Dear friends in Asia Pacific,
Greetings from the Mission Development Office.
I would like to share with you a film that was recently produced by the Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF) entitled 'Mahila - A Women's Movement Rising' which features three Dalit women from an Economic Justice Project of Good Shepherd Central East India. I have personally met all the women featured in Mahila and I find the film very inspirational.
One in mission,
Theresa
The film is available at this link - http://www.mahilafilm.com
The Reflection Guide is available at this link - Reflection Guide
Social Media Tool Kit - MAHILA Social Media Tool Kit
It was filmed in the villages of Mangalagiri and Amravathi last year in March with scenes shot during an International Women's Day event. It took almost a year to produce the film which will be launched in Rome also on International Women's Day 8 March 2018. The film will also be launched in the villages with the Dalit women on the same day.
The Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) is encouraging all Good Shepherd sites to view Mahila during International Women's Day this year; a worldwide launch and effort to be in solidarity with all women who are experiencing marginalisation, exploitation and exclusion from mainstream society. Towards this purpose, a study / reflection guide and an invitation letter from the CLT is attached.
GSIF will use this film to advocate for the rights of women during UN events and other significant platforms, similar to a previous production 'Life Outside the Mines' which featured a Good Shepherd program in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Click below for the story of Bisto Bai, one beneficiary of the Economic Justice Project in Good Shepherd Central East India. In January 2019 it was announced that Bisto Bai had won the 2019 Women Stop Hunger Award.
See http://www.mahilafilm.com/2018/08/30/bisto-bai/ for the story of Bisto.
Please feel free to share Mahila with all mission partners and to organise small or larger gatherings with sisters, staff, friends, volunteers, family members, other NGOs etc to view Mahila. You are also free to post Mahila on your FBs with comments, reflections, etc. Do take pictures of the viewing and share your comments with Sara Braga, GSIF Communications Officer: comm.gsif@gssweb.org
Anyone interested to know more about this project can contact:
Project Manager, Sr Aruna George at arunargs@rediffmail.com or
Asia Pacific MDO Regional Manager, Theresa Symons at theresa.symons@gssweb.org