Children, The Family and Health: What it Takes to Give Children Long Life
The Hawaii Workshop: Overview
The fifth in the series of seminars that have been held since 1991in various regions of PPSEAWA’s interest took place in Honolulu, Hawaii 21 and 22 August, 1998. Building on the topics covered by previous seminars, which considered issues dealing with women, families, teenagers, food and health, the decision was made to focus on children up to and including the age of 10, a group which the World Health Ogranization has identified as being most at risk around the world.
Children, The Family and Health concentrated on the issues that affect these children within the family and the community. It was agreed that each Association in the area targeted would be invited to send three participants: a parent, a teacher and a community worker. The seminars and one day follow-up meetings planned in each of the Associations are sponsored by UNESCO and WHO and are made possible through the generosity of Nestle and Air France.
In Honolulu eleven nations were represented, along with Hawaii which still maintains special individual status as a founding member. There were a number of local observers and members of the International Council of PPSEAWA who had assembled for a meeting held concurrently with the seminar. The seminar and meeting coincided with the celebration of PPSEAWA’s founding by Jane Addams, the Nobel Laureate, and outstanding community leaders in Hawaii in 1928.
The subjects discussed were approached from vastly different cultural viewpoints reflecting the wide range of attitudes, mores and goals of the countries involved. However, it was striking to observe how similar are the problems and concerns of parents, educators, social workers and health providers in the locales represented. Gender issues, domestic violence, abuse, community and political activism, changing roles in families, educational opportunities, intrusion by the media were all of concern. It is urgent that attention be paid very early on so that children will be equipped to deal with these issues with the strength and understanding necessary for personal growth and survival.
The general feeling of the proceedings was uniquely Pacific/Southeast Asian. There was an element of spirituality and poetry as well as a great reverence for the past and its role in current life. Many of the speakers brought strong oral history to the table, using folk tales and anecdotes to make their presentations very lively and personal. Respect for what was added to what is made for exciting interchanges, intense discussions, and penetrating questions and answers. There was a gratifying lack of impersonal jargon as bonds of friendship were forged between women meeting for the first time and creating new relationships that transcended individual goals. For the first time three young women from Vladivostok were invited to attend. They brought a different set of observations and insights to the meeting and went away determined to be the founders of the first PPSEAWA Association in territory that has frontage on the Pacific but has never before had the opportunity to join.
The proceedings were intense and demanding. In two short days an amazing amount of information was exchanged, creating a climate of good will that will inspire deeper connections in the future. This fulfills the general aim of PPSEAWA expressed by its founders in 1928: “to strengthen the bonds of peace... by promoting a better understanding and friendship among the women of all Pacific countries”. Without question that goal will be served by seminars like this; others that preceeded it and those that will follow. The next meeting, to be held in Singapore in February 1999 will be attended by women from the other half of the area of interest.
Once again it is planned that three participants from each country will be invited to attend. When they return to their countries to develop one-day follow-ups there, a network will stretch from one end of PPSEAWA’s area to the other, making possible communication and action addressing problems and concerns shared by all.
Last Modified: November 29, 2002