V-Day - V-Day
-1
archive,author,author-deandrakecreativecollab-com,author-2,bridge-core-3.0.2,qode-page-transition-enabled,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,footer_responsive_adv,qode-theme-ver-28.8,qode-theme-bridge,disabled_footer_bottom,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.9.0,vc_responsive,elementor-default,elementor-kit-20244
 

Author: V-Day

Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and out of balance in today's world of uncertainty, chaos, and fear. I was in a challenging place for the past several months and felt like I was at the end of my rope, I just didn’t know what to do about the challenges that were popping up in my life. Yet somehow, the universe seemed to know what I needed, and I had to trust the process. I surrendered and gave in by attending the second workshop in the well-being series called “The Crossover,” which Jennifer Mancuso and Sherrie Frank introduced to our group...

Soon after the Taliban took power in 2021, they banned high school for girls. We already knew then, that sooner or later they will close universities as well, because naturally there will be no high school graduates to join the universities. And this is exactly what happened. The Taliban officially banned girls and women from attending universities and from working in national and international NGOs. In a matter of seconds, we lost everything we had worked for our entire lives....

Nadia (not her real name), a young unmarried woman, resides alone in Kabul with her elderly mother. They lack the support of any siblings, and the absence of her father and brother during these challenging times under the rule of the misogynistic Taliban is deeply felt. The Taliban’s oppressive policies have stripped women of their rights to work and live in peace. Nadia is facing a pressing concern as her mother’s health has deteriorated, necessitating an urgent operation. Unfortunately, Afghanistan faces a shortage of skilled doctors, and the quality of healthcare is often subpar. The lack of well-qualified teachers and...

It's a struggle that's hard to put into words, and it feels like no one truly comprehends or shares in our pain. Sitara (not her real name) is in her 30s with two children. She owned and managed a beauty salon in Herat, Afghanistan and her personal journey highlights the enduring hardships faced by the people of Afghanistan over the past four decades of war and instability. I couldn't attend school, never experiencing a typical childhood due to the constant presence of war. Eventually, my family and I were forced to flee to Pakistan as a result of the ongoing conflict. Unfortunately,...

Samina, (not her real name) ran a gym in Herat, Afghanistan and has two teenage daughters. Below is her story: Around 14 years ago, a friend and I decided to invest in a gym for women and girls. The concept of a gym, especially for women, was relatively new in Afghanistan, but we believed it was a great idea. We saw it as a way to empower women to prioritize their health, fitness, and embrace self-love. Unfortunately, our culture has never really encouraged women to focus on themselves; they are often expected to solely serve their husbands and children. So, we thought...

Samia, (not her real name) in her 20s, with tearful eyes, reflects on how her life drastically changed two years ago. She comes from a family where her mother used to work for an NGO, and her father was employed at a bank. At that time, she was pursuing a career in journalism while her sister was in her third year of medical school, and her younger brother attended school. Two years ago, their lives took a distressing turn when women were prohibited from working, leading to their mother losing her job. Samia and her sister were also banned from continuing...

As our 25th anniversary year draws to a close, we are filled with gratitude for this unique, ever-changing, and stunning movement. V-Day and One Billion Rising activists once again shattered traditions and created spaces for grassroots dialogue, with art and activism always at the forefront. They rose for gender, climate, economic, and racial justice and against a wave of war, right-wing nationalism, white supremacy, colorism, fascism, xenophobia, misogyny, femicide, homophobia, transphobia, corporate greed, and climate destruction, centering their voices and experiences of the most marginalized. During the ten-year anniversary campaign, ONE BILLION RISING GLOBAL COORDINATORS and teams worldwide staged over 1,200 art...

(Repost from Instagram and One Billion Rising) #VDay and #1BillionRising call for a CEASEFIRE NOW. As the bombardment escalates, as civilian deaths in Gaza rise, and the humanitarian crisis has become catastrophic. As a movement working to END VIOLENCE against women, girls, gender expansive people and the Earth, we oppose violence committed by ANYONE. We do not believe violence is the solution in Israel or Palestine or ANYWHERE. Pressure your government representatives, demand a ceasefire now. Visit: vday.org/Gaza. To read our full statement and actions/organizations you can URGENTLY support. #UntilTheViolenceStops...

I am an Afghan woman and my name is Dina (not real name). I would like to share with you a small part of Afghan families' sorrow under the Taliban. I was walking on the street when I noticed a little boy around 10 years old cleaning cars. He was very dirty, tired, sad and hopeless. I went up close and started a conversation. I asked, "What are you doing on the streets during school hours? You should be in school, at least it is open for boys. And why do you look so tired?"...

(Reposted from onebillionrising.org) I have “risen” for/with V-Day and OBR for the past decade. This year feels different. It is different. Maybe it is because I live in the US where women have lost the right to abortion that we had for the past 50 years. But maybe it is also because of the visibility of the “woman-led revolution” in Iran, and the Ukrainian women snipers, and the women activists in Chile and Brazil. We can see women demanding democracy even if there are endless attempts to make us invisible. As democracy, in whatever fashion and incompleteness it exists, is under...