OBR: Spoken Words | Emotional Vagina [Press Release]

the MisMatched Company is a small Events management business with a Youth program called Advocacy through Creative Techniques (ACT). During the One Billion Rising campaign on 14th February 2014, ACT did its first public performance. We wrote and performed our own Spoken Words: Emotional Vagina. This was inspired by the Vagina Monologues written by Eve Ensler. 
The Spoken words were actually statements of vented frustration. People are so quick to judge women and dish out their comments with little or no regard towards the feeling(s) of the women. Despite all of these ugly words spoken to them, women continue to rise to the occasion and shine in their own sectors. 
While we demand for equality and fair treatment mostly from men, we are thankful to those men who champion our projects and fight the battles with us. We thank those who support us and allow us room to grow and up skill our capacities to be better and contribute more to the community. 
Last year we participated in the One Billion Rising project as the MisMatched Company and after much discussion we have agreed to have a Youth program under our small business. 
The objectives of this Youth Program are:
(1) Empower young people to use creative arts as an advocacy tool. 
(2) Disseminate information to young people by using creative arts.
(3) Encourage young people to advocate on social issues using creative arts. 
With little funds available at our disposal at this current point in time we are using Social Media to advocate our messages and we are using public forums where we are not charged a fee to perform. the One Billion Rising project was one such space where we got the chance to perform. Our first performance and we are very proud that a piece written by us, rehearsed only twice and performed by us to an audience of some 100 people, was received very well. [please find an armature video link at the bottom of our performance]. 
Receiving such wonderful feedback on our first performance we have decided to write a few more pieces and perform them in public spaces. 

[Video Link] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzegDiWttvc

Should you wish to receive more updates on the work that we do please LIKE our facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/themismatchedcompany 

We can be contacted via facebook or via email on: mismatched.tc@gmail.com 

First human trafficking case in Fiji

After all the campaigning last week for the One Billion Rising it was devastating to read in the dailies today about the First human trafficking case in Fiji.

What makes me angry is that those involed are 23 and 24 years old.!!!!

They were trafficking young women between the ages of 16 - 20 and were living off the money they recieved from this Criminal activity.

Story can be read on Fiji Times online

I do congratulate the Fiji Police force for being successful in apprehending these criminials but on the other hand I am saddened to note that all the enormous amount of work we have done and those before us have done is being tarnished. Youth are the criminals here.

How can we ask for Youth to taken seriously and included in decision making processes when there are such sick youths who commit such violating crimes?

These young women were ripped off their human rights!
These young women were being victimized!
These young women were being abused!
These young women have had their lives ruined.

No amount of therapy will rid them of the memories they have of what hase been done to them.
No amount of therapy will fix what is broken in their lives.

And all for what?
So a pair of lazy youths could earn easy money?

While I do hope they get the maximum sentencing (only because HR forbids harsher punisments) I also feel that the authorities need to investigate and get to the bottom of who else was involved.

Who were the people that these young women were being trafficked to?

They too need to be punished!!!

If they are being sentenced, they should receive life in prison with no chance of coming out EVER!! Plus they should be charged a hefty amount that can be given to the young women who can use it in an attempt to bring their life back to order (go to school, get more education, find a job etc).

In all of this I also wonder where were the Parents and guardians of these young women and of the two youths?

Were they aware of such activities taking place?
If they were aware than they need to be imprisoned as well.
If they were unaware than they need to start taking a more active role in the lives of their children.

This doees not mean that we put our children under a lock down! No.
It just means that parents/guardians need to have a better communication system with their children.
Dialogue with your children (and parents), get involved, make conversation, ask each other how your day was, ask each other what events are going on in your lives.
If there is a problem dialogue for a solution. Do not start yelling or blaming!!
Start getting actively involved!!! and be aware of what goes on in the lives of your family and friends...

We need to have a better support network system so that these types of incidents do not make headlines - because we want a secure future for everyone!!


Until next blog . . .


 

FT: harsher punishments

Harsher terms

THE victim of rape in our beautiful Fiji was a nine-month-old baby.
What is happening? Where are we going wrong?
People are venting off their anger by discussing the option of harsher punishment, castrating the perpetrator, leaving a permanent and very visible mark on the perpetrator so that others know what that person has done.
I, for one, think that harsher sentencing needs to be considered.
The perpetrator goes to jail, has a roof over his/her head, receives meals on time and comes out of prison after the sentence is over.
Maybe if we fed them twice only, gave them a sheet to sleep on the floor and whipped them at least twice in a day the statistics might change.
Yes, I too am venting my anger but something needs to be done at the earliest possible because these numbers are skyrocketing and the promising future of many are being destroyed.

ALZIMA ELISHA BANO
Suva

Published in Fiji Times on 15th Feb 2013

Until next blog...

FT: One Billion Rising

Published in the Fiji Times on 13th Feb 2013.

One billion rising

WHILE many are busy making plans with that special someone for Valentine's Day, others are busy making plans for the Vday, One Billion rising campaign.
The campaign is taking place in Fiji for the first time and those participating in it are very excited.
With such record high numbers revealed for domestic violence and rape cases, such a campaign is very timely.
The One Billion Rising Pacific page on Facebook shows the support of many.
If you have not heard about this yet, visit the Facebook page and join the revolution.
It is time the violence ended.

ALZIMA ELISHA BANO
Nabua

More letters here

Untill next blog ...
 

FT: Sick pages on FB

Sick pages on FB

IT is sickening to see the types of pages being created on Facebook by local people.
There are pages with confessions of local people. There is a confession by a 17-year-old who says she gets drunk occasionally and is now considering having a sexual encounter with a stranger.
There is another page which has published (on the wall) nude photos of girls in bathrooms and photos of girls and boys while they are having sex. First and foremost, that is porn.
Secondly, why are young people resorting to such levels. Thirdly, contents of your sexual life should remain private and within the four walls of your room.
Finally, who are the people supplying these pages with such crude images?
Someone's sons and daughters are having their lives mocked on the very public walls of Facebook. The power of social media should be used to benefit us (very quick and easy to pass messages and debate issues).
But some are abusing the power of such social media. I plead with the authorities to look into this matter as soon as they can.
And the administrators of these pages should be taken to task.

ALZIMA ELISHA BANO
Suva

Published in Fiji Times on: 11th Feb 2013 (click here to read letters)

FT: Rape cases

Rape cases

The statistics shared about rape cases are sickening!
And keeping in mind these are the reported cases only.
There are other cases that go unreported because the victim is too scared to tell anyone.
The victim is threatened or the victim does not know who to confide in.
In January alone we have read/heard of one too many rape cases.
Can we as individuals do everything in our power to educate, inform and teach people about the importance of respecting our fellow humans.
We are obviously not doing something right somewhere.
Why else would these numbers continue to rise this drastically?

Alzima Elisha Bano
Nabua

FT: Spitting habit

Spitting habit

WHILE waiting for the bus at the bus shelter with numerous other school students and parents I noticed one school boy. He was standing there and kept spitting on the ground every few minutes. He did not care that others were standing there as well, he kept on spitting. I noticed an adult man walking down the road and he was doing the exact same thing. He just spat on the road even though little children were standing there. Follow the leader much?

Alzima Bano
Nabua

Published in Fiji times: 6th Feb 2013 (Fiji Times online)