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Warm Greetings!
I hope IAM’s newsletter finds you well in these challenging times.
After several months of strict lockdown regulations, the IAM team bravely ventured out to facilitate the first face-to-face workshop. The second phase of our new Journey of Hope workshop – called Journey Towards Healing – a process of integrating one’s spirituality, sexuality, and reality. I’m delighted to report that it was a welcome break from online engagements. We note the relief and support that participants expressed during these few days of being together.
October raises awareness on how we use pronouns, seeking to highlight that respecting and using people’s preferred pronouns helps celebrate our multiple, intersecting identities. I go by the pronouns of she/her. What are yours? We will post more about pronouns during the month. October also highlights intersex awareness and issues around mental health. We have seen an escalation in not only anxiety, fatigue and burnout during COVID-19 but the huge need for psychosocial support. We encourage all to seek support and advice, and call on organisations, businesses, and donors to invest in mental health programmes and/or services for staff.
As you know IAM is celebrating 25 years Anniversary in 2020. You might have noted that much of our posts over the months have reflected on our engagements and partnerships with faith communities, academics, and individuals – you can catch up on the interviews here. We are extremely grateful for the journey we have travelled since 1995. We are in the process of producing a short video that captures some of the significant milestones over this time and aim to share it with you by the end of November 2020.
Blessings to you and may you continue to stay safe and healthy.
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Ecclesia de Lange
Director, IAM
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IAM staff reflects on what Heritage Day means to them
This South African Heritage Day, IAM staff took a few minutes to reflect on what the day means to them. From food to dress, to identity and legacy, the day is an important time for all of us in South Africa to celebrate our diverse heritage and keep interrogating the parts of our culture that are oppressive or exclusionary.
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The School’s Out project: how do religion and faith impact comprehensive sexuality education in high schools across Eastern and Southern Africa?
IAM’s Regional Programme Coordinator Marlow Newman-Valentine introduces us to IAM’s newest initiative: collaborative research partner on the School's Out Project, focused on the role of religion and faith in comprehensive sexuality education in high schools across Eastern and Southern Africa.
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Bisexuality Awareness week 2020
Bisexuality Awareness week is celebrated globally from the 16th to the 23rd of September. The week, also known as #BiWeek, serves to celebrate, educate, and raise awareness on bisexual history, the bisexual community and to amplify voices of people who identify as bisexual.
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IAM at 25: Faith partners reflect on their work with IAM (Robert Steiner)
Robert Steiner of Rondebosch United Church speaks with us about how the congregation has become more welcoming and affirming over the years, about setbacks at the policy level, and about the hope of incremental change for lasting transformation.
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IAM at 25: Faith partners reflect on their work with IAM (Graham Goodwin)
Graham Goodwin, Minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, speaks with us about the power of coming together and connecting as queer clergy, the importance of micro-level shifts at the individual and congregational level, and IAM’s work in the seminaries impacting the next generation of leaders.
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IAM at 25: Faith partners reflect on their work with IAM (Rev. Stefan Hippler)
Rev. Stefan Hippler, a Catholic Priest and Executive Chair of the HOPE Cape Town Trust, speaks to us about the value of the community that IAM brings together, and the important role its work with mainline denominations plays in the lives of many.
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- International Pronouns Day | 21 Oct 2020 | pronounsday.org
- International Intersex Awareness Day | 26 Oct 2020 | intersexday.org
- Ace Week (formerly Asexual Awareness Week) | 22-28 Oct 2020 | www.aceweek.org
- IAM Team building | 14-15 Oct 2020
- IAM Integrating Wellness and Spirituality retreat with 12 carers from hospice | 3-4 Nov 2020
- "Keeping the Faith" Session 3: LGBTIQ+ Storytelling | 3,13 and 16 Nov 2020
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At IAM we are continually striving to create a sense of belonging in a country that has great love and potential but is often characterised by harsh divisions. We are creating safe spaces for dialogue where the marginalised can finally have a voice. But, we can't do it alone.
We ask that you, our IAM friends, consider supporting us financially in our ongoing transformative work throughout Africa. With your help, we can build on the accomplishments of the past 25 years and continue on for many years to come.
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