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Justin Harnish
- Apr 7, 2018
- 2 min
The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After
“Affecting and utterly eye-opening, The Girl Who Smiled Beads is a powerful reminder of just how strong and indomitable the human spirit can be.” — Bustle Women of the World believes in the power of stories: to heal, to detail our humanity, and to hope. In Clemantine Wamariya’s story of seeking refuge (she fled Rwanda at age six with her elder sister) and resettlement (eventually in Chicago), we get all of this and more, a courageous voice that is a force to be reckoned with.
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Justin Harnish
- Mar 16, 2017
- 5 min
Women of Courage concerts from my perspective
One of the members of the Canyon Singers, Nan McEntire, shares her impressions of the experience of singing in the Women of Courage Concerts On March 17th and 18th Women of Courage, the musical creation of Patty Willis and Mary Lou Prince, came to life in Salt Lake City. Although there was no admission fee, donations were plentiful, and half of the amount collected at the door went to Women of the World. As one of the singers in the choir, I realized that Women of the World w
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Justin Harnish
- Feb 9, 2017
- 2 min
Op-ed: Thank you, Utah leaders, for standing up for refugee women
On behalf of the hundreds of women refugees served by Women of the World and on behalf of the immigrants, like me, from the Middle East, thank you Governor Herbert, Salt Lake County Mayor McAdams, and Salt Lake City Mayor Biskupski for your courageous stance on behalf of our new neighbors. Our ladies have taken refuge in Salt Lake City. They have placed themselves and their families at your mercy. The path from war, through refugee camps, to unfamiliar lands has been fraught
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Justin Harnish
- Feb 9, 2017
- 4 min
Refugees Welcome: March on Utah State Capitol
The resistance against the moral failings of the current administration has begun. Immigrants, native Utahns, Mormons, and Muslims all marched together to protest the vile ban on refugees and immigrants.Women of the World led in the march. Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, gave the below speech, which is published in its entirety with a video linked below. SLC Voices on YouTube Refugees Welcome Speech Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Samira Harnish and I am the
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Justin Harnish
- Sep 4, 2016
- 6 min
Bridging Gaps and Cultivating Foundation – A 12-week Program for Refugee High School Girls
Keep up to date on all of our activities… Learn more and Subscribe Module 1: Identity Self-Identity Social Justice Roots “My Story” Module 2: Understanding Understanding Gender Healthy Relationships Communication Dating Module 3: Experience What breaks your heart? Voice Expression Community Module 4: Opportunity, Structure, Mentor Sense of belonging Path Through Higher Education Balance Mindfulness Practices What happens when you put young women leaders in a room for twelve w
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Justin Harnish
- Jul 16, 2016
- 1 min
Episode 3: July ’16 Refugee Podcast with Elisabeth from Central African Republic
Today we speak with Elisabeth from the Central African Republic about her life in CAR, her flight with her young children and her disabled mother and her arrival in Utah. In this interview we will hear about how Women of the World gave Elisabeth 110% by not stopping at just getting her a green card but also by getting her a job caring for her disabled mother and helping her find a more accessible apartment. Elisabeth shares her love for WoW and her desire to take her programs
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Justin Harnish
- Apr 7, 2016
- 2 min
Stepping Back From the Ledge As Sisters
“I want to kill myself. I don’t want to live anymore.” What horrors did this young mother from Congo experience for her to utter these words in front of her young children? Mami is a late afternoon walk-in to Women of the World. She has cried through the day, her dark complexion stained with sadness. She is thin, her past sickens her. She is striking. Her kids are adorable, quiet, and well-behaved. They place their heads gently on the new blanket I give them from our donation
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Justin Harnish
- Mar 20, 2016
- 2 min
Mother’s Day With The Leonardo’s Community Connections
Mothers share a bond, whether they are mothers from Utah or from a war-torn country seeking refugee status. Women of the World and The Leonardo Museum are excited to announce that together we will be celebrating “Mothers of the World” by unveiling an art installation of the same name. All of this will happen as part of The Leonardo’s Community Connections program and Women of the World’s Annual Celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, 8 May 2016. When: Sunday, 8 May 2016. Doors
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Justin Harnish
- May 12, 2015
- 1 min
Celebrating Mother’s Day with Our New Neighbors
The celebration of those that brought us into the world and that nurture and care for us throughout our lives is a key rite preserved in most cultures. In America, this rite is celebrated on the most important holiday of all – Mother’s Day. Many of our new neighbors taking refuge in Utah have a streak of celebrating mothers and grandmothers, even promoting them to the head of the household, but these celebrations do not fall on a specific day. As WoW has constantly said, w
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Justin Harnish
- Jul 10, 2014
- 1 min
Supporting Iraqi Women caught in the recent violence
Last night was a great night to meet at the park and hold a candle & stand in solidarity with the women in Iraq that have been raped, that have lost loved ones & continue to weep for an end to war in the Fertile Crescent. WoW held a candlelight vigil supporting Iraqi women caught in the recent violence between ISIS and Iraqi government. These women have suffered horrible atrocities and have been the most affected by the recent violence that Iraq has seen in the incursions fro
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Justin Harnish
- Mar 4, 2012
- 1 min
Cultural Connection KSL Radio Interview
Women of the World was on the radio this weekend! Cultural Connections with Nkoyo Iyamba interviewed three members of the Women of the World team for its program on Sunday, March 4, 2012.The questions focused on the experiences of the women in their home countries and in Utah. The women interviewed showed the terrific perseverance and courage common to our members, telling their stories of hardship and how they overcame these obstacles, and their desire to volunteer to help
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Justin Harnish
- Dec 15, 2010
- 1 min
Remnants of the Spider’s Web
Giving a voice to refugee women is critical, our ability to share in our prosperity with those who have suffered the worst atrocities of war, limited access to education, and poverty defines us as a society who live and contribute based on the ideals of fairness and compassion for all. Even though the spider may be a memory of a distant land and only real in our nightmares, refugee women still pull off the remnants of the spider’s web throughout their lives. Their scars mar
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