This past November, Project Team member Helen Kim attended the East Asia-U.S.-Puerto Rico Women's Network Against Militarism Fifth International Meeting in the Philippines as a simultaneous interpreter. The East Asia-US-Puerto Rico Women's Network Against Militarism was formed in 1997 when women activists, policy-makers, teachers, and students from South Korea, Okinawa, mainland Japan, the Philippines and the United States gathered in Okinawa to strategize together about the negative effects of the U.S. Military in each of these countries. In 2000, Puerto Rican women who opposed the U.S. Navy bombing training on the island of Vieques joined the network. In 2004, women activists from Hawaii who are opposing the expansion of the U.S. military base there also joined the network. Prior to attending this conference, Helen gave a talk in South Korea on the importance of grassroots fundraising in social movement organizations at the invitation of The Beautiful Foundation . Below are some pictures from her trip:

“Malaya Lolas” (grandmothers of freedom) are Filipina survivors of military sexual slavery by the Japanese imperial army during World War II. Their stories of surviving violence and now their struggle to reclaim dignity and demand justice continue to inspire many around the world.

Cultural sharing and celebration strengthened the bonds between the women activists attending the conference from the Philippines, South Korea, the U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Korean peace activists at the Philippines conference.

In addition to attending this conference in the Philippines, Helen gave a talk in South Korea at the invitation of the Beautiful Foundation, the first community foundation there, on the importance of grassroots fundraising in social movement organizations to an audience of 200. Another Project Team member Kim Klein and Helen will be returning to South Korea this June to conduct a workshop on grassroots fundraising.