In the Nyanza region of southwest Kenya, along the shoreline of the massive Lake Victoria, young women and girls face multiple barriers to creating the futures they dream for themselves. The area has among Kenya’s highest rates of girls dropping out of school — due to unplanned pregnancy, the need to help support their families …Read More
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“What makes me proud is that this win was a team effort. The world has seen now how communities can rise up and stand for what is right—to the very end,” says Omar Elmawi. Omar is the Campaign Coordinator of deCOALonize, a coalition of organizations in Kenya turning the tide on rampant industrial development in …Read More
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In the conservative coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, LGBTQI people have faced discrimination, stigma and violence. Some of the community’s boda boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers have participated in vicious attacks against LGBTQI people. But AJWS grantee Initiative for Equality and Non Discrimination (INEND) is working to build a culture of tolerance. Watch this short video …Read More
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Kenyan activists are turning the tide against a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project that threatens to destroy lives and the environment.
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Today, we mark the International Day of Forests, a day to commemorate forests and to raise awareness about the vital role they play in the lives of people and in the health of our planet. Forests across the globe act as our lifelines. They sustain life for countless creatures, provide livelihoods to millions, and serve …Read More
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In Kenya, AJWS defends communities’ access to land, water and other natural resources that are being exploited by irresponsible development projects. AJWS grantees also work to end violence and discrimination against — and create opportunities for — Kenyan women, girls and LGBTQI+ people.
Read MoreThe Pentateuch’s penultimate portion, Parashat Ha’azinu, memorializes the “Song of Moses,” canted by the great leader on the day of his death. An epic poem in six parts, Ha’azinu tells of God’s enduring relationship with Israel, unfurling their stormy entanglements into both desert past and prophetic future.
Read MoreIn Parashat Chukkat, we read about the Israelites in a moment of desperation. Forty years into their journey through the desert, they once again find themselves in a new place without any water.[1] The people are distraught, but rather than voicing their fears in a calm, rational manner, the Israelites pick a fight. They approach …Read More
Read MoreParashat Chayei Sarah opens with the death of the matriarch Sarah at age 127. The Torah describes the death of this important character in only two terse verses,[1] and the news is soon eclipsed by a lengthy discussion occupying the rest of the chapter—17 verses in all—about the negotiations for the purchase of her tomb.[2] …Read More
Read MoreThe pursuit of global justice can often feel like a desert trek, with no oasis or end in sight. We work tirelessly toward our goals without certainty that we will reach them in our lifetimes. Sometimes, the never-ending struggle without reward overwhelms us. We may express anger, lash out or attempt to give up. Yet …Read More
Read MoreThis week, we are pleased to welcome guest writer, Dvar Tzedek alumnus Guy Izhak Austrian. Death felt very close as I walked through the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, with leaders of Binti Pamoja—Daughters United—a girls’ leadership development program.[1] Sewage ran through narrow alleys between the endless rows of tin shacks. Shredded plastic bags rattled amid …Read More
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