This Saturday at 6pm, the #HopeForOurGirls All Night Vigil will take place in Assiniboine Park. Attendance by all is welcome, for the entirety of the night, or just an hour.
We gather to offer solidarity and love to the families of the 200 plus girls who were stolen from their schools in Nigeria.
There are several ways that you can participate:
At the Vigil:
- Come and wear red
- Take moments of silence in honour of the stolen girls
- Sing songs of love and hope
- Make music, calling our girls home. Acoustic instruments welcome
- Take time to reflect, and if desired, pray
- Read sacred text/read poetry
- Express hope and empathy through journaling or sketching. Share if you are able
- Take time to share a prayer, poem or story of hope
- Build relationships with the people around you
- Bring small lights to hold, symbolizing our hope (candles will be provided)
- Feel your emotions. Be open to what the experience brings and meditate on how you are connected to the events and issues at hand.
- Make a sign to express your solidarity and care, remembering that we are gathered in support and love. All signage must reflect our non-violent and respectful approach. We do not wish to give terrorism an audience. Hate and slander will not be tolerated. See below for some thematic slogan suggestions. Be creative with your own.
- Standing In Solidarity/Hope
- Bring Back Our Girls
- #SolidLove
- #HopeForOurGirls
- Have Courage Nigeria
- With not Without
- Parents, Be Strong
- One Earth One Family
- Remember our humanity. These girls are our global sisters and daughters. They are loved, needed, and have a right to life without fear!
- Invite other people into meaningful conversation
- Find symbolic ways to show solidarity
- After the vigil, share your experiences with your home communities. Continue living in a way that offers solidarity and empathy
At Home:
- Like those at the vigil, make an effort to wear red for the day
- During the vigil hours this next weekend, take time to write expressions hope and solidarity on the vigil facebook wall.
- Use social media tags #HopeForOurGIrls, #BringBackOurGirls to invite others into solidarity
- Take a moment of silence personally or with your community to remember the taken girls
- Offer prayers of protection for the girls
- Take small measures in your life to be connected to the global community both in knowledge and in heart. Follow the girls’ story in the news. Reach out to understand that we are people defined by how we do relationship and how we love.
- After the vigil, share your experiences with your home communities. Continue living in a way that offers solidarity and empathy
We hope to see you there!
For more info and for continued updates, see the #HopeForOurGirls Vigil facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/events/613503495413181/
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