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- By Karen Kortsch ICUUW Executive Director
Beloved Members and Friends,
This year has been a time of great joy and challenges for our organization as well as for me. Changing roles and stepping into the position of Executive Director gave me an even greater appreciation for what Zsófi did for ICUUW. As we look ahead to next year, a new and exciting chapter begins.
This newsletter is a testament to all the ways that our members and staff are working hard to further our mission. Ending discrimination against women and girls around the world is a job that requires all of our hands, minds and hearts. It also requires your ongoing financial support. We are kicking off our year end fundraiser soon and I hope you will be inspired to give generously. As I transition out of this role and we welcome a new Executive Director, I thank you all for your love and support during this time. Let’s keep the love flowing. Think about what ICUUW means to you at this time of giving. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Gratefully,
Karen Kortsch
ICUUW Executive Director
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- By Elgiva Shullai, India
Conducted by Seng Kynthei, UUNEI
The program Navchetna: a New Consciousness on Life Skills and Drug Education was designed for all Unitarian Schools and Sunday school children in India. It has many modules for training which has made it easier for trainers to plan their training schedule.
Although the program is focused on children of the ages between 10 and 18, we have included children of all age groups in our Sunday school curriculum as there are many things that the younger ones also need to learn.
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- By Szőcs Boróka
Boróka, originally from Transylvania, Romania, is a biologist and teacher, and the President of the Biomimicry Innovation and Education Association (Biomimicry Hungary). She has a strong background in community leadership and education. Her work focuses on fostering innovation and sustainability. Currently, she is on a world trip, exploring new perspectives and experiences. She sent this report from New Zealand.
There is a pink folder at the bottom of my closet – carefully stored. On the folder it says: Leadership 2014, Marosvásárhely. This was my first leadership training, at the age of just 16. The training had been organized by Nagy Gizella from UNOSZ, the Unitarian Women’s Organization in Romania, and ICUUW. Tina Huesing, current president of ICUUW, was one of the presenters. I remember the faces, the laughter, the confident voices – each of their stories shaped me in some way. Perhaps this was when I first began to truly understand the unique flow of women’s thinking and actions, and how it differs from the way men approach the world.
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- By Rev. Adél Nagy
Women's groups are the driving force behind the congregational activities in most Unitarian congregations in Transylvania. The organizational and operational life of UNOSZ has returned to normal after the pandemic and local women's groups have resumed their activities that span the church year. Women's work comprises different activities, such as celebrating Mardi Gras in February. Some groups organize costume parties, and they bake the traditional pánkó (doughnuts) or cook corn. Other activities during the year include Women's World Prayer Day in March, International Women's Day, and Easter activities, such as egg painting, as well as Mother's Day celebrations in May.
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- By Lee Boeke Burke
In November, Lee, Renee and Karen from ICUUW met on Zoom with Rev. Jessa, Coordinator of the UU Women’s Association (UUWA) Philippines, Prescila (Precy), President of the UUWA, and Rev. Arman, Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines (UUCP) Church Administrator.
The purpose of the call was to hear about UUWA activities and to explore ways we can develop our connections with each other. We were also concerned about the impact the recent Super Typhoon Tino on Negros Island congregations and their activities. We learned that several of the congregations in the northern part of Negros Island had been hard hit by the typhoon and congregants sustained property damage and damage to their crops, but no injuries were reported. For the most part the roads are now passable and should pose no problems for youth traveling to Dumaguete for the Youth Conference in the days before Christmas.
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- By Bartha Mária Zsuzsánna, President of MUNOSZ and Secretary of ICUUW
It is a joy to be together in person. After much correspondence, phone calls, and computer work, we were finally able to meet in person at our annual general meeting held on September 27. On this occasion, our Women's Association enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Budapest Unitarian Church. The male members of the local council cooked, and the young people served, in a charming manner. So we, the women, were able to meet peacefully in the sanctuary.
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- By ICUUW Membership Engagement Team
In this year of strategic reorganization, positioning ICUUW for even greater growth and impact, the Membership Engagement Team (previously known as the Membership Committee) has been focusing a lot of energy on creating warm and inspiring ways to invite our current and potential members into a deeper understanding of who we are as an organization and as individuals.