Mrs Lindsey Hughes tells us about the Senior School's chosen charity this year.

Earlier this term one of our assemblies was taken by Daisy Bessell, Fundraising & Marketing Officer for Women for Women International, our chosen Senior School charity for the year. Since 1993, Women for Women International has invested in the power of over half a million women across 17 conflict-affected countries. From Afghanistan and Iraq to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, they invest where inequality is greatest by helping women who are the survivors of war and conflict.

The charity was founded thirty years ago in response to the Bosnian War, in which over 50,000 women were subjected to sexual violence as a weapon of war. Thousands more witnessed the killing of loved ones and destruction of their homes, and were left struggling to provide and care for their families whilst dealing with severe trauma. Survivors said that they felt invisible, that the world had forgotten about them, that no one cared. This experience is mirrored in the lives of women in all the conflict-affected countries where Women for Women International work.

Daisy explained that the charity believes that empowering women creates a ripple effect of change, breaking cycles of poverty and rebuilding communities. She outlined the four key programmes they run. The core Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme provides women affected by war with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to transform their lives. The Change Agents programme, launched in 2017, equips women with leadership and advocacy skills, enabling them to address challenges in their communities, work with local leaders, and create systemic change.

In addition the Men’s Engagement Programme educates husbands, male relatives and community leaders on gender equality and women’s rights. By challenging harmful norms, this initiative fosters healthier households and stronger communities. Finally the Adolescent Girls Programme equips girls with essential life skills, focusing on gender equality, health and wellness, financial literacy, and safety. By addressing the unique challenges they face - poverty, lack of education, and genderbased violence - we empower them to take charge of their futures.

It was fantastic to see where the money we are raising this year will go. Just £264 will pay for one woman to complete the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme and, given that we anticipate raising several thousand pounds this year, I am excited to think how many women will be empowered by the support of Channing girls. This impact will be further augmented by our participation in #MessageToMySister, where we are invited to send a message of hope and solidarity to a woman survivor of war. Our messages will remind her she’s not alone - that someone, somewhere, believes in her strength and her ability to rebuild her life. That is the power of women, for women.

A focus on our support of others is a key part of our Unitarian ethos, and our commitment to community service and charity work is something of which I am really proud. Indeed social impact is a key pillar of our vision for Channing 2035. It struck a real chord, then, when I read David Brooks’ article, The Character-Building Tool Kit, in the New York Times. I particularly enjoyed this section:

The schools that focus on moral education … have a sense of moral mission, that who you become is more important than what career track you pursue. ... They have a clear goal and everybody knows their role in achieving it. They have rituals to mark transitions. They have retreats and group travel so that people can see one another before the makeup goes on. They provide opportunities for struggle and growth. They often have sacred symbols and initiation rituals so that everybody knows they belong.

There are so many events in the Channing School calendar that exemplify and embody the communal events referred to in this article: the very thing(s) that bond us as a community.