tuesday 14 july 2015 – shepparton...
TRANSCRIPT
M15/49950 Page | 1
Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee
‘Love Marriage in Kabul’
Malala Day 2015 Tuesday 14 July 2015 – Shepparton
Evaluation
M15/49950 Page | 2
ContentsGreater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee ........................................................................... 3
Malala Day ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Event – screening of ‘Love Marriage in Kabul’ ................................................................................................................ 4
Topic: ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Forced marriage .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Mahboba’s Promise .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Date ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Venue .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Speeches: ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Sponsors/Partners ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Audience.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Resources ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Catering ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Suppliers .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Budget ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Advertising ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Organising Committee .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Feedback ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Lessons for next time ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Appendix 1: Speech delivered by Fran Smullen .......................................................................................................... 9
Appendix 2: Budget ................................................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix 3: Media coverage and advertising ........................................................................................................... 12
Appendix 4: Feedback survey results ........................................................................................................................ 16
M15/49950 Page | 3
GreaterSheppartonWomen’sCharterAllianceAdvisoryCommittee
The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee (GSWCAAC) is a community advisory committee (of the Greater Shepparton City Council) that is part of a broader network of Local Government Area (LGA) advisory committees across the state that are guided and informed by the Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter. The Charter recognises the need to increase women’s participation in key decision making forums in the community and in democratic governance.
A three point action plan focussing on Diversity, Active Citizenship and Gender Equity guides the key strategic objectives of this committee.
The GSWCAAC is made up of community representatives and Council Officers, and is supported by Greater
Shepparton City Council.
The GSWCAAC meets monthly and community members are welcome to attend as guests, with an annual intake of
members undertaken in March each year.
Left: Some of the members
of the Greater Shepparton
Women’s Charter Alliance
Advisory Committee.
MalalaDayThe GSWCAAC decided to highlight the significance of Malala Day – 14 July 2015 and educate the community on
the meaning of this day. The GSWCAAC felt holding an event on Malala Day would increase the broader awareness
of women’s and girl’s rights and struggles encountered in a more global context.
Malala Day is named after Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist who advocates for universal education and
girl’s rights.
Malala was targeted because of her activism, and in October 2012 ‐ at fifteen years of age ‐ the Taliban boarded her
school bus and shot her and two other girls.
Not only did Malala survive this horrific attack, she was not deterred from her advocacy for the rights of children
everywhere to have universal access to education.
Malala said: “I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and
then be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up.”1
1 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Lecture Peace Prize 2014. Accessed 7 July 2015 from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/yousafzai‐lecture_en.html
M15/49950 Page | 4
A brief video about Malala can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXVLN1kTtE
The Malala Fund has been set up to empower adolescent girls through secondary education. Donations can be
made at: http://www.malala.org/
Event–screeningof‘LoveMarriageinKabul’The GSWCAAC decided to screen the movie ‘Love Marriage in Kabul’ on Malala Day. The GSWCAAC chose this
particular movie as it is a documentary about arranged and forced marriages in Afghanistan.
The following is a synopsis of the movie:
Mahboba Rawi is a strong‐willed Afghan‐Australian
woman who has dedicated her life to help orphans
in Afghanistan. She is the founder of Mahboba’s
Promise and a mother figure for thousands of
orphans and widows currently supported by her
programs.
Abdul, one of these orphans, is in love with
Fatemeh, the girl next door. The two have been
exchanging romantic letters for almost a year and
hope to marry each other one day. But Fatemeh’s
father has other plans – he has decided to marry her
off to anyone who can offer a large sum of money as
her dowry.
Devastated, Abdul is hoping when Mahboba arrives
for her yearly trip to Kabul, that she will help him
again. When Mahboba hears the story, she is very
concerned about Abdul, and Fatemeh’s possible fate
in a forced marriage. She is determined to make the
marriage happen between Abdul and Fatemah.
However, the demands that Fatemeh’s father makes
are beyond anyone’s expectations. He won’t let the
marriage take place unless Mahboba pays him
$10,000 or finds a wife for his eldest son who then
can replace Fatemeh in taking care of the
household.
With nothing to Abdul’s name, the fate of the couple depends entirely on Mahboba’s ability to meet or negotiate
the father’s terms.
But Mahboba only has one month and limited resources.
The official trailer for the movie can be viewed here: http://lovemarriageinkabul.com/
Feedback from an audience member and GSWCAAC Member:
“The film was touching and shed light on this somewhat taboo subject.”
M15/49950 Page | 5
Topic:
ForcedmarriageThe GSWCAAC wanted to show the movie ‘Love Marriage in Kabul’ to highlight the issue of forced marriage.
The GSWCAAC are hoping to hold a forum for professionals on the topic of forced marriage later in 2015.
A good resource about the impact of forced marriage in Australia is titled: ‘The Right to Refuse: examining forced
marriage in Australia’ by Magdalena McGuire on behalf of the Good Shepherd, and Domestic Violence Victoria. The
report can be accessed at: https://www.goodshepvic.org.au/Assets/Files/Right_to_Refuse_final_report.pdf
Mahboba’sPromiseMahboba’s Promise was featured in the film ‘Love Marriage in Kabul’.
Mahboba’s Promise is an Australian non‐profit organisation dedicated to the women and children of Afghanistan.
Mahboba’s Promise was founded by Mahboba Rawi, an Afghan refugee and now an Australian citizen, who has
experienced first‐hand the effects of a country torn apart by years of war and civil unrest.
Founded in 1998, Mahboba’s Promise began its mission by helping to care for Afghan refugees who had been forced
into a refugee camp in Pakistan by a devastating earthquake in Takhar, Afghanistan.
Mahboba’s Promise has established schools, shelters and health clinics across Afghanistan and provided numerous
sponsorships to widows and orphans in need.
Mahboba’s Promise’s ongoing projects have provided education and homes for children, vocational skills and
training for women, and support and health care access for the wider community; and over 15 years later, still
stands as a respected and effective organisation bringing valuable, sustainable change to the people of war‐torn
Afghanistan.2
Mahboba’s Promise accepts donations to continue their work in Afghanistan. Donations can be made at:
http://mahbobaspromise.org/
DateTuesday 14 July 2015, 6.00pm.
VenueThe Harder Auditorium, Goulburn Ovens TAFE, Fryers Street, Shepparton.
Speeches:Councillor Dinny Adem welcomed the audience to the event, and thanked the partners who helped make the event
possible.
A brief video about Malala Day was then shown.3
2 Mahboba’s Promise website, accessed 21 July 2015: http://mahbobaspromise.org/about‐us/about‐mahbobas‐promise/ 3 The video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXVLN1kTtE
M15/49950 Page | 6
Fran Smullen, GSWCAAC Member, then gave a speech about the importance of Malala Day, and the context it
creates for the work of the GSWCAAC. For a full transcript of the speech delivered by Fran Smullen please see
Appendix 1.
Feedback from an audience member: “Well done to everyone involved. The speech by the charter member was
excellent.”
Left: Kate Montgomery ‐
GSWCAAC Member and Team
Leader Community Strengthening
Greater Shepparton City Council;
Balvinder Kaur – Commercial
Manager Multicultural Education
Centre Goulburn Ovens Institute of
TAFE; Cr Dinny Adem; GSWCAAC
Member Fran Smullen.
Sponsors/PartnersFunding and in kind support was provided by:
Greater Shepparton City Council
GOTAFE (Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE)
The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District
The Shepparton Interfaith Network
AudienceApproximately 140 people attended the event. The audience was made up of men and women from a range of
diverse multicultural backgrounds.
The venue seated 180 people. All 180 tickets were allocated, and there was a waiting list.
ResourcesThe GSWCAAC has an aim to provide resources at all their events, including resources from the Australian Human
Right Commission’s ‘Know the Line’ sexual harassment campaign. These resources were provided on a table at the
entrance to the auditorium.
M15/49950 Page | 7
CateringIn order to keep costs to a minimum, the GSWCAAC decided to have simple catering for this event. Tea, coffee,
biscuits and slices were provided free of charge to patrons.
SuppliersThe following organisations/businesses provided services:
GOTAFE ‐ Venue and urn for tea/coffee
Pat Fiske of Bower Bird Films (Producer of the film) – the film and permission to screen the film
Dr Amin Palangi of Palangi Productions (Director of the film) – permission to screen the film
Greater Shepparton City Council –Design of posters
EventBrite ‐ Ticketing
BudgetThe event was funded by the GSWCAAC, Greater Shepparton City Council, The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and
District, and The Shepparton Interfaith Network.
There was ‘in kind’ support provided, as follows:
GOTAFE provided the venue
Greater Shepparton City Council donated some communications, stationery, tea, coffee, and staff.
The Shepparton News provided free coverage – before the event.
The GSWCAAC organising sub‐committee and the Committee as a whole donated their time.
Catering was donated by GSWCAAC Member Leanne Raditsas
Please see Appendix 2 for a full expenditure breakdown.
AdvertisingLimited advertising for this event was undertaken, and the main advertising was via email, as well as a poster.
The following is a list of advertising that was used for the event. Some had a cost, and some was in kind.
Flyer – distributed by committee members, via email and by Council
Greater Shepparton City Council website
Greater Shepparton City Council Internal website
EventBrite Ticketing
Please see Appendix 3 for media coverage and advertising.
OrganisingCommitteeGreater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee – particularly the ‘Malala Day Sub‐Committee’.
FeedbackRather than providing paper feedback forms on the evening of the event, a Survey Monkey survey was distributed
to attendees via email the day after the event.
84 people booked their tickets (and the tickets of others) through EventBrite. Of those 84, 17 people responded to
this survey. The survey was open for one week. Some of the survey results can be found in appendix 4.
M15/49950 Page | 8
The three main reasons respondents gave for attending the event were; so they could find out about forced
marriages, understand issues around women’s rights, as well as to learn about the Afghani culture.
LessonsfornexttimeAs with any event, some things could be improved next time. Some suggestions given by GSWCAAC members are:
Take donations – in line with Council procedures – to be gifted to a charity related to the event
Reduce the number of ‘no shows’ – a suggestion could be a small charge.
Explore sustainability options for future events
M15/49950 Page | 9
Appendices
Appendix1:SpeechdeliveredbyFranSmullen
SpeechforMalalaDay–LoveandMarriageinKabul
Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee
Play this video first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXVLN1kTtE
The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee would like to welcome you to this special
event.
The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee is particularly proud to hold this event on
Malala Day – which is today.
It was important to the Committee to hold this event on Malala Day. The Committee wanted to create a context for
our motivation and intention of this movie being shown on July 14 and to increase the broader awareness of
women’s and girl’s rights and struggles encountered in a more global context.
For those of you who may not be aware, Malala Day is named after Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist who
advocates for universal education and girl’s rights.
Malala was targeted because of her activism, and in October 2012 ‐ at fifteen years of age ‐ the Taliban boarded her
school bus and shot her and two other girls.
Not only did Malala survive this horrific attack, she was not deterred from her advocacy for the rights of children
everywhere to have universal access to education.
Malala said: “I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and
then be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up.”4
Malala’s struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education
saw her become the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.
In Malala’s Nobel lecture she said:
“Many children in countries like Pakistan and India…are deprived of their right to education because of social
taboos, or they have been forced into child marriage or into child labour.
“One of my very good school friends, the same age as me, who had always been a bold and confident girl, dreamed
of becoming a doctor. But her dream remained a dream. At the age of 12, she was forced to get married. And then
soon she had a son, she had a child when she herself was still a child – only 14. I know that she could have been a
very good doctor.
4 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Lecture Peace Prize 2014. Accessed 7 July 2015 from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/yousafzai‐lecture_en.html
M15/49950 Page | 10
But she couldn't ... because she was a girl.5”
Malala Day is to recognise not only Malala, but the girls around the world who are deprived of an education. Malala
speaks for those girls. She said:
“I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education.”6
In her Nobel lecture Malala also outlined a vision for the future:
“Let us become the first generation to decide to be the last, let us become the first generation that decides to be the
last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods, and wasted potentials.
Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory.
Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.
Let this be the last time that a child loses life in war.
Let this be the last time that we see a child out of school.
Let this end with us.
Let's begin this ending ... together ... today ... right here, right now. Let's begin this ending now.”7
The Greater Shepparton Women’s Charter Alliance Advisory Committee has a charter to work toward gender
equity, diversity, and active citizenship on a local level.
Whilst Malala’s story, and the story of the 66 million girls she represents, is a global story, the Committee wanted
to acknowledge that this global story is recognised locally.
The film you are about to see – Love Marriage in Kabul – is not about Malala. But it is about the struggles faced due
to gender inequity. Whilst the setting of the film may seem a world away, it has parallels locally.
It was an important decision for the Committee to screen this film, which we are hoping to follow with a forum for
professionals on forced marriage, at a later date.
Thank you.
5 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Lecture Peace Prize 2014. Accessed 7 July 2015 from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/yousafzai‐lecture_en.html 6 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Lecture Peace Prize 2014. Accessed 7 July 2015 from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/yousafzai‐lecture_en.html 7 Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Lecture Peace Prize 2014. Accessed 7 July 2015 from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2014/yousafzai‐lecture_en.html
M15/49950 Page | 11
Appendix2:BudgetItem Company Cost ex. GST Cost Inc. GST
Love Marriage in Kabul film
Bower Bird Films/Paradigm Pictures 309.09 340.00
340.00
Please note: The above does not reflect in kind contributions made by various organisations and people.
M15/49950 Page | 12
Appendix3:Mediacoverageandadvertising Poster for the event:
M15/49950 Page | 13
Article from the Shepparton News, 11 July 2015, page 6.
M15/49950 Page | 14
Information from Greater Shepparton City Council website:
FREE screeening of 'Love and Marriage in Kabul'
The Greater Shepparton Women's Charter Alliance Advisory Committee, in conjunction with GOTAFE, the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, and Shepparton Interfaith Network, is holding a FREE screening of 'Love and Marriage in Kabul'
When:
Tue, 14 Jul 2015Tuesday 14th of July, 2015, at 6:00pm
Where:
GOTAFE, Fryers Street Shepparton
Cost:
Free, however booking essential.
Contact:
(03) 5832 9479
The movie is being held on Malala Day, and the movie has been chosen to highlight the
important issue of forced marriages.
Bookings are essential and places are limited. Secure your ticket here:
www.eventbrite.com.au
This is an accessible event. Please contact the organisers to let them know of any requirements:
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
M15/49950 Page | 15
About the movie:
Mahboba Rawi is a strong-willed Afghan-Australian woman who has dedicated her life to help
orphans in Afghanistan. She is the founder of Mahboba’s Promise and a mother figure for
thousands of orphans and widows currently supported by her programs. Abdul, one of these
orphans, is in love with Fatemeh, the girl next door. The two have been exchanging romantic
letters for almost a year and hope to marry each other one day. But Fatemeh’s father has other
plans – he has decided to marry her off to anyone who can offer a large sum of money as her
dowry. Devastated, Abdul is hoping when Mahboba arrives for her yearly trip to Kabul, that she
will help him again. When Mahboba hears the story, she is very concerned about Abdul, and
Fatemeh’s possible fate in a forced marriage, She is determined to make the marriage happen
between Abdul and Fatemah. However, the demands that Fatemeh’s father makes are beyond
anyone’s expectations. He won’t let the marriage take place unless Mahboba pays him $10,000
or finds a wife for his eldest son who then can replace Fatemeh in taking care of the household.
With nothing to Abdul’s name, the fate of the couple depends entirely on Mahboba’s ability to
meet or negotiate the father’s terms. But Mahboba only has one month and limited resources.
M15/49950 Page | 16
Appendix4:FeedbacksurveyresultsPlease note: This is not the complete survey results. Answers to the questions that required ‘free text’ have not
been included here in order to protect the identity of the respondents.
M15/49950 Page | 17
M15/49950 Page | 18
M15/49950 Page | 19
M15/49950 Page | 20
M15/49950 Page | 21