The Hallowian - Volume I 2021 - Flipbook - Page 29
engendered in her a sense of
sisterhood and social justice for
those who are marginalised. For
Dorcas, All Hallows’ developed her
understanding of different cultural
issues and perspectives.
International
Women’s Day 2021
AHSisters Choose to Challenge
On Friday 5 March 2021, over 200
guests celebrated International
Women’s Day (IWD) at the Past
Pupils’ Association’s breakfast,
held at The Warehouse, Fortitude
Valley.
The IWD theme, ‘Choose to
Challenge’, was highlighted by
inspiring past pupils, Dorcas
Tuyishmere (Class of 2017) and
Jill Stockwell (Class of 1986),
in conversation with Channel 9
journalist and presenter Aislin
Kriukelis (O’Connor) (Class of
2002), as they shared stories of
women’s courage, strength and
resilience in the face of injustice.
Dorcas reflected on her birthplace
of war-torn Rwanda, the
experience of fleeing at night
when she was only four years old
with her mother to neighbouring
Uganda, and the challenges of
daily life there. Dorcas and her
family arrived in Australia as
refugees in 2009, and she spoke
of her first impressions of her new
country as a nine-year-old, and the
challenges of learning English and
adjusting to a new culture.
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The Hallowian | 2021
Dorcas is currently studying a
Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor
of Behavioural Science at the
Queensland University of
Technology with an aspiration to
improve mental health among
young people in her community.
https://youtu.be/9qp8oEht26Y
The new event format was very
well received, featuring long
tables and an express breakfast to
accommodate women’s busy lives,
facilitate networking and create a
lively atmosphere.
May we follow the example of
Dorcas and Jill and ‘choose to
challenge’ the many forms of
injustice in our community, our
country and our world.
A video of the event is available
here.
Jill is Transformation Manager
and Deputy Head of the Central
Tracing Agency at the International
Committee of the Red Cross, with
rich experience in the fields of
transitional justice, humanitarian
diplomacy and community
development in diverse parts of
the world.
Jill spoke passionately about her
experiences working with women
and children fleeing violence and
human rights abuses in conflict
zones such as the Republic of
Congo and Kosovo. She highlighted
women’s important roles in
keeping families together and
transmitting intergenerational
memories and unofficial histories,
particularly regarding family
disappearances.
Jill’s time at All Hallows’
2021 | The Hallowian
27