INFORMATIONAL MEETING, TONIGHT!

Girl Child Network Worldwide: Villanova (GCNova) is officially launching TONIGHT with our first informational meeting, 7:00pm in the Center for Peace and Justice Education in the basement of Sullivan Hall. We will be going over the inspiring story of Betty Makoni, GCN Zimbabwe, and the mission/five-year plan of GCNW as they pertain to our goals as a campus organization. Please come show your support and learn more about our future plans!

If you cannot make it, feel free to get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, or email so that we can get you any information you might need.

Our meeting tonight will also coincide with the kickoff of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which begins today. And, tomorrow is the International Day for Non-Violence. In the spirit of both, I embarked on a little internet search to find the latest domestic violence statistics in the U.S. Though GCNW has its roots in Zimbabwe and other African nations, the international organization's mission is to spread its message across all borders. The U.S. is certainly not immune to critical analysis in the areas of sexual, domestic, and child violence. In my search, I came across an article from December 2008 that reported on a startling two-year rapid rate of increase in domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault. Read the Human Rights Watch article here. One researcher says, "The numbers in this survey show an alarmingly high rate of sexual violence in this country. This should serve as a wake-up call that more must be done to address the problem in the U.S." And, in regards to domestic violence in particular, the same researcher noted that domestic violence is often a "hidden crime," which is seriously underreported and often underestimated in its destructive, pervasive power.

Do your part in calling attention to these crimes today, come to the Center at 7pm!