Friday, October 24, 2008

Survivor Corps: Organization Awareness

Reader, Kwolph, brought to our attention a global network of people that help each other to overcome the effects of war and conflict, and give back to their communities. This organization? Survivor Corps.

The main objective of this group is to break the cycle of violence. Easier said than done? Yes. But this is something that we all want, isn't it? Initially bred as Landmine Survivors Network, the movement was founded in 1997 by Jerry White & Ken Rutherford, two landmine survivors.

Focusing on the unique contribution & leadership of conflict survivors, the organization has received praise, partnership, and support from esteemed names like Princess Diana of Wales and Queen Noor of Jordan. Survivor Corps believes that those who have survived war are the most effective, equipped, and motivated people to break the cycle of violence.

The movement operates a peer support program that successfully connects survivors with survivor role models to provide encouragement and motivation. The program serves as a vital component in helping new survivors find hope, jobs, and the strength to move on with their lives.

Courtesy of their community building programs, survivors connect diverse survivor groups with former enemies through collective action plans in order to rebuild communities broken by war. With the assistance of survivor advocates who campaign for their rights, the movement is able to change the world by speaking out together and addressing & acknowledging the challenges they face in their lives after war.

Historical Campaigns & Conventions of Survivor Corps:

  • Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines
  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Goal to end discrimination and bring equal opportunity to 650 million people world-wide with disabilities.
  • Convention to Ban Cluster Munitions: Negotiated in 2008 to end the use of cluster bombs & help victims of this weapon.

Learn more about Survivorship and how you can help. After all, we all need each other to make this one life a proud life, a life worth living.

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