Maguindanaoan wins ‘Voice of Courage’ award

Philippine News: Noraida Abdullah Karim, a Filipino social worker, has been named a recipient of the “Voices of Courage" Award to be given by the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children. She will be the keynote speaker during the awards luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on May 10, 2007. The “Voices of Courage" awards are presented each year to people or organizations from around the world that have shown commitment and leadership to promote the well being of displaced women, children, and youth. Established in 1989, the Women’s Commission is affiliated with and is legally part of the International Rescue Committee. Abdullah-Karim, a Maguindanaoan, is the Officer-in-Charge of Community and Family Services International (CFSI) operations in Mindanao, Philippines and, concurrently, Coordinator of the Food Assistance Project. She subsequently played a leading role in the Literacy, Livelihood, and Food Sufficiency Project for women and male youth that CFSI field-tested for the World Bank. The project is now being implemented in conflict-affected communities in Maguindanao in partnership with the World Food Programme. On May 11, Abdullah-Karim will be speaking to the faculty and students of the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) at Catholic University of America in conjunction with the showing of “Peace in Our Village." Prof. Frederick L. Ahearn, Jr., Co-Chair of the Center for International Social Development at CU and former dean confirmed that Abdullah-Karim will be the Recipient of the School’s First Social Justice and Social Change Award. On Monday, May 14, she will be addressing social workers in the area who have an interest in international work and peace programs. On May 15, at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium, Abdullah-Karim will also talk about her experience in working with women and children living in conflict-affected areas of Southern Philippines. The following day, she will be traveling to Ypsilanti, Michigan to speak at Eastern Michigan University on May 17. The event is under the sponsorship of EMU’s Social Foundations of Education Program (Teacher Education Department) and CERPA, the Teacher Education Department’s Colloquium on Educational Research, Practice, and Advocacy. Abdullah-Karim was born in Cotabato City and spent most of her formative years in Datu Piang in Maguindanao, Mindanao, Philippines. Her childhood and youth were marked by poverty, repeated displacement due to armed conflict in Mindanao, and a determined desire to survive. Karim spent years assisting other displaced Muslims in Metro Manila, organizing to meet basic needs, and advocating for peace negotiations in Mindanao. The Peace Agreement of 1996 set the stage for her return to Mindanao. She became involved with local civil society organizations concerned with human rights; advocated for the relief of displaced persons, and initiated livelihood projects for poor women. She returned to school in her native Cotabato City and obtained a Social Work degree at De La Vida College in 1999. CFSI activity in Mindanao commenced with the displacement of almost a million people in the aftermath of the war in 2000. In March 2001, Abdullah-Karim joined CFSI as Community Organizing Officer, helping large numbers of internally displaced persons to return to their hometown communities. She was a tireless worker in the “Arms are for Hugging" Project which helped ensure that more than 600 formerly out-of-school children and youth would have access to primary education in their own community in the towns of Inug-ug, Pagalungan, and in the Maguindanao region. Now celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Community and Family Services International (CFSI) is a humanitarian organization committed to peace and social development, with a particular interest in the psychosocial dimension. The vision of CFSI is diverse people living together in dignity, peace, and harmony. Its mission is to vigorously protect the lives, well-being, and dignity of people uprooted by persecution, armed conflict, disasters, and other exceptionally difficult circumstances. Based in the Philippines, CFSI has worked closely with the international community as well as national and local authorities responsible for uprooted persons in many of the countries of the Asia and Pacific Region, especially South East Asia. In addition, CFSI has carried out special training programs in various parts of the world for humanitarian workers. - Philippine News