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- By ICUUW Staff
In ICUUW, we’ve been concerned with women’s mental health for some time. Depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are still often unspoken concerns, despite significantly impacting our overall well-being. These conditions are not gender-specific; they are global public health issues and the WHO has noted that globally, over 1 billion people are living with mental health conditions. Research has shown that women experience depression and anxiety at twice the rate of men. Every day, millions of women navigate stress, anxiety, grief, and trauma alone and in silence--without much support at home or outside, despite available resources. The situation is even more serious in remote and underserved communities, where professional services are scarce or carry significant social and cultural stigma.
In July 2021, we hosted an international roundtable of U*U women leaders discussing the losses and traumas generated by the COVID pandemic, offering coping and healing strategies for individuals and communities alike. Panelists included members from the Philippines, Romania, India and USA. This roundtable was taped and made available on our YouTube channel with the title Healing from Trauma across Cultures. Even five years after COVID, the strategies for coping are still good reminders.
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- By Rev Erika Orbán, Hungary
My parents were very careful about spending money. Yet, I never felt that we were poor—even though I often heard the word used at home. Today, as an adult, I understand why: through a proper alignment of values, a clear sense of priorities, and character built on self-discipline, our family’s inner compass ensured we had everything we truly needed.
As I write these lines, I do not know who will read them. I might not know you, the reader, personally. I might not know where you live, what you do, or what joys and hardships you are facing. Perhaps you belong to a Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist community, and perhaps we share similar views on humanity, God, the world, and our religious worldview. Perhaps... What is highly likely, however, is that you also earn your money through hard work and effort, and that you also think carefully about how you spend it.
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- By Szőcs Boróka
Boróka, originally from Transylvania, Romania, is a biologist and teacher, and the President of the Biomimicry Innovation and Education Association (Biomimicry Hungary). She has a strong background in community leadership and education. Her work focuses on fostering innovation and sustainability. Currently, she is on a world trip, exploring new perspectives and experiences. She sent this report from New Zealand.
There is a pink folder at the bottom of my closet – carefully stored. On the folder it says: Leadership 2014, Marosvásárhely. This was my first leadership training, at the age of just 16. The training had been organized by Nagy Gizella from UNOSZ, the Unitarian Women’s Organization in Romania, and ICUUW. Tina Huesing, current president of ICUUW, was one of the presenters. I remember the faces, the laughter, the confident voices – each of their stories shaped me in some way. Perhaps this was when I first began to truly understand the unique flow of women’s thinking and actions, and how it differs from the way men approach the world.
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- By Rev. Adél Nagy
Women's groups are the driving force behind the congregational activities in most Unitarian congregations in Transylvania. The organizational and operational life of UNOSZ has returned to normal after the pandemic and local women's groups have resumed their activities that span the church year. Women's work comprises different activities, such as celebrating Mardi Gras in February. Some groups organize costume parties, and they bake the traditional pánkó (doughnuts) or cook corn. Other activities during the year include Women's World Prayer Day in March, International Women's Day, and Easter activities, such as egg painting, as well as Mother's Day celebrations in May.
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- By Bartha Mária Zsuzsánna, President of MUNOSZ and Secretary of ICUUW
It is a joy to be together in person. After much correspondence, phone calls, and computer work, we were finally able to meet in person at our annual general meeting held on September 27. On this occasion, our Women's Association enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Budapest Unitarian Church. The male members of the local council cooked, and the young people served, in a charming manner. So we, the women, were able to meet peacefully in the sanctuary.