Lighting the dark through words and photos
Author, photographer, promoter of women's rights comes to Eugene to present images of hope
Lana Boles
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Features
"In Kenya, groups of mothers are collaborating to have wells dug at their daughters' schools -- so the girls can bring water home after class instead of walking for hours to collect water while the boys are being educated," Gianturco said.
In "Women Who Light the Dark," there are 19 pages of photographs of women who gathered at Mobility International USA's 2006 Women's Institute in Leadership and Disability in Eugene, where women from around the world "who are blind and/or deaf, others who require crutches, canes and wheelchairs, come … to participate for three weeks in sports activities that most of them have never tried," Gianturco stated. "They return to their countries empowered to lead their local organizations for disabled people."
In collaboration with MIUSA, Gianturco brings these stories and more to Eugene for a free presentation.
Gianturco became connected with MIUSA through the Global Fund for Women, an organization that supports women's rights worldwide.
Susan Sygall, chief executive officer of MIUSA, is excited about the upcoming event. Gianturco's work is effective, Sygall said, because it "gives the impetus to fight injustice on a local level."
Sygall emphasized the importance of Gianturco's work. "I think it's wonderful to hear positive news," she said. "So often we don't hear about women activists," but even more rare is it to hear about women activists with disabilities, she said.
"I hope these stories of women's successes will be heartening and a reminder that positive change is underway. Because nonprofit enterprises have limited resources, I hope these stories will inspire others to support them," Gianturco said.
She personally supports non-profits by donating 100 percent of her author royalties from "Women Who Light the Dark" to the GFW.
In "Women Who Light the Dark," there are 19 pages of photographs of women who gathered at Mobility International USA's 2006 Women's Institute in Leadership and Disability in Eugene, where women from around the world "who are blind and/or deaf, others who require crutches, canes and wheelchairs, come … to participate for three weeks in sports activities that most of them have never tried," Gianturco stated. "They return to their countries empowered to lead their local organizations for disabled people."
In collaboration with MIUSA, Gianturco brings these stories and more to Eugene for a free presentation.
Gianturco became connected with MIUSA through the Global Fund for Women, an organization that supports women's rights worldwide.
Susan Sygall, chief executive officer of MIUSA, is excited about the upcoming event. Gianturco's work is effective, Sygall said, because it "gives the impetus to fight injustice on a local level."
Sygall emphasized the importance of Gianturco's work. "I think it's wonderful to hear positive news," she said. "So often we don't hear about women activists," but even more rare is it to hear about women activists with disabilities, she said.
"I hope these stories of women's successes will be heartening and a reminder that positive change is underway. Because nonprofit enterprises have limited resources, I hope these stories will inspire others to support them," Gianturco said.
She personally supports non-profits by donating 100 percent of her author royalties from "Women Who Light the Dark" to the GFW.
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