International Collaboration

"I look forward to seeing how the week unfolds as the students share their unique cultures and experiences and continue to collaborate on such an important topic for women around the world."S. Eileen Reilly

March 12, 2018

Representatives from five continents will join Sister Eileen Reilly, director of the SSND UN-NGO Office, as part of the School Sister's of Notre Dame delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The delegates, who come from Kenya, Austria, Japan, Brazil and the United States, are students and staff from six SSND-sponsored secondary schools as well as Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Student-developed infographic about the status of women in Japan.

This year, the UN-CSW will consider the "Empowerment of Rural Women and Girls." To prepare for this event, the Japanese students developed an infographic about the status of women in Japan; one of the students from a rural area in Brazil surveyed her neighbors; another urban Brazilian student visited a rural school and arrived with over thirty letters from the students in that school sharing what girls there need to be truly empowered.

Celebrating the diversity of their cultures, the students shared with each other about their country and explained the origin and symbolism of their flags. From left to right: Austria, Kenya, Brazil, Japan, United States.

The New York City based Working Group on Girls with which Sister Eileen collaborates has also prepared a statement for the Commission, entitled "Girls: Breaking Barriers." The statement details the barriers that often make life a challenge for rural girls.

"It is inspiring to attend the UN-CSW this year with such a diverse, international student delegation," Sister Eileen said. "I look forward to seeing how the week unfolds as the students share their unique cultures and experiences and continue to collaborate on such an important topic for women around the world."


Meet Our Delegates

Lorena is 15 years old and from Northeast Brazil. She has a ten year old little brother and a dog. In her free time, she enjoys watching and reading the Harry Potter series. This is her first time in the United States, and her favorite part of New York City is all of the new and different people. In the future, she hopes to study law and to be able to teach little kids.


Luiza is 16 years old from São Paulo, Brazil. She attends Colégio Nossa Senhora das Dores - São Paulo. She likes Korean pop, especially the group, BTS, which her friend recommended. While she has only studied English for four years, she is very good at speaking the language.