Nonviolence is the principle that rejects the use of physical violence to achieve social or political change. The International Day of Nonviolence is celebrated on October 2 on the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, a key figure in the development and application of this concept.
Nonviolence, although it shares many features with the pacifist movement, is not only a rejection of war: it is an ideological position that denounces violence and aggression in any form, both as a means and as an end. It is based on the idea that any violent act only generates more violence.
In the Vedruna Charism, the three pillars that support our mission are deeply rooted in nonviolence: educate, heal, and liberate. Throughout the world, Sisters and members of the Vedruna Family carry out projects that share the same basis in the principle of nonviolence, and are framed in the intention that is reflected in our Chapter Document, “To Be Born Again“:
We want our mission spaces to be scenarios that make possible encounters in defense of life, where networks are woven with threads of care and tenderness. We want to embrace and welcome girls who live in situations of great vulnerability, on the street, orphaned and abandoned, victims and survivors of violence and sexual abuse, child labor and trafficking. – NdN, 41
These are some of the projects that are being carried out in the different provinces in relation to nonviolence:
Kawsay Network in the Americas: against human trafficking
Kawsay is a Quechua word that means “live”: that is why it was chosen as the name of this organization that works to articulate efforts, coordinate and work throughout the Americas against human trafficking.
The Kawsay Network is one of the permanent commissions of the Conference of Religious of Peru (CRP), and belongs to the international network Talitha Kum. It does not work as an isolated entity, but from CLAR it works in a network with all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, with North America and also with Observa la Trata, IOM, UNHCR, CHS and other NGOs working in this field.
As a Congregation, the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna are part of this commission through Sister Isabel Miguélez, who is an active member of the coordinating team in Peru. Several dimensions are worked on there: awareness raising, education, training, advocacy and care for victims and survivors.
A highlight of 2024 has been the incorporation into the network of lay men and women from the congregations, as well as young people from different parts of Peru. Another line of work promoted has been the attention to victims in various parts of the country, through alliances with congregations. This is a response to a great need, since in the country the State only attends to minors, and the day they turn 18 they are put on the street and, on many occasions, are re-victimized again.
Isabel Miguélez, CCV
Kekeli Center in Africa: protection and shelter for victims of violence and abuse
The Kekeli center, created in 2006 in Togo by the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna, is a project that protects children against violence and sexual abuse, trafficking and mistreatment.
The center has created a shelter to house young women survivors of violence, provide them with stability and offer them psychological or medical follow-up when they are in a critical situation or are abandoned by their parents, especially in cases of incest.
Victims receive support and in-depth follow-up from the center from different points of view: medical, psychological, legal and educational. When the situation is favorable, the center reintegrates the girl into her family and helps her to choose the type of educational or professional insertion she wishes, so that she can become autonomous.
In the vision of this project, the prevention of violence and abuse plays a key role through training and mass awareness-raising activities in schools, with parents and teachers. The Kekeli center is now considered a reference center for the care of young girls who have survived violence, as well as a listening center: proof of this is the report recently aired on a local newscast, which can be seen here (in French).
Lucie-Anne Mulata, CCV
JPIC Commission in Europe: caring for the common home
In the current situation of growing social and ecclesial polarization, the challenge of living non-violent relationships is ever greater and more challenging. For this reason, care is a fundamental axis, very present in the projects of this commission. It manifests itself in various ways: care for oneself, care among sisters, and care for Mother Earth.
Nonviolence must also apply to the common home: we must keep in mind that we cannot continue to impoverish the lives of people and the planet through the irresponsible and selfish exploitation of resources. With this awareness, nonviolent action is possible in many ways. It is in our hands to reverse the impact on nature and thus preserve Mother Earth for future generations.
An example of the application of this perspective is found in the motto of the Vedruna schools, which this year is “Taking care of ourselves to change the world”. Along the same lines is the motto chosen by the Youth Ministry also for this year: “God takes care of everything”. These words that appear in several letters of St. Joaquina are chosen to articulate the attitude that we want to embody during the year, with a very clear basis: care.
Montse Fenosa, CCV
Welcoming and educating in the Philippines: the Christian mission of love
Promoting nonviolence is not an easy task. But in the pursuit of peace and nonviolence, many good-hearted organized groups have proven successful, such as the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna of the Philippines and their missionary projects.
One of them is the Tahanan Vedruna children’s home in Tagaytay, located on the island of Luzon. For many years, this house has been a home for young people, particularly girls, who have been abandoned by their immediate families. There, the Sisters make possible the physical, social, mental, intellectual and spiritual growth of the girls, preventing and counteracting the violence of their families of origin with care and shelter.
On the island of Mindanao, the Vedruna spirit contributes to the education of the indigenous Manobo community in Barangay Renibon, North Cotabato. Since the farming families there have almost no income from their small land, few children are able to go to school. The Vedruna Sisters, convinced that the place of the youth is the school, enable and manage educational scholarships, which cover from elementary to university level, thanks to the generosity of friends, families and partners of the congregation.
In addition, the Sisters have had a dormitory built, called Balay Na Panaob or House of Hope, for the younger children who attend Renibon elementary school. This solves the problem of accessibility to the school, since to get there the children had to face rivers, streams, rough roads and climb up and down the steep mountainous areas where they live. In this house, all the children’s needs are met so that they grow up healthy, happy and creative. With a sister in charge, a lay social worker, a housekeeper and a cook, the children’s well-being is assured.
Weena Salvador Meily Personal
Vedruna Foundation Incorporated Volunteer
Protest march in India: denouncing atrocities against women
In recent years, crimes against women in India have increased worryingly. In particular, statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau indicate that six women are raped every day in the Gujarat region. There, cases of several atrocities committed against women have recently been made public.
In protest against this terrible expression of violence our Sisters of the Vedruna community in Gujarat marched. Last September 12, many of our sisters and pre-novices joined the silent rally for women’s rights and safety.
The march was organized by St. Xavier’s College, a Jesuit higher education institute with which our community has been collaborating for decades in parish and youth ministry activities.
The march was called by St. Xavier’s College, a Jesuit institute of higher education with which our community has been collaborating for decades in parish and youth ministry activities; and the Collegiate Women’s Development Cell of the same institute.
A large number of students, along with the Principal, teachers and our Sisters and pre-novices participated in this rally, where they walked in solemn silence out of respect for the victims and survivors of violence against women in India, as can be seen in the following video.
Roseline Alphonso, CCV
