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Upcoming Events | Past Events |
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Immigration Information Session - A forum for South Asian women FREE session! FREE lunch! Door prizes and raffle! Lawyer Neha Chandola will give a general overview of immigration, and discuss some visa options for women who may be on dependent visas. Lunch will be served during the session, and there will be a Q&A at the end.
Date: March 15, 2008 Free childcare is available on request. Don't miss this informative event! *South Asian refers to persons tracing roots to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tibet.
Chai with Chaya - Brunch at Flying Fish Restaurant A delicious brunch featuring unique concoctions by award-winning Chef Christine Keff. The menu includes vegetarian and vegan options, along with Chai, Coffee and Mimosas. Come and meet the Chaya Team, learn about Chaya's work and network with like-minded people in your community.
Date: November 18th 2007 Chaya thanks Chef Christine Keff and the Flying Fish Restaurant for their generous support!
Peaceful Families Taskforce - Conference on healthy Muslim families This conference will be facilitated by a licensed professional counselor and various local service providers and community leaders. Some of the topics will include Quranic family models and what Islam says about domestic violence.
Date: October 27th 2007 A light breakfast and lunch will be served, modest attire is required (long pants for men / scarves or hijab for women), and childcare is available upon request.
Date: June 9, 2007 More event details are available on the Annual Dinner & Auction page
In honor of International Women's Month, Chaya and Tasveer have teamed up to bring you the Aaina Film Festival, which will be held in Seattle, Washington, March 16-18, 2007. Aaina focuses on the lives of South Asian women, both in the United States and abroad. This is Aaina's 2nd year and highlights include the premiere of "Yoni ki Baat" - the South Asian vagina monologues, visiting filmmaker and activist Shonali Bose, and Nepalese dancer and filmmaker Sangita Shresthova. Join us for a weekend of honoring South Asian women during the International Women's Month of March.
All the events and screenings will happen at the beautiful Central Cinema located at 1411 21st Ave, Seattle WA 98122.
Schedule
March 16, 2007 Friday 7pm
March 16, 2007 Friday 9pm
March 17, 2007 Saturday 2pm
Newsroom Bahira
March 17, 2007 Saturday 4pm
The Beauty Academy of Kabul
March 17, 2007 Saturday 7pm
Amu
March 18, 2007 Sunday 2pm
March 18, 2007 Sunday 4pm
March 18, 2007 Sunday 6pm
Of Such Times
Dancing Kathmandu
This event is made possible by
Date: November 11, 2006 It's our 10th anniversary this year and you are invited to a fabulous brunch to celebrate Chaya at the Flying Fish Restaurant. More details...
Date: October 1, 2006 Journalist and filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz visits mosques throughout Canada and talks to scholars, colleagues, friends and neighbors about equal access for women. Discussions about the historical role of women in the Islamic faith, the current state of mosques in Canada and personal stories of anger, fear, acceptance and defiance punctuate the film. With original animation, archival footage and deeply personal interviews, "Me and the Mosque" is a smart, self-aware and whimsical story that documents the debates and presents the personalities on all sides of the issue. Chaya is pleased to sponsor this film as part of Seattle's Third Independent South Asian Film Festival, running from September 27 - October 1. For more information, please see www.tasveer.org
Date: September 30, 2006 ALL age groups are welcome for this informative and interactive workshop. For further details and to RSVP, contact uma@chayaseattle.org
Date: September 24, 2006 Mani Charitable Foundation and Live Anklets Present a a delightful evening of dance with world famous Pandit Birju Maharaj, Kathak Dancer. He will be performing along with Saswati Sen & group. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Chaya. Please come to see a performance of a lifetime, and support Chaya. We are grateful to Manisha Chainani for her organization and her generosity. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call (206) 292-ARTS. For VIP tickets, contact manisha@liveanklets.com or call (425) 246-6294.
New Volunteer Orientation
Date: July 8, 2006 Chaya welcomes anyone interested in joining our efforts to end violence against women in South Asian communities to our Summer 2006 Volunteer training. This is open to anyone who is interested in volunteering, as well as those current volunteers who have not yet attended training. Throughout the day we will address and discuss Chaya's organizational philosophy and values, an introduction to Domestic Violence and the intersection of culture and violence. Light refreshments will be provided; we ask that you bring your own lunch. This will be an all day commitment, filled with information and engaging discussion. We look forward to seeing you there, and working with you! Capacity is limited. To register and receive more information, please contact uma@chayaseattle.org.
Date: June 17, 2006 More event details are available on the 10th Anniversary Dinner & Auction page, including a preview of some of our exciting auction items, information on our 2005 event, and pictures from our 2004 event.
Connections: Queer Issues and Immigration Issues
Date: May 23, 2006 You are invited to a Trikone Northwest/NWIRP/Chaya training and information session on queer and immigration issues on Tuesday May 23, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the LGBT Community Center. The session will be facilitated by an immigration advocate/trainer from The Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (NWIRP) - the event is free. The kinds of things we will cover will include immigration options for queer/LGBT folks, potential changes in immigration laws that can benefit and harm queer people, existing legislation and options for two immigrants who are in a same-sex relationship with each other as well as for binational couples, pending legislation and the links between queer and immigration issues - the last will be more in a discussion and brainstorming format. Why: Many of us in queer South Asian communities face immigration issues either singly or in our intimate relationships. Many of us do not know much about immigration laws and do not have enough information about how immigration laws affect queer folks - directly or implicitly - to determine whether immigration is a queer issue and vice versa. We look forward to seeing many of you at the event.
Date: April 10, 2006 Chaya Women's Health Committee and UW Chaya Chapter invite you to join us in a dialogue exploring sexuality-our perceptions, our identities, and even our communities. We are pleased to involve women from Trikone NW (www.trikone-nw.org) in our conversation, and encourage all South Asian women to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For more information please contact uma@chayaseattle.org.
Aaina: South Asian Women Film Focus
Date: March 24 - 26, 2006
Aaina, which in Urdu means mirror, is a film festival to focus on the
works of remarkable South Asian women. Aaina will celebrate the
outstanding films with themes of unfailing courage, joy, resilience,
and creativity that tell South Asian women's life stories - on the
subcontinent and abroad, of yesterday and today, beyond caste, class,
and religion. All people, of any gender and race, are invited to engage
in active dialog about the lives of women of South Asia. So join us for
this unique event, support us in our effort, and be inspired!
Date: Saturday, March 18, 2006 Chaya is a community based nonprofit organization established in 1996 to serve south asian women in crisis and to raise awareness of domestic violence issues. We provide services to south asian women in crisis and mobilize the community to take action. Holi is a festival of color, a celebration of joy and hope. We encourage you to wear casual attire so you can participate in the celebrations. Colors will be provided. DJ Advent and DJ Aanshul will provide the highest quality International and Bollywood Music blended with Hip Hop, House, & Reggae. All door proceeds will be donated to Chaya. Due to the fact that this is a fundraiser, there will be no guest list for this event.
Cover charge $10
Date: Saturday, March 11, 2006 Please join us to share and discuss: The family as a place of reverence Family values that enable and strengthen family relationships. Effective communicationThe event is sponsored by: Peaceful Families Taskforce, Chaya and the Islamic School of Seattle Light refreshments will be provided. For further details, contact uma@chayaseattle.org.
Chaya Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2006
Chaya welcomes all of our volunteers and
supporters to join us for tea, in gratitude for
your dedication and service. We will also be
pleased to introduce our new executive
director, Pradeepta Upadhyay. This will be a
time for Chaya staff, board and volunteers to
all meet one another, share our accomplishments
and have fun!
Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Join Chaya's Women's Health Committee for a seminar on Body Image and South Asian women. The seminar will present some information on eating disorders and focus on discussion about the prevalence of body consciousness among South Asian women. ALL South Asian women are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For further details, contact uma@chayaseattle.org.
Call for Submissions for "South Asian Women Film Focus"
Submission Deadline: January 15, 2006
Tasveer, an independent film organization in
Seattle, seeks short films, experimental films,
documentaries, and narratives of any length for
submission for "South Asian Women Film Focus".
The event will take place in Seattle in March
24-26, 2006 on the occasion of International
Women's Month.
Self-Defense Workshop for South Asian Women
Date: November 6, 2005
In honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, Chaya is pleased to sponsor a self-defense workshop for South Asian women.This workshop will include some basic techniques as well as dialogue about negotiating boundaries as a South Asian woman. South Asian women of all ages are welcome. Registration is required, because space is limited. so please RSVP to Uma at uma@chayaseattle.org to reserve a seat. All are welcome, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This workshop is brought to you by our Women’s Health Committee and the Chaya chapter at the University of Washington.
CHAYA Fall 2005 Volunteer Training
Date: November 6, 2005
Chaya welcomes anyone interested in joining our efforts to end violence against women in South Asian communities to our Spring 2005 Volunteer training. This is open to anyone
who is interested in volunteering, as well as those current volunteers who have not yet attended a training. Throughout the afternoon we will address and discuss Chaya's structure and philosophy of work, our values, an introduction to Domestic Violence and working with South Asian/immigrant survivors of violence.
CHAYA Teen Girls Group
Date: October 28, 2005
Chaya has started a South Asian teen girl’s social group. The idea of the group is to provide a space for young girls to engage in activities and discussions that encourage self awareness, the power of female friendships, and support their transition to adulthood. The activities are designed by the girls themselves and facilitated by young adult South Asian women, providing mentorship and leadership development.
Chai with Chaya Fundraising Brunch
Date: October 2, 2005
This is an event to honor and support Chaya's work. For further information, please contact Chaya or call 206-568-7576.
Wing Luke Museum Exhibit: Women & Violence
Date: April 22 - September 4, 2005
Women and Violence is a courageous view on the issue of violence toward women, particularly women in the Asian Pacific American community. Addressing historical and root causes, types of violence and abuse, and community response and action, this exhibition was created to present the issues objectively and provide a space for dialogue and feedback.
Other community partners for this exhibit are the Asian & Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center , and the Gabriela Network, Seattle chapter.
Tasveer Film Festival Launch Party
Date: August 27, 2005
Tasveer is proud to bring you this unique evening of film, dance, stand-up comedy and much more. Throughout the night, we will be showing trailers of upcoming films that will be screening at ISAFF in September. Festival movie tickets and passes will be available for sale.
Chaya is pleased to co-present this event. We look forward to sharing this extraordinary evening with you!
Tasveer 2nd Independent Film Festival
Date: September 14-18, 2005 The 2nd Independent South Asian Film Festival brings to Seattle the urban hum of Karachi, lush mountains of Bhutan, Asian vibes from London, and far-reaching corners of South Asia. ISAFF pushes the edges with its challenging and distinctive films, forums, and festivities - designing a new frame for South Asia. Chaya is pleased to sponsor the following films during the festival:
Date: September 15, 2005
Directed by Inoka Sathyangani, Sri Lanka, 2002. Sinhalese w/ English subtitles, 120 minutes.
Date: September 17, 2005
Directed by Nabin Subba, Nepal, 2001. 120 minutes.
CHAYA Seminar: South Asian Women in Health Careers
Date: May 26, 2005
The Chaya Youth Chapter at the University of Washington and the Women's Health Committee presents their first seminar, entitled South Asian Women in Health Careers. This event will feature a panel of health professionals including those in medicine, nursing, and public health research. Join us to learn about relevant health concerns for South Asian women, and their experience in the field today.
CHAYA Teen Girls Kickoff Party!
Date: April 29, 2005
Chaya would like to announce that we will be starting a South Asian teen girl’s social group. Come to the kickoff event to meet other desi girls in the area, find support, make new friends, eat pizza and have fun!
Traveling Film South Asia: Gender Dialogue
Date: April 22, 2005
This evening is a part of the Traveling Film South Asia series of events throughout April sponsored by Tasveer. Chaya, in collaboration with
Trikone NW is pleased to offer screenings of the following provocative films, followed by a facilitated dialogue on gender-related issues.
19 mins | Maharashta,India | 2003 | Directed by Manisha Dwivedi
40 mins | Pakistan | 2003 | Directed by Samar Minallah For more information about featured films and to see a schedule of Traveling Film South Asia, see http://www.tasveer.org/events.html.
CHAYA Spring 2005 Volunteer Training
Date: April 2, 2005
Chaya welcomes anyone interested in joining our efforts to end violence against women in South Asian communities to our Spring 2005 Volunteer training. This is open to anyone
who is interested in volunteering, as well as those current volunteers who have not yet attended a training. Throughout the day we will address and discuss Chaya's structure
and philosophy of work, anti-oppression, an introduction to Domestic Violence and working with South Asian/immigrant survivors of violence.
Women's Health Forum
Date: March 28, 2005 For more information, please contact Uma or call 206-568-7576.
CHAYA Teen Girls Group
Date: March 20, 2005
Chaya would like to announce that we will be starting a South Asian teen girl’s support group. The premise of the group
is to give South Asian teen girls a space to talk about their experiences growing up in America, find support, make new friends and have fun.
API Women & Family Safety Center Annual Candlelight Vigil
Date: March 3, 2005 It's been 10 years since Susana Remerata, Pheobe Dizon and Veronica Laureta were shot and murdered by Timothy Blackwell in the King County Courthouse. Susana was a Filipina immigrant who was pregnant and seeking a divorce from Blackwell, her abusive husband. To remember Susana and all the lives taken by domestic violence, the Asian & Pacific Islander Women & Family Safety Center invites you to their Annual Candlelight Vigil. To sponsor or make a tax-deductible donation, contact Judith at 206-467-9976 or email judith@apialliance.org.
South Asian Author reading: Abha Dawesar
Date: February 22, 2005 Chaya is pleased to cosponsor South Asian author Abha Dawesar, reading at Elliott Bay bookstore.
South Asian Author reading: Samina Ali
Date: January 24, 2005 Chaya is pleased to cosponsor South Asian author Samina Ali, reading at Elliot Bay bookstore.
Chaya Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Date: January 29, 2005 Chaya wishes to thank our volunteers for their many hours of dedicated service. This will also be a chance to meet other staff and volunteers, and learn more about our work toward ending violence against women in our communities. Please join us for dinner and fun! For details and to RSVP, email Uma at uma@chayaseattle.org
Tasveer: Film Event to raise funds for Tsunami relief
Date: January 7, 2005
Tasveer is pleased to sponsor a film event to raise funds to aid Tsunami relief efforts. Set deep in the heart of a village in South Central India, Grahanam is the haunting tale of a young boy
struck down with a mysterious and life-threatening illness. The village shaman’s superstitious diagnosis enrages the community with notions of betrayal and scandal, leaving the village broken in its wake.
Mohan Indraganti’s debut production is a shimmering adaptation of the dark, suspenseful and controversial story Doshagunam (The Disease) by Chalam, known as the D.H. Lawrence of Telugu literature.
Chaya's Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction
Date: Saturday, November 13, 2004 Chaya wishes to thank all those who helped make the 2004 Benefit Dinner and Auction a success! More event details are available on the Annual Benefit Dinner page, including pictures taken during the event and a glance of some of the auction items.
Sadaa: Voices of Women Sadaa, "voice" or "echo" in Arabic/Persian/Urdu, presents 'Voices of Women,' an arts collective challenging stereotypical views about women from Muslim countries. Feeling the need to speak out women artists from Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan and Palestine have come together to reveal the diversity of our cultures while saying 'enough' to the mass media which misrepresents us and the religious fundamentalists who expect us to obey in silence. For more festival details, please check the Sadaa site at http://www.jazbah.org/sadaa. Featured Event: Guest Lecturer Tahira Naqvi
Date: Saturday, October 9, 2004
Kung Fu Self-Defense Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 30, 2004 In honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness month, Chaya is pleased to sponsor a self-defense workshop at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu on October 30. Spaces are limited, so please RSVP to Uma at uma@chayaseattle.org to reserve a seat. All are welcome, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Hope to see you there!
Lecture: 'Private' crime and 'public' sanction: Violence against women in the family
Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2004 This lecture is presented by guest speaker Dr. Vindhya Undurti from the Department of Psychology, Andhra University in India. Domestic violence is a major inhibiting feature that affects most women’s lives and was one of the issues that galvanized the women’s movement in post-independent India. Dr. Undurti will focus on the cultural context of patriarchal violence against women in the family, the socio-economic and psychological profiles of the perpetrators and the abused, and the response of the criminal justice system to domestic violence. Registration is required, so please call 206-685-1090. For details visit UW Womens Center.
Lecture: Coming of age or still on the periphery? Psychological research on gender in India
Date: Thursday, November 4, 2004 This lecture is presented by guest speaker Dr. Vindhya Undurti from the Department of Psychology, Andhra University in India. This lecture will focus on the engagement of psychological research with issues of gender in the context of India, considering also psychology's response to the social change orientation of women's studies, and its contribution to knowledge about aspects of women's lives. The lecture will also take up the emergence of women's studies and its engagement with the women's movement, and the wide spectrum of issues both theory and practice have had to deal with in post independence India. For details visit UW Psychology Department.
Date: October 23 - October 24, 2004 The legendary actress of the Indian screen Waheeda Rehman will participate in panel and audience discussions at the screenings of some of her most memorable films: Pyaasa, Teesri Kasam, and Guide. For event details and times please check the Waheeda Rehman Film Retrospective site. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Chaya. Please show your support by attending this event.
Film: The Day My God Died
Date: Saturday, October 23, 2004 The traumatic experience of young Nepali and Indian kids abducted and subsequently sold into the lucrative child-sex trade is documented in "The Day My God Died." For details visit ASHA Seattle.
The Peaceful Families Conference: One Year Later
Date: September 25, 2004 A nationwide training program teaching peaceful family dynamics and violence awareness for Islamic communities took place a year ago, led by Sharifa Alkhateeb, the President of the North American Council for Muslim Women (NACMW). From this conference we created the Peaceful Families Task Force, a group of volunteers dedicated to ending domestic violence in the Islamic community. We welcome you to meet us and see our progress. Program Includes:
For more information, or to get involved, call 206-568-7576 or Email chaya@chayaseattle.org
Seattle's First Independent South Asian Film Festival Broadway Performance Hall
Date: Friday, September 17, 2004 In the village of Charkhi, in Pakistani Punjab, Ayesha is a middle-aged woman whose life centers around her son, Saleem—a gentle, dreamy 18 year-old, in love with Zubeida. The story begins in 1979, in a Pakistan regulated under President General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law. In a few months the country will become a state ruled by Islamic law. Saleem becomes intensely involved with a group of Islamic fundamentalists and leaves Zubeida. Ayesha is sad to see her son change radically. Events escalate when Sikh pilgrims from India pour into the village. Later, a pilgrim looks for his sister, Veero, who was abducted in 1947. This awakens heart-rending memories... Sponsored by Chaya and Arab Film Distribution.
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2004 In this forum, five South Asian women filmmakers and video artists with varying backgrounds and interests, will screen their best work and discuss the intricacies of video production and filmmaking with each other as well as with the audience. Some topics of discussion include gender dynamics in t he crew, the tension between making "women" films and just films, covering taboo topics, media activism, filming in the motherland South Asia, and production for TV vs. filmmaking. But most of all, is a women filmmakers’ forum really necessary? Why or why not? Sponsored by Chaya and Humanities Washington.
2 Films in One Night!
Date: Monday, September 20, 2004 Autumn's Final Country The Battle for Blue Gold
Date: Thursday, July 29, 2004 Join Chaya in screening this documentary film about incest/ sexual abuse of South Asian girls. The film presents personal accounts and the psychological consequences of sexual abuse as well as an exploration into the social and cultural resistance in South Asia and the Diaspora in dealing with incest's causes and its effects on its victims. The film runs a little over an hour and will be followed by a facilitated discussion and chai. Suggested donation of $5 will help support ongoing film screenings. Questions about the film? Contact Charu at 206-568-7576. Co-sponsored by "Tasveer" - http://www.tasveer.org
Chaya Film Events in February In conjunction with the Arab Iranian Film Festival, Chaya is pleased to sponsor the films listed below. All films are Showing at the Broadway Performance Hall, General Admission: $8 Seniors and Students: $6. We hope to see you there!
Broadway Performance Hall
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2004
2003, 106min., 35mm
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2004
2002, 78 min., 35 mm
Preceded by: Tehran: The 25th Hour (Seifollah Samadian, Iran, 1999, 22 min)
Date: Sunday, February 15, 2004 Nazrah by Farah Nousheen will screen at the 6th Arab and Iranian Film Festival as special local highlight. NAZRAH, A MUSLIM WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE is a locally-produced independent documentary film exploring the perspectives of Muslim women on Islam and the global news involving Islam. Through spontaneous debates and personal interviews, Nazrah expresses contrasting opinions, common beliefs, and unique interpretations by each of the women featured in the film.
Chaya Events Around the SAM Exhibit: Chaya has been working closely with the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) to organize events around the SAM’s upcoming exhibition entitled: “Painted Visions from India and Pakistan: Past and Present.” The works will be on display from June 12 to September 7, and will include both traditional miniature paintings and contemporary works by South Asian artists Shahzia Sikander and Nilima Sheikh.
Date: August 22, 2003
(Eisha Marjara, 1998) The director's autobiographical story takes us first to her childhood in snowbound, small-town Quebec and then to Bombay, India, where she desperately tries to track down her heroine Helen, a famous movie star in the world's largest dream factory. 16mm, Canada, English, 80min. For more information on the film, you can visit: http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/1999/032599/film4.html.
Date: August 14, 2003
Join Indu Sundaresan, locally-based Indian author, will read from her latest work The Feast of Roses and talk about the status of women in Mughal times. For more information on Sundaresan, you can visit her website: www.indusundaresan.com.
A Panel Discussion - "Responses: Violence against Women in South Asia"
Date: July 31, 2003 Panelists and community members will come together to discuss violence against women in South Asian countries and also innovative and creative community movements that have formed in response. Panelists include:
Mona works with the Progressive Women's Association (PWA), a grassroots Domestic Violence agency in Pakistan currently serving women and working to raise money for a women's shelter in Islamabad.
Rashmi will be a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington department of History teaching courses on South Asia. Rashmi was part of the women's rights movement's agitation against Dowry Deaths in Delhi in the late 1970s and early 1980s and volunteered with a society that helped families of prisoners.
Mina has been a lifelong economic justice and anti-violence advocate, and has served as Convener on the Status of Women for the U.N. Association of Australia and as Advisor on the Status of Women for the Australian National Council for Women.
Najia has over seven years of international social development experience, working with the non-profit sector, academia, and the government sector in Pakistan and the United States of America. In Pakistan, while coordinating the Government of Pakistan’s follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women, Ms. Hyder facilitated the preparation of Pakistan’s National Plan of Action (NPA) for women. The NPA was a product of a participatory process with input from the government, non-government and private sectors of Pakistan. Currently, Ms. Hyder is a Program Officer for Mercy Corps, supporting programs in the Caucasus and West Bank.
Date: July 19, 2003
(Nandini Sikand, 1998) Against the broader backdrop of modern India's political and social history, this lyrical documentary tells the story of the life of Krishna Sikand, the filmmaker's mother, from childhood to maturity.
Date: June 11, 2003 Time: 6:15pm Location: Wing Luke Museum
Date: June 11, 2003 Time: 7:00pm Location: Northwest Asian American Theatre, 709 7th Avenue S. Join Shahzia Sikander, Pakistani artist, in this conversation with the community. The artist will speak about her experiences as a South Asian woman artist and about specific issues that have informed her work. She is an accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited in a variety of places including the Asia Society, the Whitney, MOMA in New York, and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. For more information on Sikander, visit: http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/sikander/. |
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Helpline: 206-325-0325 | Toll-free: 1-877-92CHAYA Office: 206-568-7576 | Fax: 206-568-2479 | E-mail: chaya@chayaseattle.org P.O. Box 22291 Seattle, WA 98122
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We will open Aaina celebrating the accomplishments and works of local South Asian women.
Included on tonight's program: 
Inspired by Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues, "Yoni Ki Baat" (translated as "Talk
of the Vagina") is a transformative play encouraging South Asian women to speak
out against violence and the stigma around our bodies and sexualities. 
This is the story of the nine-year-old Punam Matang: head of family, caregiver,
and homemaker. She cooks, washes, feeds, and launders before setting off for
school with her younger siblings. Their mother had died in childbirth and
father works long hours to pay for his children's school. And yet they are
lucky. Some of Punam's friends work in stone quarries and brick-making
factories for survival. This sensitively made film is a powerful tale of
despair, misplaced childhood, and hope.
This documentary follows a group of American women (some of whom had emigrated
from Afghanistan in the early 1980s) travel to Kabul to open the nation's first
American-styled school of cosmetology after the collapse of the Taliban. Eager
to offer Afghan women a different way of looking at themselves and others, the
tutors occasionally find themselves at odds with their students, who still
possess deeply ingrained notions of modesty and gender inequality and some of
whom had maintained "underground" beauty salons under the Taliban rule.
Amu is the story of Kajori Roy, a twenty-one-year-old Indian American woman who
returns to India to visit her family and discover the place where she was born.
The film takes a dark turn as Kaju stumbles against secrets and lies from her
past. A horrifying genocide that took place twenty years ago turns out to hold
the key to her mysterious origins. What starts out seeming like a standard
"back to the roots" story, becomes a mystery of both personal and political
implications. 
This gripping narrative tracks four teenage Bangladeshi-American high school
students juggling two cultures and building a life for themselves in post-9-11
America. Mahfuja, Maroofa, Jemi and Saleh are students of Marta Valle Model
School in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They dance the latest Bollywood
dance, discuss the Bill of Rights, and compare their immigrant identity in NYC
with growing up as Muslims in Bangladesh. The film takes us into their personal
lives and gives us a glimpse of their everyday struggles and accomplishments. 
This is the story of the only female truck driver in India who wants to travel and be free. Dastur's film takes us on the road with Manjuben as she drives her
truck, just like her male counterparts, from Gujarat to Delhi. The monotony of
the road and the incessant roar of the diesel engine depict the harsh reality
of the trucker's life. We also see Manju-ben off the road, having her picture
taken, hanging an oleograph of Shiv-Shakti on her wall, running her office, and
gossiping with friends. 
Women's legal and social status in Pakistan has had a turbulent history. From
honor killings to acid throwing to gang rapes, they pay with their lives and
bodies for alleged crimes violating their family or tribe's so-called honor.
This film documents the struggle for women's rights waged by Mukhtar Mai who
was gang-raped in 2002 by four men in the village of Meerwala on the orders of
the Panchayat. This powerful tale exposes the ingrained cultural and social
bias against women's rights in Pakistan.
This film explores the definition of the 'Modern Indian Woman'. It speaks,
breezily, with women who have all graduated form one of the foremost colleges
for women, though in different decades, from the 1950s till 2001. Converging
here from different parts of the country, they reflect on life, work, marriage,
collective aspirations, fun, and the times they graduated in. Interspersed
within the narrative are visuals of popular culture, music trends, and
significant socio-economic-political events relevant to the times of each
woman's life.
Sangita, a dancer of Czech-Nepali origin, journeys to Kathmandu to explore how
practitioners in the Himalayan Kingdom negotiate Nepal's dance traditions in a
period of rapid cultural change. In her attempts to map the current situation
of dance in Kathmandu valley, she encounters her own teachers as well as
younger dancers currently finding their way. Dancing Kathmandu tells stories of
nostalgia, passion, and survival through dance and dancers in the age of
globalization. 
