Its called Quilter: A Weaving of the Women’s Movement and it
was launched this morning as part of activities to observe Women’s Week.
The twenty two page books chronicles the struggles the accomplishments of eight
Belizean women namely Elfreda Reyes, May Davis, Annie Flowers, Adolfa Garcia,
Tharine Rudon, Virginia Stanford, Olive Blades and Cristobel Usher. According
to the Women’s Issues Network, all of the females featured in the book
were anything but silent. They were very vocal in making their demands. They
women may have been considered as upstarts, troublemakers but they stood firm
and united in the fight for equality. According to WIN-Belize Executive Director
Carolyn Reynolds, the stories told should be an inspiration to any reader.
Carolyn Reynolds, WIN Belize
“Like the books says, they were classified as ‘bembes’
but when you say bembe we used to see it as a derogatory word but reading the
stories, I realized that bembe means that you fight for what you want and you
don’t give up until you get it and that’s what these women did.”
Florence Goldson, Researcher
“These women and how they were 
inspired and they just were fighting.
They wanted change and they wanted to make a difference and they didn’t
wait for anyone to make change for them, they were tired and they said this
is it: we’re going to stand up and fight and say our piece. And researching
about these women, I felt really inspired and the fact that as an individual,
I could do something – make a difference.”
Carolyn Reynolds,
“I would say we are getting there slowly. We have been able to have
women in decision making positions but one of the areas I think we really need
to be more active is in the political section of our Belize development. I think
we need to get more women to be in the forefront, not only as campaigners for
the political candidates but also so put themselves up for office. And we have
seen this, we have seen that two women did put themselves up but were not successful.
But I am hoping that that does not discourage other women to become more involved.”
If you would like to get your hands on a copy of Quilter: a Weaving
of the Women’s Movement, copies are available at WIN-Belize located at
number 28 Dean Street or you can give them a call at telephone number 227 –
1069 or access them on their website at www.WINBelize.bz.
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