AIC - USA
Pounding the pavement for the poor
The Ladies of Charity USA (AIC USA) organizes an annual walk that will be held on September 11, 2011. This event is to celebrate the poor and honor those caring individuals who work directly in the community to bring about healthy change for men, women and children. Walkers will get pledges to sponsor them and/or pay a registration fee of $25.
Any association throughout the USA and abroad can participate and organize a walk locally. 90 % of the money raised locally will be credited and used in direct service to the poor.
These walks promise to substantially involve both the media and the general public, raising the visibility of the Ladies of Charity’s and AIC’s social and charitable activities. For more information: http://aic.ladiesofcharity.us/.
AIC-USA (Ladies of Charity USA)
American Civic Association
The Binghamton Ladies of Charity received a reading enrichment grant of $500.00 from the national board of LCUSA (AIC-USA) and donated it to the American Civic Association to aid reading and literacy programs.
AIC-USA Board made the donation to help immigrants 'avoid possible poverty or rise above it' through English education, members said in a statement. ACA Executive Director Andrew Baranoski thanked AIC members: Molly Siedlarczyk, Sally Masters, Margaret Hanson, Barbara Caveny and Lanie Cummings for their work on behalf of ACA.
It was at the American Civic Association in April, 2009, that thirteen immigrants from nine countries lost their lives in a shooting as they were in a classroom studying to pass the American Citizenship Test.
On the occasion of the International Day of Fight against Violence towards Women, on November 25th, the 2009 Jean & Claire Delva Prize has been granted to 2 projects presented by AIC volunteers from Mexico and Peru. MEXICO : Shelter and global accompaniment for 60 families suffering from domestic and gender violence. PERU Strenghtening prevention of domestic violence in the Nueva Cajamarca District The AIC Nueva Cajamarca group in Peru faced with the major problem of domestic violence in the district of San Martin, situated right in the Peruvian jungle, decided to set up a 8 month training for 25 leader women (of whom 15 AIC volunteers), with the support of professionals. This training is aiming at setting up a violence free culture for the families of the district of San Martin, through the training of leaders who could be able to meet the treatment and the prevention of the domestic violence, with multiplier effect. 2009 Assembly LC USA- AIC USA in Pitttsburg, Renews Commitment & Spirit The 2009 Assembly theme was “Ladies of Charity: Bridging Hope, Service and Love.” After an energizing and inspirational four days, members emerged from this year’s meeting with a renewed spirit of hope, of service and of love to go forth and continue to serve those in need. Gayle Johnson (photo) holds up T-shirt displaying the message, “Women Working Together Against Poverty.” http://aic.ladiesofcharity.us/ Regaining new life and energy thanks to twinning The AIC association in Paraguay has established, since a few months, a successful twinning with AIC Brazil. This support from a nearby country has boosted the association. It is the model example of a rich and fertile partnership, which allows the development of the group today. Evidence of this is the organization by the volunteers of the 1st Social Forum in Asunción, in which the entire civil society is involved, as both public and private authorities have been invited. This forum permitted the volunteers, too often considered as minor players, to show their own skills. The forum showed on the contrary that the volunteers are worthy partners which society, and particularly women, can count on. In the light of the good visibility for AIC Paraguay and within the framework of the twinning, the President and the Advisor of AIC Brazil were invited to give a talk.the 2009 Jean & Claire Delva Prize
The Vincentian home of Querétaro in Mexico takes in about sixty women yearly. These women are victims of domestic violence, as well as their children. They are sent to this shelter by the public authorities, NGO or local associations, as the shelter is well known for offering a global undertaking to the victims: food, accommodation, clothes, health care and pre-school training for young children. Furthermore, these women can benefit from some services of professional reintegration, juridical defence (alimony, sexual abuses exposure …) and a global psychological, spiritual and medical accompaniment. This global accompaniment programme is carried out by a multidisciplinary group of professionals and AIC volunteers, in the spirit of the Vincentian charisma. As they are concerned with the future evolution of the women once they have left the shelter, this group has carried out a 4 steps pattern of accompaniment, since two years: welcome of the victim and prevention of violence ; interdisciplinary intervention making easier the reflection process ; preparation of the coming out; follow-up of the women once they are out of the shelter. As they are aware that domestic violence and gender inequality is not an isolated case but a real society problem, the team of the centre also makes advocacy and raises awareness, through inter institutional networks, aiming at preventing, dealing with and eradicating domestic violence.
These leaders will be trained by gender experts, to promote a violence free life and they will elaborate some material to be circulated to their associations. They will also develop their organization and management skills and will set up a campaign to raise awareness about the problem of domestic violence.AIC USA
AIC Paraguay
