Kushe' Magazine Volume II December 2013 | Page 42

developing societies. Most African nations, which are typically male dominated nations, condone gender based inequality, violence, and other forms of marginalization in social and cultural practices that should never be questioned or challenged. As a result, prospective women in those regions have lagged behind significantly in all aspects of socioeconomic development. Through CGHF women will gain an understanding of their responsibilities and rights to utilize opportunities, overcome barriers, and gain access to information. CGHF group is a new grass-root movement that will support and promote African women through the following goals: • Engage committed women from all sectors globally to nurture and empower other women and girls who have been impacted by structural bureaucracy, war, traditional customs, poverty and diseases • Help develop and promote the talents, skills, knowledge and right of underserved women • Turn oppressions into opportunities to gain respect, recognition, support and training to be economically self- sufficient and assume leadership role in their communities CGHF is led by Alima Palmer, an expert in human services and clinical psychology. In 1999, Alima founded Heritage Youth and Family Programs and Services based in the Washington DC metropolitan area. As executive director, Alima’s organization services youth and newly arriving immigrant families with a wide number of programs including counseling, crisis intervention, immigration and adoption assessment, substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, translation and interpretation. 42