Women Faith and Family - What is the role of women in community building?

Four speakers, each rooted in a different faith, elaborated in their presentations on

various aspects of community building, focusing on the contribution and participation

of women.

Gill Barstow, from the Church of the Latter-Day Saints in Milton Keynes and

business consultant for business development, posed the question to everyone – is community building more than a task, or a particular talent, a challenge, a privilege, a

mission or our calling for women? She related to her experiences, overcoming

differences because of personality, cultural background, religious understanding.

She found that as women we can look after each other, not just accept but welcome

those that are different, can be peacemakers and social connectors.

Asma Ahmed, a mother representing the Islamic tradition, is passionate about

women's education for leadership. She believes 'peace starts with me'. From her

religious perspective, values like empathy, service and charity she is inspired to find

ways to action them and engage in the community. Her daily prayer gives her

strength, to serve and take responsibility. She founded an NGO "Inspire Visons

Collective" to support each other as women and others in the community.

Dr Vani Moodley practices Ayurvedic Medicine, representing the Hindu tradition and

is a mother of twins. She states, 'that the mother is responsible for the physical,

mental and spiritual well-being of the child. During Pregnancy, our food, thoughts

and environment determine the personality of the child.

We need to raise children with values to build a strong foundation that will withstand

the test of all challenges in the world'. Vani emphasizes that leadership by mothers

serves as the example. Her engagement with several community initiatives and

projects have shown her, that the future of the world lies in the hands of a mother.

When her children are great, society will be good and if society is good then

countries will prosper and when countries prosper spiritually, then the world

becomes a haven of peace.

Oksana Torok, Secretary General of WFWP believes in the value of ones'

conscience, changing herself will impact change in the community. She states, 'that

by investing in myself I invest in my community'. Oksana joined a group that teaches

Universal Principles. This led her to get involved in community oriented cultural events and peace projects as well as character development and leadership training

programs. She conducts workshops for peace education for children and is involved

in Art for Peace programs for children. Oksana is convinced that what does matter is

that coming together, sharing the knowledge and experience, ways of means and

adapting and changing that becomes a communal knowledge which is then

disseminated out into the world.

To conclude the event a video was shown to introduce the WFWP, its vision,

initiatives and projects, as well as promoting the concept of realizing the one global

human family.