Global: We celebrate domestic worker leaders around the world on International Women's Day
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GLOBAL -
We celebrate domestic worker leaders around the world on International Women's Day!
by Elizabeth Tang, General Secretary
This year, in celebration of March 8th International Women’s Day, we’re excited to introduce you to some of our new leaders across the IDWF:
- Ruth of KUDHEIHA in Kenya,
- Kyan Par of Network of Migrant Domestic Workers (MDW) in Thailand,
- Wendy of FILSCAM in Italy,
- Anna Laura of SINACTRAHO in Mexico,
- Gilda and Allison of NDWA in the US.
Domestic workers are growing into powerful leaders around the world. Their stories share one common message - like all the other workers, they are determined to organize for collective power and for change. This is easier to say than to do, as domestic workers face many challenges to become leaders. They work long hours and if they stay with their employers, they are not guaranteed their day-off. It can be very difficult for them to complete a training course, for example.
Furthermore, many domestic workers face discrimination as migrants, or members of marginalized communities or women with no formal education. They must cross many layers of discrimination before their leadership potential is recognized. For domestic workers to become leaders, we need to build a community which takes everybody as equal, with respect and dignity.
Core to our goals and strategies to build sustainable organizations, the IDWF will continue to build the women’s leadership of domestic workers. To support our affiliates to do it well, this year the IDWF will produce two toolkits on strategic planning and political education and hold two training-of-trainers regional workshops.
In 2015, over 3000 domestic workers have participated in various training activities of the IDWF and its affiliates, and 40,348 domestic workers were recruited as new members.
The IDWF is proud to be led by them. With such organizing, our future is hopeful. On this International Women’s Day, we salute these leaders and the many contributions they are bringing to the movement.
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