Nomination for World Pulse Spirit Awards, Ate Paulina Nayra

I am nominating Paulina Nayra, who is a mother, and a grandmother of two girls.  She is a social development worker engaged in training and advocacy on gender and women’s issues; civil society participation in governance and community-based response to violence against women. She is also a President of WEAVERS (Women Enablers Advocates and Volunteers for Empowering and Responsive Solutions).

Her work and advocacies revolve around empowering girls, women’s political and economic empowerment, environmental protection and sustainable evolution.

Her vision is a just and caring world where all women, men, and children can fulfill their rights and understand their dreams.

Her Abilities are to help design and deliver training on various issues on women's empowerment, community resilience, gender, and development.

I first ran across her online during our Ambassador Summit for Campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.  She strongly shares about the Republic Act No. 11313, the Safe Spaces Act of 2019, otherwise known as An Act Defining Danger Based Sexual Harassment in Streets, Public Spaces, Online, Workplaces, And Educational or Training Institutions, Providing Protective Measures And Prescribing Penalties. 

Paulina continues to share World Pulse not only with other NGO but also to women bakers of Roscas.  Roscas are local biscuits made of milk, flour, egg, lard, and anise.    She encouraged women who make these biscuits to compose their stories in their own dialect.

Paulina has been a member of World Pulse since 2010.  On March 8, 2019, she spearheaded a forum in partnership with the University of the Philippines, Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (UP-OASH); Environmental Management Bureau - Gender and Development Focal Point System (EMB - GAD FPS); to celebrate International Women’s Day with a theme, “Conversations on Women And Change”. 

She together with Karen Xalan and Stella Paul, World Pulse Global Lead Trainer commemorates Women’s day in Tacloban.

I admire how she contributes her knowledge of laws regarding women’s rights on Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children (VWAC) Act.    She knows the reason this law passed is that women like to share their problems with one another. A problem concerning women raises issues that eventually passes to a policy.

I am an ordinary citizen, and if I don’t recognize my rights as a woman, the law cannot protect me.  Paulina helps me understand these laws. 

Paulina in her post stories explained also some law vividly, which sometimes hard to understand, but through her post, it is easier to understand.  An example here is the Magna Carta of Women, which has specific provisions that will protect and promote the rights of Filipino girl children. 

Last March 27, World Pulse Philippines conducted a webinar on “Protecting Women’s Human Rights during the COVID19 lockdown.  Paulina was the speaker.  She emphasized that women have different needs and the lockdown will bring more harm to those who are living in violent homes where women and girls will be under the control of their abuser 24/7. She also cited the situation of the elderly widows, pregnant women who need prenatal care.

She also had a webinar on the Women with Disability in the Philippines, an educative session about the work of women with disabilities.

We need a leader like her so that every woman knows the laws and how we can be protected.  She remains to connect with women not only globally, but the women in the Philippines by her connection and knowledge and has the heart to share best practices of grassroots women that can inspire women to solve their own problems.  

Last November she was Featured Encouragers. She actively shares value thru her engagement with women.  Her statement and I quote:

“When I feel overwhelmed by work and personal stuff, I would log on to World Pulse and listen to stories of sisters.  I feel inspired and awed by the faith, persistence, and articulateness of sisters most of the time.  I encourage them. And without them knowing that by sharing their stories, they are contributing to my body of knowledge on the lived experiences of women and prompt me to serve more and better.  For this, I am truly grateful.” 

Ate Paulina has been actively attending Thriving Thursday since lockdown, despite her time. She continues to impart her knowledge on several webinars too.  I admire how she uses technology even when her internet failed her several times. She is an Ate who speaks what she believes. I proved this when I met her last March 2020, before lockdown. She is very passionate about making a difference when she travels and attends several seminars. The pandemic does not stop her to impart her knowledge and uses technology.

Paulina Nayra https://www.worldpulse.com/community/users/paulina-lawsin

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