Addressing the economic needs of women across the globe will do much to help them escape the cycle of domestic violence. Fostering empowerment, supporting literacy and micro economics, will be the first steps along the road to independence for women.
I am a social worker and community educator in New Orleans I make this issue part of every chance I have to speak in public - 3-4 times a week. I am committing to increasing my efforts to raise awareness in the community.
Thanks and keep up the fantastic work!

Shame, especially shame used as a tool for punishment is the root of the evil of society. When a girl or a young woman is taught at whatever age for whatever reason that the base of who she is, (female) is something to be ashamed of, she will struggle with that for the rest of her life. When someone very important to her tells her she should be ashamed of who she is because of the way she looks, who she is, or because of a single incident in her life, (in my case, teen pregnancy) they steal her sense of self and her identity and she is left being no one and nobody. The ripple effect of those actions are far reaching and can take YEARS to overcome. We MUST teach young girls and young women as soon as we can that they are important, necessary, worthwhile, and most of all powerful and in charge of their own destiny. Only love and education and encouragement and everything positive you can give a woman will make her believe that. And once she believes it...look out world!!! There is no stopping her.

Pedophiles steal a child’s potential. Rape and other abuses change the chemical balance of the child. Their developmental stages are skewed forever. It is especially confusing for the child when the perpetrators are family members or people the child has been taught to trust.

The family dynamics are transformed by pedophiles. Denial, secrecy, and blaming the victim, I have learned in my graduate classes, are normal reactions when people do not know how to cope with a crisis. My mother told me that I would be killed if I told what was happening to me so I kept silent and used alcohol and drugs to survive.

I wrote Proclivity (ISBN: 1-4241-7210-1) to help ‘yesterday’s victims’ find the courage to heal from abuse as a child, especially sexual abuse. It is a fictionalized novel that shadows my life. The things that happen to Beverly happened to me. The things she did, I did.

‘Yesterday’s victims’ are the women who were abused as children and ended up in the mental health and criminal justice systems. They kept their pedophile’s secret, were not believed when they told an adult, or were silenced and blamed for the atrocities. Some killed themselves and others are still self-medicating with alcohol, drugs and other things that debase them including abusive relationships, prostitution and being scape-goated by their family.

It is my hope that this book will save children from being raped by adults they trust, make sure that our children are believed when they tell someone about what is happening to them, and help 'yesterday's victims' find the courage they will need to override their internalized subversiveness.

I have already had many positive reactions to Proclivity from women who identify with my experiences.

Please enjoy reading about how a little girl survived on her natural instincts/tendencies (PROCLIVITY) and became a woman that lights the path for other courageous victims to heal and live better lives.

In Malawi I meet a British lady who is works at a hospital, and she told me about her assistant, Madelaine, a local lady who is HIV positive. It had been passed on to her by her husband, who was now dead, leaving her with three children to look after. Her siblings had also all died from AIDS, so in addition to her own children, she was looking after their 7 children, her widowed mother, and her 14 year old brother. She was the only one in the family earning any money and was responsible for providing food, clothing and schooling. None of the children had been tested for HIV. This story isn't unique in countries where up to 40% of the population has AIDS, and a high percentage of women live in poverty with no access to basic education. I truly hope that this summit results in real support for women like Madelaine everywhere. Good luck.

I am a 54 year old woman, I raised four children and have 6 grandchildren. Since 9/11 I have struggled with issues of poverty and loss. I previously held an executive level management position and am also an experienced counselor. After my job loss my father became ill and it was my wish to be a support for him through his terminal illness. I never dreamed that a few years off and getting a bit older would make me no longer an asset to the work force. I was forced to sell my home and made some proceeds. I have held 2 low wage jobs but was grateful to have them. Unfortunately I was laid off from each. I have lived the past 5 months on 0 income. The Lord and a tax return have sustained me so far. I'm terrified of poverty and homelessness. I used to volunteer at a food shelf and community service bureau. I have so much to offer others but no resources to put myself back on my feet first. I try to have a positive outlook but after trials of the past years I am nearly ready to toss in the towel and learn all there is to know about hobo-ing my way through the golden years. I am married but my husband is in poor health, we have no insurance. We also have no heat here in Wisconsin where it gets pretty cold. I also have business start up training and would love to start a business that could employ mainly women at livable wages and possible on sight day care. Jobs are scarce in my area and there are many single moms who are working 2 or even 3 jobs to stay afloat. They rarely see their children. I would love to offer a company concept that only one income would be needed, a company with a heart and soul. Is something of this nature a project of WFDA? In any case I am thrilled to see this happening. I only hope that it doesn't become a foundational type endeavor in which much is spent and little accomplished. Are you hiring???? Kind regards and Best of luck in this wonderful adventure, Cynthia