As official partner of Blog Action Day 2012, we truly believe in people power. At Oxfam, we know change is possible. We know that with determination, commitment, passion and an unshakeable belief that this world is ours to change, lives can be transformed. We’re part of a global movement of people who know poverty isn’t inevitable. And we’ve seen time and again just how much people power can achieve. From our strategy to field projects, Oxfam strongly believes in the Power of WE.
Over the past 70 years, our campaigners and supporters have been at the heart of some amazing change. From the Freedom from Hunger campaign in the 60’s, to Hungry for Change in 1984 which inspired the birth of 300 supporter groups, to Make Trade Fair campaign which directly influenced the WTO’s decision with more than 20 million signature and to over a million people wearing white hand band to support Make Poverty History in 2005. We believe that people can affect change when they see that another way is possible and that they themselves, with others are capable of taking that other way.
To find out more about the the issues that Oxfam campaigns on follow us on Twitter, or our blog.
To celebrate the Power of We we wante to share some inspiring stories were people have worked together to helped end poverty and injustice, that you can use in your Blog Action Day posts.
Female Food Hero Award
As a part of Oxfam’s GROW campaign, the Female Food Hero Award elevates and acknowledges the vital role that women play in agriculture.
The awards began in 2011 in Tanzania, Nigeria and Armenia, and played an key role in changing attitudes about women food producers, as it raised their status within their communities, connected them together so they could support each other, and enabled them to raise their voices about issues that concern them, in their own communities, nationally and globally.
The awards were very popular with the Tanzania Female Food Hero Award, ”Mama Shujaa Wa Chakula” recieving over 6,000 applications, with over 25 million people following the awards progress via prime time radio and TV media coverage. In 2012, Mama Shujaa Wa Chakula is expecting to receive over 25,000 applications from Tanzanian female food producers, with the winner announced on World Food Day October 16 – the day after Blog Action Day.
The Female Food Hero Awards are a great example of the Power of We, with thousands of feamle food producers and their communities working together to raiase the profile, status and opportunities for rural women.
2012, will see the Female Food Hero Awards being held in Tanzania, Armenia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and we welcome you to follow the progress the awards and discuss what you think about them in your Blog Action Day posts.
Female Food Hero resources for your Blog Action Day posts
Blogs
- Huffington Post Profile of 2011 Tanzania Female Food Hero winner Ester Jerome Mtegule
- 2012 Female Food Heroes Awards launch in Tanzania
Follow the progress of the 2012 Female Food Heroes Awards
- “Women are treated as tractors”
- Female Food Heroes 2012” competition launches in Tanzania
- They called her mad and laughed at her, but she kept going…
Photos
Videos
We Can end violence against women.
The “We Can” campaign focuses on the issue of violence against women, as sadly, many countries still have deeply entrenched gender inequalities and violence against women is high and socially accepted.
We Can’s overall goal has been to reduce the social acceptance of violence against women, by working with volunteer male and female Change Makers from all levels of society, who in turn confront and challenge attitudes and behaviours of violence or inequality against women.
Over 3.7 million Change Makers, have joined We Can, with 94% reporting a change in their friends’ and families’ attitudes. We Can campaign materials aims to present difficult messages in an accessible way and enabling the issues to be discussed, despite their sensitivity and complexity that may surround them in different cultures.
We Can resources for your Blog Action Day posts
Blog
- We Can campaign launches in Burundi (East Africa)
Websites
Reports
- The We Can Campaign in South Asia, 2004-2011: External evaluation report
- Collection of Oxfam’s WE Can publications and reports
Videos
Rubina Liaqat — The Determined Survivor: This shows how a housewife in a village in Punjab opted to become a change maker and helped alter the views of hundreds of people in her community. Through her personal journey she succeeded in ending violence in her own home and to change her family’s views. She is now helping to challenge the norms of dowry and bride exchange within families in her community.
