HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Drs Kamiar and Arash Alaei receive inaugural Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award from Sharon Stone on July 22, the opening day of the AIDS 2012 – XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. (Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Despite Iran’s Oppressive Regime, These People Fight On ~ Farah N. Mawani | Huffington Post

I woke up at dawn today and my first thought was of Drs. Kamiar and Arash Alaei winning the first Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award at the International AIDS 2012 conference in Washington, D.C. on July 22. I was beckoned by light streaming through an opening in my blinds, the light of a sunrise filled with hope and the promise of freedom…

I think of their lawyer, Masoud Shafii, without whom Kamiar and Arash would not be free. The same lawyer without whom Josh, Shane and Sarah would not be free…

TAKE ACTION: Read the full article and sign this petition urging the Iranian regime to return Mr. Shafii’s passport and let him do his job.

DONATE to Farahway Global to enable us to continue this campaign!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

I Can See Clearly Now: Recovering from PTSD ~ Farah N. Mawani | Intent Blog

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”

~ Kahlil Gibran

Tuesday, June 26, was the United Nations International Day In Support of Victims of Torture.  I spent the days leading up to it reflecting on psychological torture, and particularly the impact of psychological torture on me.  Although it is difficult to delve into, I want to share some of that experience. I hope it will increase global understanding of the devastating impact of psychological torture, the remarkable courage of those who face it, and the support people need on their journeys of recovery…Read more.

——————————————————————–

3 Lessons Learned From Freeing 3 American Hikers: From Integrity to Engagement to Relationship-based Fundraising ~ Farah N. Mawani | Philanthropy Front and Center | The Foundation Center

Since our Free the Hikers social media campaign achieved its primary, seemingly impossible, objective of freeing my dear friends Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, I have received numerous requests to share our secret. Political prisoner campaigns, human rights organizations, mental health organizations, and even businesses, want to know how we built the global movement that it took to free them…Read more.

DONATE to Farahway Global

Check out our brand new Rally page!

——————————————————————–

How cows figured in a Kenyan woman’s Toronto education | Toronto Star

Ryerson University graduate Teriano Lesancha, centre, with her father, Saidimu, left, Ryerson President Sheldon Levy, World Vision Canada President Dave Toycen and her mother, Mama Teriano. CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR

Ryerson President Sheldon Levy will be getting a cow from a student who graduates next week.

In the bold journey Teriano Lesancha has taken to get an education, cows were sometimes a sore point between a struggling farmer and his ambitious daughter who wanted the income from selling cows to pay her tuition. They became a point of pride when that debt was repaid, with interest. Interest on four hoofs.

But her outspoken mother, known simply as Mama Teriano, also played a key role. Though she never went past Grade 3, she had a fierce belief in education for her daughter….

University of Toronto doctoral student Farah Mawani worked one year as a tutor at the village school, and her tales of university here planted an idea that Teriano never forgot.

Years later Mawani was surprised when the former student emailed her for advice. She has remained a mentor and friend who helped Teriano get into Ryerson and gave her somewhere to live when her sponsorship fell through…Read More

Welcome to Farahway Global!

Farahway Global is a non-profit organization that engages the global public in action for human rights and mental health. It was founded by Farah N. Mawani (@farah_way), co-founder of Free the Hikers. It builds on Farah’s experience directing the social media and public engagement components of Free the Hikers, which played a large role in freeing Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd, held hostage in Iran for 2 years and 2 months.

In collaboration with the core campaign team, Farah developed a social media portfolio (Facebook, twitter, YouTube, community blog, etc.) closely integrated with the website, public event, media and diplomacy components of the campaign. She centrally organized global events for the campaign that peaked with 40 events around the world at the one year mark of captivity for Sarah, Shane and Josh. The global reach of the events grew exponentially through Farah’s creative use of social media to engage large numbers of people unable to participate in the events in-person. For example, at its peak, when Shane and Josh were released, the campaign Facebook page included 31 000 supporters. The number of YouTube views on the most popular campaign video reached 364 000.

Building global support within the incredibly complex and sensitive sociopolitical context of the Free the Hikers campaign was challenging on multiple levels. Farah applied her experience in leadership, community engagement and global social justice to carefully navigate the sensitive relationships. As a result, the campaign was successful at engaging and garnering the support of people around the world, including high-profile public figures and diverse members of the general public of all ages, through a sophisticated integration of website, media, social media, public statements and public events.

Farah has been interviewed about the campaign on CBC Radio’s As It Happens (during campaign and after release), CBC Radio News, CBC TV’s Connect with Mark Kelley, NBC’s The Today Show, NTN24 (upon release and after first seeing Shane and Josh). She has also been interviewed for articles about the campaign featured in The Atlantic. She has made presentations on the Campaign at McGill University, Montreal, QC and Rally, San Francisco, CA. She has also written about the campaign on the Huffington Post and Intent.com.

Farah’s expertise integrating social media and public engagement on a global scale is sought by organizations, businesses, political and advocacy campaigns, and leading publications in multiple sectors. Her expertise in global mental health is sought by organizations, policy makers, service providers, researchers and students. It is in increasing demand from organizations and professionals who need to enhance their understanding of trauma in order to better serve their clients.