
4. Legislation and law enforcement alone cannot provide sufficient prevention. The root causes that drive women, children and the socially excluded people into human trafficking such as poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, unemployment, porous borders and economic conditions must be addressed through measures such as raising public awareness regarding human rights and the risks of trafficking. Others factors inherent within the patriarchal culture that promote oppression of one gender also should be addressed.
5. In addition to legislation, the Symposium noted that concerted efforts against human trafficking by governments, Faith based organizations and grassroots organizations at the local, regional and international levels are critical in order to effectively address the complex problem of trafficking in persons and to provide adequate redress for the victims. Governments and FBOs should systematically partner with each other to ensure the implementation of anti trafficking policies, laws and action plans. Education systems on the other hand should include human trafficking in their curricular.
6. Collaborative efforts at both the local and national levels should include Religious and community leaders, parents, teachers, other stakeholders e.g. Police, immigration, customs, National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters, Law enforcement agencies, Judiciary, Media and Civil society organizations etc. Governments should collaborate with FBOs, CSOs and all interested stakeholders in the development and implementation of national plans of action in accordance with the national Counter Human Trafficking Laws. Understanding of the legal processes will also be of additional fundamental value.
7. Functioning families do help quite a lot in preventing TIP. FBOs have a great role in helping to strengthen families as the fundamental social fabric. Coupled with the role of the family, there is a need to help the patriarchal society in the transformation of the construct that end up treating women and the vulnerable people as objects for economic purposes or self gratification.
8. Advocacy and Awareness programmes on human trafficking should be intensified to expose the dangers of human trafficking and improve knowledge of the anti- human trafficking laws. The public information campaigns against human trafficking should be extended to the rural areas where women and girls have less access to information and are usually poorer and easier to influence using small promises.
9. Effective data collection and information systems should be developed to inform policies and laws on human trafficking and programming at all levels. It is a fact that data collection in this area is quite challenging hence creative ways should be sought such as case studies, and the development of ethnographic studies.
10. Trafficking in persons could be effectively addressed through a multi-faceted, coordinated and integrated national and international plan of action. Hence individuals have an important role to blow the whistle when they witness exploitation. Organizations on the other hand are called to continuously build their capacity in order to be able to deal with the complexity of the human trafficking problem effectively. Coupled with this there is a need for strong partnerships amongst the FBOs and other stakeholders to address the root causes of trafficking in persons. Donors and international community was requested to support data collection exercises and other programs against trafficking in persons. Key in the intervention process is also to heal the wounds of the trafficked victims hence organizations should adequately arm themselves with skills in psycho, social and emotional counseling.
11. Finally, the symposium emphasized that the human being is made in the image of God. Any immoral acts affecting the human dignity have deep repercussions and do affect the society too in a negative way. The faith communities, the society, governments and media should therefore continue promoting a greater awareness of the human dignity to their followers.
Contact consolationeastafrica@gmail.com or 0736 935 387, and 0720 812 638 or 0720 444 545
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