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WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND ITS LINK TO

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

14 – 24 MARCH 2016

THE GRAIL’S REPORT OF PARTICIPATION

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MESSAGE FROM THE GLUNN Ten years ago we made our first ‘push’ to bring girls to CSW. That year we registered 21 girls and one boy!

Since then, we have brought about 40 girls and young women from Grail contacts worldwide, and, from local school another 150. This year, due to the tireless work of Sr. Alice Marie Giordano, O.S.U., we welcomed 30 students from 5 Ursuline schools in Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas. Of course, she also involves her students at the Academy of Mt. St. Ursula in the Bronx. Also, Sr. Alice was responsible for the Grail receiving $1000.00 from the Charity Champions to help bring girls to CSW.

This year, our girls and the adults did a fantastic job in their presentations. They made the Grail

present and made the Grail proud! Every year we try to look at the previous year to see what works/doesn’t and make some needed improvements. Whatever shortcomings we find and changes that need to be made we still say: definitely continue participating in CSW with invitations to Grail members and girls and young women connected with the Grail. Some girls who have come over the years are daughters and granddaughters of Grail members. These two weeks are a unique opportunity to live as an intergenerational, intercultural community. In 2011 we said we wanted to find more ways to reach out to young women and to offer Grail formation. This is one way. We are blessed to have this opportunity.

In trying to ‘improve’, there is the perennial problem: how to get participants starting soon enough

on their applications, their travel arrangements, on their panel presentations, etc. Also, since the Grail is one of the few groups that bring girls from around the globe, other NGOs, especially ones part of the Working Group on Girls, invite our girls to join their panels. Because electricity is out, or internet is down, or no access to webinars, etc. or just plainly too involved in work or school in their own countries, the participants often don’t get a chance to start working on their presentations until they arrive in the Bronx! This gives a bit of stress to all!

We didn't have the convent this year for the adults to stay in. But between Grail members (Joy

Garland, Mpanda and Tina Kalala, Cathy Zapata) and good neighbors (Ivy and Ruben Andino), we were able to house them. But, this meant almost everyone came to the Grail for breakfast and to prepare lunch. It made for a bit of chaos! Various Grail members prepared dinner for us (Rosa Contreras, Pam Cobey, Lucy Jones, Cindy Cheyne, Megan Monteleone, Sharon Joslyn, Mary Kay Louchart). Barbara Ryan, niece of St. Luke’s late pastor, Fr. Ryan, brought us bread and cookies and cakes to fill our lunch bags and grace our table! In addition, after a few of the WGG task force meetings and an event of Sr. Alice, we received the leftovers! We enjoyed pizza and Chinese dishes and cookies and juice and soda!

We had two wonderful young women as interns, Sara Mduma (Tanzania)—teaches at St. Teresa of

Avila Girls Secondary School, and Timeika Mucambe (Mozambique)—who attended CSW as a girl and works with the Grail Youth Group. They came in early January to work at getting to know the UN and New York City, to grow in understanding of the CSW and the work involved in preparing for it especially through the Working Group on Girls. At the Bronx Grail Center, they joined in the cooking, cleaning, praying together so as to become a community. They participated in the Bronx Grail Women’s Group and the Girls Group. Finally, they spent two very full weeks helping the Grail’s participation in CSW happen! Thank you. Obrigada. Asante Sana. Gracias. Syabonga.

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Introduction The 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 24 March 2016. More than 1,035 NGOs and a total of 8,100 met to discuss how to ensure women and girls are at the forefront of their plans to implement the new 15-year SDG global development roadmap. The Priority Theme was Women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development and a Review Theme, was the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in September 2015, seeks to address the key challenges of the 21st century, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Women’s empowerment is recognized as a pre-condition to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But how do those most impacted by the challenges view the SDGs? Once again, the Grail made its presence at CSW. We had 41 participants from 9 countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, South Africa, Tanzania and the United States). The Grail participants joined the thousands of NGO members and hundreds of country representatives from around the world to discuss critical issues for women and girls, galvanize attention and spur action. They pledged to achieve measurable results and to strive for full gender equality and the empowerment of women by 2030. For the 10 days spent on the UN premises or nearby where the events were being held, the Grail participants attended different events and gained information from around the globe. Meeting people from all parts of the world enables cultural sharing of views and opinions, sparking off ideas, creative thinking and provides a greater understanding of how to address our common goals and objectives.

Each year The Grail sponsors a parallel event with girls and young women as presenters. The Grail side event was: Girls, 2030 Is Now. Let’s Be The Change We Want For The World! The girls and young women from age 14 to 24 spoke on all the major issues affecting girls and young women, problems and challenges facing their own realities and changes they hope to see in the next fifteen years. The UFER/Grail side event – Sacred Activism was presented by Grail members and participants from the July 2015 Sacred Activism program in Cornwall as preparation for CSW-60. The panelists gave insights on what drives them into action for sustainable development, sharing their personal/collective spiritual resources for supporting, nurturing, and protecting an economic development that looks at people and the environment first.

The Grail also participates in the work of the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW NGO/NY) and is a member of the Working Group on Girls (WGG), a coalition of more than 80 NGOs and civil organizations dedicated to empowerment of girls and to promoting their human rights in all areas and in all stages of their lives. Through that participation some of our girls and young women were also part of panels for other side events and also were part of the team writing and reading to the CSW assembly the Girls Statement sponsored by the Working Group on Girls. Finally, the Grail participants also had the opportunity to speak and be interviewed by the UN Radio. All this experience of participating in CSW give us the opportunity to be heard in discussion or meeting, share our experience as women and girls advocating for the empowerment of women and girls and for girls rights. The importance of speaking out in CSW – people can hear us and include our ideas, our concerns and our point of view in the strategies and plans for governments and the UN bodies. In that way we become a part of the decisions-making process.

The Grail participants at CSW-60 also created a banner with Sustainable Development Goals (See the cover). Also, after those 10 days a recommendation came out in form of statement mainly by girls and young women grail participants (see the Girls Statement below).

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In way of commitment, the Grail participants at CSW-60, decided to make a joint reflection of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The participants chose the month to present by a lottery. During nine months of 2016 (April-December) worksheet materials containing 1 or 2 SDGs will be shared for reflection in-group. Members of the GLUNN/CSW Team compiled this report with input from the participants, which focused on their experiences and point of view. The report is comprised of an overview of the Grail Side events, Building Community, Networking, Learning/Experiences, Commitment and Way Forward including preparation process for the next CSW. At the end is the Grail CSW-60 Girls Statement and also some pictures showing the emotions of experiencing CSW.

A. Grail at CSW-60

A.1. Grail Participation The Grail participated in CSW-60 in different ways including planning Grail side events; co-sponsoring side events; being part of some panels; contributing in the writing of the annual girls’ statement; shared experience and gave testimony about the situation of girls and women in their countries and the implementation of the global agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), followed the work of outcome documents; collaborated with enthusiasm in helping each other.

The Teen Orientation was an event that the Grail helped organize. It is an annual and session in preparation for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Organized by the Working Group On Girls (WGG) that promotes young girls’ power to speak on their behalf at events like the CSW in order to promote women and girls' empowerment. Youth members representing NGOs from all over the world get together to prepare to be effective advocates at the UN CSW. It is the opportunity to share their passions and learn about gender issues with girl delegates from other countries. The Orientation also provided youth delegates the opportunity to learn the history, background and purpose of the United Nations and to understand better the scope of the violence directed at women and girls. During the Teen Orientation we had several Grail members or Grail-connected members work on registration and facilitating in various sessions (Sara Mduma, Timeika Mucambe, Lena Cheyne, Diana Eusebio, Tina Kalala, Hyasinta Mgonja, Denise Milice, Ntando Juqu, Abida Jamal) with Sharon Joslyn as part of the coordinating group— so the Grail was very present.

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The Grail co-sponsored side events:

Girls at the Table: The event highlighted the importance of bringing girls to the table on the adoption of the new Global Goals to direct and achieve social justice, equality, sustainability and peace by the year 2030. Girl activists had opportunity to speak about their efforts to address local challenges within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals and also advocated for the on-going inclusion of girls and girl activists in the development of National Action Plans. Mila Massimana (Mozambique) was a panelist. Girls Political Empowerment: This event explored how girls’ political empowerment contributes to the implementation of the SDGs. Girl activists shared their tools and strategies for resisting political apathy and creating meaningful change with respect to the SDGs. Panelists showcased lessons learned in engaging girls in formal and informal political spaces. Ntando Juqu (South Africa) was a panelist.

Girls Advocacy Roundtable: This event provided a space for girls participating in the Commission on the Status of Women to advocate for girls’ participation and inclusion in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. CSW girl delegates shared their thoughts and experiences with government representatives and UN agencies via roundtables. This format allowed girls to position themselves as leaders and partners in the successful implementation of the global goals. It also provided girl delegates with an opportunity to provide input and suggest language to strengthen the CSW-60 outcome document. Panelists were Caroline Muhikwa (Tanzania), Mila Massemana (Mozambique) Bernadette Wano (Papua New Guinea).

Girls and Boys Dialogue: This panel brought girl and boy activists together to speak about their real experiences in dealing with gender-based harassment or witnessing harassment among their peers. Their testimonies facilitated a discussion about how this culture of gender-based discrimination in schools can be changed, and how girls and boys can come together to create a more equal and safe school environment for all youth. Mila Massemana (Mozambique) and Ntando Juqu (South Africa) were panelists. Annual U.S. Mission Program: This program highlighted how girls’ empowerment within the UN and around the globe leads to sustainable development. Girls addressed such questions as: how is girls’ empowerment connected to sustainable development, why important to include girls in the implementation of the goals, what do you want the UN to know about girls’ empowerment, etc. Ana Rui Fonseca (Portugal) spoke giving an international representation. Other Grail delegates that attended were from Philadelphia: Afua Moore, Symone Johnson and Tahylor Ladson. Young Women Entering into the Global Economy: this event highlighted not only the importance of ‘choice’ of work but the importance of the economic independence of the women and how the empowerment of girls and women can have a huge impact to create fair conditions of work. Maya Gallardo (Mexico) was a panelist. Girls’ Statement: The Grail also was part of the 16 girls from around the world brought together by coordination of WGG to write the Girl’s Oral Statement. Caroline Muhikwa (Tanzania), Bernadette Wano (Papua New Guinea) and Mila Massemana (Mozambique) helped draft the statement. Mila delivered the Statement during the general discussion on the CSW official event. Rallies: NGO CSW Forum Rally was an important way to celebrate the successes of the international women’s movement and the fight to end poverty and violence against women of all ages. The Rally demonstrated our efforts to promote a dialogue between NGOs and UN Member States during the Commission on the Status of Women. It was the NGO CSW’s hope that the Rally fostered partnerships as outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals. Grail participants took part of it singing together with Working Group on Girls (WGG) “World Without Walls”.

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On March 17th, hundreds of activists and allies joined Berta Caceres’s family in demanding justice for her murder, protection and security for her family and COPINH members and the immediate halt to plans for the Agua Zarca Hydroelectric dam in Rio lanco, Honduras by rallying in front of the Honduran Mission to the UN in New York. We, the Grail participants at CSW-60, joined them highlighting the desperate need to end impunity for threats and attacks against all human rights defenders and enact laws for their protection. The crowd echoed this statement, unanimously chanting, “Berta no no se murió; se multiplicó.” A.2. Grail side events - This year the Grail had two side events.

The Grail theme for 2016 was entitled: Girls, 2030 Is Now. Let’s Be The Change We Want For The World! The girls and young women from about age 14 to 24 spoke on all the major issues affecting girls and young women, problems and challenges facing on their own reality and changes they hope to see in the next fifteen years. Issues such as quality education, poverty, gender equality, climate change, empowerment of all kinds and the end of violence in all its forms, were spoken often and well. These were important experiences for the girls and young women. The panelists were: Maya Gallardo (Mexico), Mila Massimana (Mozambique), Caroline Muhikwa (Tanzania), Ntando Juqu (South Africa), Bernadette Wano (Papua New Guinea), Ana Rui Fonseca (Portugal), Symone Johnson (USA/Philadelphia), McCKayla Menyah speaking her own poetry (USA/Bronx), and moderators: Timeika Mucambe and Denise Milice (Mozambique), Sara Mduma (Tanzania), Tahylor Ladson(USA).

The UFER/Grail side event – Sacred Activism – Grail members and participants from last summer’s program in Cornwall, Sacred Activism, were part of the panel. The panelists gave insights on what drives them into action for sustainable development. What personal/collective spiritual resources are needed for supporting, nurturing, and protecting an economic development that looks at people and the environment first. An in-depth conversation on how profound spiritual beliefs from a diversity of traditions move them into concrete action for ending poverty, protecting the planet, creating prosperity, and promoting peace." It was a moment of sharing the path of the speakers as activists and it allowed for exchange among the participants. It was a moment of serenity after two very busy weeks of CSW. Panelists: Beatriz de Oliveira (Brazil), Veronica Sanchez (Ecuador) with translation of Spanish/English by Monica Maher (USA), Naomi Paime (PNG), Nina Hendricks (South Africa), Maya Gallardo (Mexico) moderated by Abida Jamal (Mozambique) and Lisa Petro (USA/NYC).

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B. Building Community B.1. Grail Orientation - On Saturday, March 12th, The Bronx Grail held an orientation for the Grail CSW-60 participants (20 girls and women from over 7 countries—Brazil and PNG were not present). The orientation was intended to prepare participants for the experience of the CSW over the course of the following 2 weeks. Participants considered practical points such as navigating events, cross-cultural relationships and the ability to work together within a variety of cultural contexts. Lisa Petro, a Grail Explorer with the Cornwall group and a Multicultural Education Professional, was invited to work with the participants to support them in exploring their own cultural identities and perspectives, the impact their viewpoints have on cross-cultural goal setting and approaches for working effectively in cross-cultural situations. B.2. Spiritual Path - We gathered daily after dinner to pray together and share our day. This helped to refresh us and to prepare for the next day. Community prayer is very important to build community and to share life as we come together. Participants bring all of their experiences into ONE space. It was an opportunity to update and deepen our faith journey as a community during those two weeks while trying to understand the issues of CSW and how we can are make those issues relevant in our lives and in our community. B.3. Open House (Bronx and Cornwall Grail Centre) - Every year there are two events to which local Grail members and friends are invited: Bronx Open House, Cornwall Open House(more about Cornwall under Equinox). This is an opportunity for the CSW participants to share their experiences as well as meet local Grail members, and, for others to learn from the participants about CSW. In the Bronx, there were about 25 guests for a total crowd of about 40. We began with a potluck meal and followed with a program organized and led by the girls. It was fun and informative for everyone as songs were sung, dances were danced, poems were read, musical instruments were played and each country was celebrated. Trina Paulus was again present to sign and give copies of her book HOPE FOR THE FLOWERS to all participants. Trina too sees this CSW event as a moment of hope for the world. The afternoon was a huge success. B.4. Formation – opportunity to talk about the Grail, watch videos and discuss them like: From the Heart (Grail Australia) and the celebration of nucleus dedications in Tanzania that created opportunity of intergenerational dialogue with Grail members and live in community with them. There was also time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. It was a time for the core elements of the Grail to be explored together. Whether any of the girls become Grail members or not, it is an important formative life experience. B.5. Celebrations Spring Equinox…an especially hopeful time for US folks as it means they are leaving the cold and snow and ice of winter behind! This year’s Cornwall Grail Open House coincided with the Equinox so the participants 1) had a chance to enjoy the beauty and fresh air of Cornwall, 2) they also walked the labyrinth, lead by the person who helped build it at Cornwall and 3) shared in a lovely meal and conversation.

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Seder…on the Wednesday of Holy Week, those who were still present had a ‘mini’ Passover meal—no lamb! But we had the Exodus story, the questions asked by our youngest members, the special unleavened bread, haroses, etc. and we sang: “had he lead us out of Egypt, only lead us out of Egypt, never given us Lord Jesus, Dayenu…” yes, a Christian celebration of our Jewish roots. We used as a guide a booklet the US Grail prepared years ago. Easter…Several CSW participants joined the Triduum choir in St. Luke’s. They were a big help toward making the three days beautifully filled with song. On Saturday, some joined in coloring Easter eggs which then appeared on the Easter Sunday table. We attended the 8:30 a.m. Mass and came home to the participants preparing a wonderful brunch. Contributions came from all. B.6. Sightseeing / Outing With so much to do at CSW-60, we still found time also to see some landmarks and attractions of New York City such as Statue of Liberty, Museum of the American Indian, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), The American Museum of Natural History, Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 9/11 Memorial. This allowed time to be in a different environment from the busy rooms we spent at UN Headquarters and other venues. B. 7. The Grail SDG/CSW-60 Banner The Grail participants at CSW-60 also created a banner with Sustainable Development Goals. Sitting around the table, chatter about making a banner a banner quickly turned into a reality. Sharon found small squares of cloth. Out came the markers. Participants chose a number from the basket—that is the SDG she would depict in any form she wanted: words or drawing, etc. Sharon and Bia started sewing them together the night before the girls’ presentation (see banner in front of their table) and others joined in. Bia embroidered CSW-60 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THE GRAIL…. the way it is written on the banner easily makes it look like the SDGs are the Grail’s goals! And they are. Making the banner was another lively community-building activity.

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C. Learning and Commitments C.1. Learning/ Experience

Caroline Muhikwa: “I have learned many things during those two weeks. I learned that we girls have the right and deserve to have a chance to stand up and speak out about ourselves since we are the experts of our own life. Actually, I have really been inspired by a lot of people and especially the girls. During the event I have been able to contribute some ideas and share my experience and contribute on the preparation of Girls Statement. I am very happy and glad to attend CSW, it was a transforming, inspiring and amazing experience that I am going to share with my friends when I get back to my country.” Mila Massimana: “CSW was a fruitful experience. I found myself to have big role to play back home because of the information and knowledge I acquired during the event. I go back to my country sure that girls are the ones who can drive the change in the world, because they are able and powerful. Most of the events talked about empowerment of the girls, and how important is to empower them.” Bernadette Wano: “I learnt many things attending CSW-60. Interesting topics and sessions were conducted and experiences and reports were being exposed. Those sharing were encouraging, inspiring, helpful and workable. I know I owe you folks much. I will show that in my back home project. Thank you to give me opportunity to living together, the solidarity and the sharing of ideas, the helping of each was amazing Ntando Juqu: “What impacted me the most is that if violence could be prevented there won’t be any need for curing because no one would be a victim. This is relevant to women and girls because it protects them from violence and promotes their rights but most importantly it empowers women and girls so they can also be able to resist violence. The priority theme aims at empowering women and girls to sustain sustainable development goals and how much I heard and learned the need to emphasizing the empowering of woman to fight against violence, which falls under SDG 5 for gender equality. It was an unforgettable experience that I want to do again. To all who welcomed me and made me a new person a big thank you!” Maya Gallardo: “CSW taught many things and it will be part of my life. I learnt a lot from the experience and I understood the reality women are living today. It was also an important space to meet other participants of The Grail, share our experiences, and see the work that is being done by other countries. It was a great experience and thank you so much for letting me be a part of it!” Symone Johnson: Just hearing about issues that we have in Philadelphia compared to other countries…. opened my eyes and made me want to be more aware of issues like trafficking of girls which I did not know was as common in the USA as in other countries. Ana Rui Fonseca: “CSW-60 inspired me on bringing a message of union and transactional alliance. What I experienced is the strength of women around the world. I was inspired by the determination of the women coming from the conflict zone and faced the humanitarian crisis, the struggle of the women and children on that zone. I would like to underline that it is because of The Grail that my presence at CSW-60 was made possible and having opportunity to learn a lot and experience other realities.

Denise Milice: “The message that impacted me the most is that on the implementation of SDGs, NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND and 2030 is now, so, we must empower Girls, Young Women and Women NOW. Attending CSW is important because here we can share our experiences and goes back to home inspired to empower other Girls and Women and also share everything that we have learned. It aligns because each Girl and Young Women talked about their point of view among SDGs, with focus in Education, Poverty and Violence.”

Tahylor Ladson: I was up close and personal with the inhuman act of human trafficking and that was definitely new interesting and challenging. A lesson I will take away is that everyone has part to do in the

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world to make it better. If we don’t, goals like equality are harder to obtain. Naomi Paime: “CSW was an amazing experience for me. It showed me the potential of the Grail and its women and the potential of participating in this international event. The most important things I got from the session were some new strategies to help me in the work I am doing, also I had opportunity interact with people with the same interest. If women are educated, they are healthy and empowered and are able to sustain their living. Nina Hendricks: “My message to the Grail is thank you for allowing me to be a part of the CSW, I would like to help prepare girls in South Africa to come to CSW. I think it's so important to have girls at the table to have their say. No one can argue that there are many issues girls are facing and what I learned at CSW is that women can make all the changes in the world. If we empower our girls we can transform our country along with all the SDGs. I would like to commit to keeping in the conversation of the SDGS, keeping in touch with the others and creating awareness and finding creative ways to do the work that is needed.”

Beatriz de Oliveira: “Once again, CSW was a renewal in consciousness raising of the rights we are losing. During those two weeks on reflection of the empowerment of women and sustainable development goals shows the need to address the objectives in a more systematic and articulated way and these goals need to be detailed in individual and collective strategies so that we can achieve concrete results especially in this moment we have lost many rights. Living together was another spiritual enrichment, with intergenerational community.” C.2. Commitments After those 2 weeks the questions come: what happens next? What initiative will you take back home? Here some of the contributions from Grail participants at CSW-60: Participants Commitments Caroline Muhikwa: “Actually I plan when I get back home to start a shoot and root club that will consist of my fellow students from different classes and if it will expand then I think we will start to include other schools because my school is somehow a little bit far and it's a boarding school. Also do some visits to outside of our school like government school students and share with them about SDGs”. Mila Massimana: “I want to work with children (girls and boys) from 8-12 years old, making periodic meetings to teach them about the SDGs. It will be my contribution on creating a sustainable world, where we have to start working from the bottom and children are part of the bottom. And as a youth I can talk simple and clear for them and create a safe place where they can talk freely with their own language. I will use as methodology on creating fun stories (plays, games, paintings) with messages related with SDGs to make them aware early about the importance of taking care of the environment where they live.” Bernadette Wano: “I will continue with the project that I have started. We have been working with the out of school girls on gender issues and we are trying to get every girl or woman in the group sensitised with the issues of today and help each and every one to continue education through flexible learning like I am doing.” Ntando Juqu: “After I attended this CSW session, I want to do more for my community, so I plan teach women and girls especially in primary schools and high schools about harassment and this could help them be able to identify any kind of harassment they have experienced or are experiencing. They will know where to report if they have this problem.”

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Maya Gallardo: “I will go back home and run workshop on women and girls rights and empowerment link between the work for girls and women as a link to make SDGs a reality. I also am planning to start the campaign about the partnership with visual materials about the SDGs, mostly, to share on social media.” Ana Rui Fonseca: “When I am back home I will create a project that consists of constructing a framework and pedagogic guidelines for the summer camp we’ve been doing for the last years. I’ve collected some materials in CSW-60 on empowering girls and young women that’ll be of use in this task. If everything goes well I hope that the network of mentors and girls expands.” Hyasinta Mgonja: “ I will strengthen the CSW participation in my country as priority and making the SDGs known by the Grail members and be emphasized in St Teresa of Avila School, within the Grail members and in the community in which we are working with. The main aim of this is to make these SDGs to reach people as much as possible in order they may act on them.” Nina Hendricks: “I have already started a group in Manenberg, South Africa as my last back home project. I would like the focus of this group to be working on the sustainable development goals. South Africa has a lot of work to do if we are going to achieve these goals by 2030. So as well as meeting together as we did before, we can look at activities and actual work tied in to a particular SDG. For e.g. if few are talking about goal 13, climate action, I can plan activities aimed at looking at our own environment and maybe even having a clean up or making posters to educate others. Information is key, so if the girls have the information they need on their level and in their language and the session can be facilitated in a fun way I think we can create a change. I would also like to work on questions related to each SDG and send to my high school's debate team. I would like to ask if I could come and talk to the girls about the sustainable development goals. If the topics for the debate team are useful, I will ask them to pass it on to other schools. We should all be talking the same language of SDGs.” Countries Commitments: In way of commitment, the Grail participants at CSW 60, decided to make a joint reflection of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with the countries members of the Grail. During nine months of 2016 (April-December) worksheet materials containing 1 or 2 SDGs will be shared for reflection in-group. Mary Gindhart, Nina Hendricks and Abida Jamal looked at the 17 goals and paired them with a month based on what events or ‘days’ might be happening that month, example: April observes Earth Day so goal 15! Each CSW participating country was asked to be an animator for a month. They will take the SDGs from the month assigned to them and look into these goals further. (They actually got their SDGs by drawing numbers from the basket!) They will prepare materials to be shared with all 17 Grail Countries to be used and looked at for each month. The goals were divided as follows: April: Goal 15: Life on Land, and, Goal 17: Partnership for the goals

May: Goal 3: Good Health, and, Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

June: Goal 13: Climate Action, and, Goal 14: Life Below water

July: Goal 1: No Poverty, and, Goal 4: Quality Education

August: Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, and, Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

September: Goal 5: Gender Equality, and, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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October: Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

November: Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and, Goal 2: Zero Hunger

December: Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

C.3. Statement At the CSW the girls always write and present a Girl’s Statement to the General Assembly. This year (CSW 60), the Grail participants decided to present a Statement on emphasizing CSW as a platform for girls and women empowerment on global issues, training and development of leadership skills.

The Grail CSW-60 Girl Statement At the CSW the girls always write and present a Girls’ Statement to the General Assembly, and, now we are presenting one to the Grail. Girls and young women are the leaders of today, and so we should not leave the training for tomorrow. We believe that The CSW is a unique opportunity to expose girls and young women to global issues within the context of a Grail international community, offer training needed to help them develop leadership skills and give them an opportunity to act.

The 193 Member States of the United Nations have adopted Agenda 2030 with 17 Sustainable Development Goals to overcome global crises in the next 15 years.

We, the Grail girls and young women participants of the 60th

session of the Commission on the Status of Women, see that the transformation the Grail seeks fits well within the framework of Agenda 2030.

We affirm that we are part of a global effort to achieve the goals of Agenda 2030.

We call on all Grail countries, teams, projects and individuals to join the efforts to make rapid progress on the goals.

We believe the Grail International Community can make our own hopes visible by sharing with others at the UN what we are doing in our teams, projects and countries.

We strongly support the need for a better understanding of the significance of The Grail within this annual worldwide gathering. We see the CSW as a unique opportunity for intercultural and intergenerational dialogue that pertains to everything that the Grail professes.

We especially support the participation of girls in CSW to empower them to go back to their countries and implement what they have experienced and learned.

We recommend an integrated International Program for the empowerment of girls with GLUNN providing support and process.

We affirm the internship program as an opportunity for outreach and formation.

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We propose the following action to our Grail Communities for 2016:

Utilize the SDGs as a framework for our action(s).

Each country focus on two of the SDGs per month to develop, inform and educate all members.

(See the addendum above that the participants developed)

Make girls a priority by developing and integrating girls in our mission and vision.

D. Evaluation D.1.Participant and GLUNN/CSW team evaluation

The GLUNN/CSW Team sees the value for an annual evaluation of the program to allow them to review the event carefully and use the evaluations to plan for the following year. An evaluation sheet was given to the participants to complete it with instructions to evaluate different components of their participation in CSW such as community life, the Grail programs, the Grail side events, the CSW-60 sessions and what to improve for the next CSWs program. The Evaluation will be printed separately. E. Way Forward E.1.Reflection on Sustainable Development Goals

Countries are invited to focus on SDGs: As a Grail Community we could have a global impact. We would like to join forces to achieve the goals.

E.2. Announcement of CSW-61.

Priority Theme: Gender Equality and the empowerment of women in the changing world of work.

Review theme: Progress in implementation of SDG 5. Achieve Gender Equality and empower all women and girls.

CSW-61 will be held in New York, USA 13-24 March 2017.

E.3. Preparation process In August 2016, the GLUNN team will send out an Information Sheet explaining more about CSW-61, suggest readings, etc. to start to prepare for it. In general, we are reaching out to girls, young women and Grail members. The criteria for participants and chaperones will be part of the Information Sheet. However, below are some of the thoughts that arose after CSW-60 to help prepare for CSW-61. We need to know and understand sustainable development and the 17 goals including the targets. We need to know how to apply SDGs concretely in our community. We need to update ourselves the with UN Women website and visit the UN Women offices to get

information about their works on the ground for women and girls. This is also a chance to become known as Grail. Perhaps government agencies/UN Women offices, etc. can include your activities on regional reports.

We need to reach our regional NGO/CSW to be part of the preparation for the next CSW. We need to grow in understanding of the UN as a tool for political engagement on global change. We need to know other NGOs in our area and advocate with them to send girls to CSW. We need to know the government officials in our communities and know what they are doing in relation with

the theme on girls.

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We need to start to identify girls/youth group to work with them on the priority theme. We need to mentor girls and young women in the preparation, participation and follow-up of CSW (young

women mentor girls) We need to read, respond on time to the GLUNN (Grail Link to UN Network) communication. We need to share communications from GLUNN with Grail members and girls. We need to share, use preparation materials with Grail members in our country and give feedback to the

GLUNN team. We need to do fundraising to help send girls to CSW. We need to provide GLUNN, on time, with pertinent information regarding girls for invitation letters We need to help girls obtain visas.