MAMD is not to be confused with MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
MAMD and MADD are equally concerned with the care and protection of individuals and families.
Their modus operandi, however, is quite different.
MAMD stands for Make A Mother’s Day – a campaign of Canadian Mothers’ Union.
This campaign supports work in countries around the world, work that creates change and transformation for individuals and communities.
You can support this program by buying an ethical gift card to give to someone. Buy one for a member of your family, for a friend, for someone’s birthday, as a wedding gift, as a gift for the person who has everything, or get your Christmas shopping done early – buy a card and save it for Christmas.
Although it runs all year, we focus on this campaign between Mothering Sunday (March 19) and Mothers Day (May 14).
Buy a gift card for a mother, grandmother, or a mother-like-person in your life.
Some of the projects that are being supported this year are:
- Literacy for Life:
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Masika fled her home due to rebel attacks. Joining an MU literacy circle has given her a new confidence, insight and agricultural knowledge. She is eager to share what she has learned. - Money Matters:
In rural Tanzania, the Mothers’ Union Saving and Credit Program has helped enable Monica, a mother of three, to build her own food shop and expand the range of produce she sells through the savings she has accumulated.
Jeanne in Buhiga Diocese, Burundi, has learned the skills to run and grow her own business. Starting with literacy, training and a loan, she and her family now have a house, cows, food, clothes and schooling for their children. She gives contributions back to her church and answers all the questions of her inspired and inquisitive neighbours.
- Women Leading the Way:
Campaigning against female genital mutilation in Sebei, Uganda, has empowered girls in urban areas to pursue education without fear. Women are openly talking about the issue, educating their communities and leading the way to a brighter future.
In Burundi’s Buye Diocese, Sylvia is having a new lease of life. Through her Mothers’ Union literacy programme, she accessed counselling, which helped her communicate better with her husband and look after own health. Today she is the leader in her household, running a business and earning respect.
“I used to be beaten every day by my husband, but he learned to respect me, and we now live in peace. We eat three meals a day, and my children go to school. And because I came out of poverty my husband respects me. In the community I am among the decision makers, and now I am a deacon in my church.”
- Flourishing Families:
In Aipo Rongo, Papua New Guinea, residents are often cut off from basic communication services by the challenging terrain. Nevertheless, MU has run a successful parenting program, giving support to parents and caregivers while promoting the importance of healthy family life.
In Matana in southwest Burundi, Lyduine is a grandmother and mother with a lot to be proud of. She learned to read through her Mothers Union programme, built a business and has managed not only to put her children through school, but support them into the careers of their dreams. Now her sons have families of their own, and her daughter, grandchild and Lyduine share a harmonious life at home.
- Dealing with Disasters:
Manantena is a participant in a Madagascan resilience project, giving tools to deal with the impact of natural disasters. As a result, she and her community have been growing sweet potatoes – which do not need much water – in times of famine caused by drought.
Malaria is a huge problem in Anne-Marie’s community, and many people don’t necessarily know that it’s mosquito-borne. Anne-Marie has learned how to prevent them breeding in people’s homes, by keeping water covered, and shares her knowledge at the healthcare centre.
“I’m a community facilitator at the healthcare centre. Now I can help to treat people who have malaria symptoms. We work hand-in-hand with the dispensary and hospitals, and I provide advice on care.”
- Safe Spaces:
In South Sudan, MU has been working with communities to provide people with places to recover from conflict-related trauma and gender-based violence. This enables the healing process to begin, helping participants work through their experience and reach their full potential.
In Uganda MU is responding to the growing threat of gender-based violence in their communities. By creating safe spaces where survivors of abuse can come forward and speak openly about their traumas, the essential healing process can begin through our presence. It is through members’ deep-rooted community presence that they are enabled to aim for a better future by advocating against harmful practices which enable and perpetuate violence against women.
You can support these and other initiatives by contacting Ethel Nelson at [email protected]m or [email protected]
or by going to the Canadian Mothers’ Union website https://canadianmothersunion.ca/mothers_day_campaign and clicking on Make A Mother’s Day brochure at the bottom of the page. Information in this article was collected from the Worldwide Mothers’ Union Website.
