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Kate Zaidan, Program Coordinator
Kate Zaidan of Women’s International League for Peace and FreedomWorking for international causes is like running an Ultra-marathon. Maintaining the endurance, drive, and motivation to continue on are essential to success. The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), has been exercising these three traits since it was founded in 1915. Kate Zaidan, WILPF's 25-year-old Program Coordinator, has been helping the organization achieve its goals of world disarmament, women's rights, socioeconomic justice, and to ensure peace, freedom and justice for all. These may sound like impossible dreams, but the WILPF is remaining effective and relevant by taking these issues on one battle at a time. With sections in 37 countries, WILPF is able to insert itself, coordinate, and exact change into nearly any area it wishes in order to fight social injustice and violence. Concerned with the biased US reaction to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, WILPF is currently working to pressure the US government into restoring aid to the Palestinian Authority. Anyone who has any interest in world events, or activism can find something of interest in this powerful organization which has been exerting its influence for over 90 years. Read more about WILPF and Kate Zaidan in our Non-Profit Spotlight.
Non-Profit
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Founded
1915
Website
www.wilpf.org
Name
Kate Zaidan, Program Coordinator
Age
25
Hometown
Cincinnati, OH
Current residence
Philadelphia, PA
Education
Antioch College, BA Environmental Studies, 2004.
Work Experience
The Student Environmental Action Coalition, National Coordinator.
Ethnicity
Lebanese-American
About the non-profit
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was founded in 1915 during World War I, with Jane Addams as its first president. WILPF works to achieve through peaceful means: world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish the political, social, and psychological conditions which can assure peace, freedom, and justice for all. WILPF works to create an environment of political, economic, social and psychological freedom for all members of the human community, so that true peace can be enjoyed by all. Our two major campaigns are Women Challenge U.S. Policy: Building Peace on Justice in the Middle East and Save the Water.
Most notable milestones
Since 1975, US WILPF has maintained a Middle East Issue Committee and focused our efforts in educating our membership about the peace and conflict issues in the region. Articles have been published in “Peace and Freedom,” WILPF’s US Section magazine, as well as the International WILPF publication, “International Peace Update.” Major accomplishments of the committee include a coordinated delegation to interface with our Middle Eastern Sister Sections in Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Israel and a speaking tour of Aliyyah Strauss, chair of our Israeli section in 2002.
In the last three years, the Issue Committee increased awareness of the U.S. government’s influence in Palestine and Israel, which led to the selection of the WCUSP campaign by our membership. The inauguration of this campaign took place at the WILPF National Congress held August 10-14, 2005, in San Francisco. Our keynote speakers stimulated discussion on powerful lobbies, the dual occupation of Iraq and Palestine, humanitarian activism on the ground, and the erosion of civil liberties at home for Arab-Americans. Workshops gave insight and tools for change on the subjects of myths and stereotypes, arms sales and nuclear non-proliferation treaties, the evangelical Christian right, and working for peace through coalitions.
Many branches are taking action on the Middle East, Israel and Palestine, and Iraq. We support these local activities that center on the issue of the dual occupations and Palestinian statehood. We will encourage new branches to form to help in our overall mission. As a WILPF Middle East campaign we are now positioned to accomplish our goals and will be better able to coordinate these efforts.
What's the biggest challenge?
Lack of funding and resources: we are an organization with ambitious goals and vision, but often lack the means to see these to fruition.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Peace and justice advocates, especially women.
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Guiding principle in life
Do everything I can to make the world a better place.
Yardstick of success
Seeing a project through to the finish and knowing that the work that I do empowers others to take a stand for justice.
Goal yet to be achieved
Move to the Middle East to work with Non Governmental Organizations there.
Best practical advice
Plan well, but expect everything to change.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
Success isn’t measured by money, but by the impact that you have on your community and world.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I’m doing it! I remember writing a paper for school about how my goal in life was to organize a protest. My mother was not amused. I also wanted to be a professional ice skater.
Biggest pastime outside of work
I see my organizing for peace in the Middle East bound tightly together with my Lebanese-American identity and my effort to connect with my culture and family. In my spare time, I study Arabic and work to further integrate myself into the Arab community in Philadelphia. I love to travel and do so on every occasion I get.
Person most interested in meeting and why?
Hugo Chavez, I think there is real promise in the recent developments in Latin America and I am inspired by his abilities to build a real movement for justice.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. I am the first of my family to be born in the US, however I have only been to my father’s home twice, and I’m just now getting to know my aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom live in Beirut
2. I worked on an elephant nature reserve in Thailand for two weeks
3. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 10 years old.
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Ambitious
2. Goal-oriented
3. A little bit shy
Three greatest passions
1. Peace and Justice
2. Slow, sappy music
3. Lebanese food
Favorite book
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran.
Favorite cause
Workers rights, immigrant rights, fighting water privatization, fair housing policies, fighting racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia.
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