If you see a man frantically snapping pencils outside MP Joe Peschisolido’s office on Wednesday, don’t be alarmed or feel the need to contact the police.
Rey Ylala will, in fact, be ceremoniously breaking the lead 130 times to represent the 130 million girls and women around the world that don’t have access to education.
And with Wednesday being International Women’s Day, Ylala — on behalf of ONE, a global anti-poverty advocacy organization — will be one of 70 people making a “point” outside of MP’s constituency offices across Canada.
The irony of Ylala being a man, advocating for women on their international day of recognition, and that he’s the single Richmond member of a group called ONE, is not lost on the community worker and foster parent.
“It may be a little odd, but as a foster parent and in my job, I experience the challenges faced by girls and women; I’m surrounded by them all the time,” said Ylala, who hopes to hand over ONE documents and a petition to Peschisolido on Wednesday at his office on No. 5 Road, just south of Steveston Highway.
“I was also born and raised in the Philippines and witnessed extreme poverty first hand. So I have seen how the opportunities to learn, to read and write around the world can be totally sexist.”
Although being the only local member of ONE, Ylala, who lives in the Bridgeport and No. 4 roads area, said he will be embarking on a recruiting drive for volunteers and advocates this summer.
On Wednesday, Ylala and fellow ONE members across Canada and around the world will be lobbying their MPs to call on the federal government to increase international development spending to help ensure that girls around the world have access to quality education.
The meeting with the MPs will also include a delivery of hundreds of hand-written letters from constituents about this issue.
In January, ONE launched their “Poverty is Sexist” letter, calling on world leaders and citizens to make sure every girl has the chance to go to school. The letter has been signed by more than 289,000 people, including George Stroumboulopoulos, Meghan Markle, Ryan Reynolds, and Blake Lively.
ONE, which was co-founded by U2 lead singer Bono, doesn’t solicit donations, as it’s funded almost entirely by foundations, individual philanthropists and corporations. The global non-profit organization of nearly 7.5 million people, takes action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.
Deborah Track, of the Richmond branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), said bringing women out of poverty, tends to result in families breaking out of poverty as well.
“When there’s a single parent, it’s often a woman. And if they have an education, they can better provide for their family,” said Track, whose CFUW branch is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.
“When women earn a decent salary, it’s been found that a large proportion of that goes back to the family; when a man earns that money, less goes back to the family.
“It’s important for women to reach their potential and be who they want to be, for themselves and their families.”
CFUW Richmond’s founding members, Sophie McDougall and Mary Smillie, have seen a lot of changes since they and a handful of other locals formed the University Women’s Club of Richmond, as it was in 1967.
From its early days with 15 members, the branch — one of more than 100 across Canada — has grown to more than 80 members, with goals to promote the education of girls and women, to advocate on female issues and to encourage and enable women to advance in their careers.
Members have contributed more than $80,000 in scholarships to girls who are graduating from Richmond high schools and moving on to post-secondary education; has established an endowment fund for women students at KPU and is embedded in many other local educational and social programs.
“I think long-term membership creates stability in a club,” said McDougall. “I have always been very vocal on issues that were important to me.”
In honour of CFUW Richmond’s 50th anniversary, Mayor Malcolm Brodie will proclaim March 8 “CFUW Richmond Day.”
“We are very pleased and proud that the city has recognized our club in this way, and that (it) coincides with International Women’s Day,” said club president Brenda Denchfield.
As part of its anniversary year, CFUW Richmond will host the CFUW National AGM in June, welcoming guests from all across Canada.
In addition to a business meeting, there are speakers on topics of interest to members, plus opportunities to socialize. There is no longer a requirement that members possess a university degree, only that they support the goals of CFUW. More information is available online at CFUW-Richmond.org.
