Crown Princess Mary's Patronages and Charities

[Tarlita]

Thank you Muhler for your time and efforts it is much appreciated and gives us a good perspective of the visit.

[julliette]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Before leaving the clinic a somewhat surprised Mary was presented with and dressed in a local skirt and headscarf. (*) (Perhaps someone in the know, can tell us a little more about the outfits Mary was presented?) Then Mary posed a little shy for the photographers: “Shall I turn around”?

(*) Looking at the picture in the article I notice that the skirt Mary was dressed in, is in the exact same pattern as the tablecloth behind her….Well…

First of all, thanks Muhler for your wonderfu work translating the informations.

So, the outfits Mary received are very but very typical in Mozambique. They're called CAPULANA, the word capulana refers to the piece of cloth (usually a rectangular piece) with that specific print: the colourfull prints refer to culture of Moçambique. Capulanas may be worn in all the ways you can imagine, actually. The most typicall are obviously as skirts, headscarfes and a specific way to carry the babies with you (and is very pratical to leave your hands free), you can see a example of it in THIS pic where the woman on the left is using her capulana to hold her baby. This thing they do to carry the baby is called NENECA. You can see here (http://gramadavizinha.files.wordpres.../05/neneca.jpg) a woman doing a neneca with her capulana.
despite these 3 options being the most common, they give it many other uses, hence the tablecloth behind Mary....
A bit of history of the capulanas: the most common version is that they were brought to Mozambique from India by the portugueses who were the main responsible for introducing this kind of cloth in Africa (it is worn in other countries but each country has a different print). the cloth is not soft, it's actually quite rough but that is actually one of the advantages. Since it is not fragil, it lasts and lasts and his strong enough to carry babies (that sometimes are not that young so weight a bit).
The streets of Mozambique are full of people wering them (notice that men also wear it). They are very cheap, easy to find and because of their versatility are a very good option for poor women. But upper classes also wear them but more for fashion purposes.

I must say people from Mozambique are very proud of this piece of cloth that constitutes part of their identity as a country. I have many friends from Mozambique living here in Portugal and all the girls have many capulanas. Tradition say that in Mozambique every wooman should always carry one capulana in her bag.
I'm sure the woman were very proud of presenting Mary with a capulana.

well, google will help you to find more images about it:
https://www.google.com/search?q=capu...w=1280&bih=671


Hope you enjoyed the capulanas story

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler for your translations always appreciated.

Julliette, thanks for the very interesting information on the capulanas, I think Mary received a number of them, and was always proud to put them on. They are so colorful and lovely .

Also thanks to all that posted pics and links.

There have been so many wonderful pics on this trip, have really enjoyed them all, brings a smile to your face when looking at them. IMO this has been a fantastic trip - and really great job by Crown Princess Mary.

[gerry]

THANK YOU Muhler, for your wonderful translation of an important visit. I think you point out correctly that the Princess' visit is also meant to be an educational one, informing women that they DO have a choice in their relationships, thus empowering them to change their own lives for the better. The domestic abuse you describe indeed still exists all over the world and, I am convinced, only happens as the result of a cycle of disturbed relationships that can only be broken through education, such as the Crown Princess is providing in Mozambique. Bravo!

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by gerry

THANK YOU Muhler, for your wonderful translation of an important visit. I think you point out correctly that the Princess' visit is also meant to be an educational one, informing women that they DO have a choice in their relationships, thus empowering them to change their own lives for the better. The domestic abuse you describe indeed still exists all over the world and, I am convinced, only happens as the result of a cycle of disturbed relationships that can only be broken through education, such as the Crown Princess is providing in Mozambique. Bravo!

You said it perfectly Gerry
When i first ready that Mary was going to Mozambique i thought her trip would be similar to the one Frederik did to Mozambique last year which focused on harvest and wells?

Its was nice to see Mary focusing on these issues (women's reproductive rights and domestic abuse)

[Muhler]

You are welcome all of you

And a big bunch of to you Juliette for the interesting info on the capulanas.

[soraya]

Mulher,I want to thank you for all your translations on the Danish forums.
You must be spending so much time on this work ,I and certainly many other members are very grateful to you
Julliette,thank you for this very interesting informations.

It's nice that Mary is involved in such a cause.This will certainly not provide help for every women in Mozambique but its good if hundreds of them are helped.
Even the slightest efforts are appreciated.
I have always been upset to hear the situation of women suffering from fistula.
Fistula is a consequence of early pregnancies who are most of time favored by forced mariages of young girls.
Not only their lives is stolen by these forced early mariages but later on they are rejected by their husbands and in-laws because they are considered dirty.
Did Danemark provide a financial aid in that program?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by soraya

Mulher,I want to thank you for all your translations on the Danish forums.

Did Danemark provide a financial aid in that program?

You are welcome.

Yes, through DANIDA.

[fairy tale]

Mary og ministeren i Mozambique - YouTube

[UserDane]

Julliette, thank you for the interesting background information about capulana It's wonderful to come to these threads and benefit from all the facts and information that is posted here.

Muhler, you really are doing a great job with all your translations. I love how your translations trigger a lot of background information from non-Danish speakers

[Muhler]

Thanks for your kind words, UserDane

The great thing about TRF is indeed the interaction between the members and the exchange of information so that we all constantly learn something new.
It's also great that we can safely ask questions (there is no such thing as stupid questions, there are however stupid answers), because what is common knowledge to you may not be common knowledge to me.
But just as importantly is the occasional small-talk and banter that creates this warm, feel-good atmosphere that makes TRF a nice place to visit.
- And hopefully resulting in people out there thinking: "Hey, I wanna join in as well", knowing that they won't get their heads ripped off.

[Roskilde]

"Posted on november 13, 2012

I fredags ankom Kronprinsesse Mary til Maputo hvor hun, så vidt jeg har forstået, skal være i en uges tid. Alle danskere var fredag aften inviteret til velkomstreception på byens gamle fort, men både Tobias og jeg takkede nej. Folk siger dog, at det var en fin reception og at hun var enormt sød, smilende og langt smukkere i virkeligheden.
I løbet af weekenden besøgte Mary bydelen Mafalala, hvor vi bl.a. havde vores rabies outreach i august måned. Bydelen rummer godt og vel 20.000 indbyggere, hvoraf 95 % lever som det vi ville betegne som fattige."

When Mary's official program in Mozambique had ended she went on a private guided tour. I have found some pictures on a danish blog where the blogger writes about the life in Mozambique.

The blogger writes that all Danes Friday night were invited to a welcome reception at The Old Fort. The blogger didn't attend, but she writes that people say it was a great reception and that Mary was enormously sweet, smiling and beautiful. The blogger also writes that during the weekend Mary visited the district Mafalala. Mafalala is home to 20,000 people and she writes that 95% of these people live as we would describe as poor.


http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/378482_10151165530022979_1145684699_n.jpg
http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/15275_10151165530467979_1373703031_n.jpg
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184823_10151165530937979_855541978_n.jpg
http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557746_10151165526632979_546736879_n.jpg
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/533906_10151165527972979_105444543_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/536475_10151165531217979_1066904951_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561599_10151165530662979_523432450_n.jpg

[polyesco]

thank you Roskilde

Mary sure looks friendly and easy to approach. A great attitude

[Roskilde]

I know that Mary's travel to Mozambique is over, but BT has uploaded this video
http://www.bt.dk/danmark/mary-og-min...n-i-mozambique

[Muhler]

Mary's visit to Mozambique continues and it's pretty extensive so this will be divided into three posts.
First about the very frank exchange Mary had with local youths about sex.

Then the reporter Ulrik Ulriksen's personal impressions.

And finally an interview with Mary. As Mary is not in the habit of using one-liners when she has a message to bring across, it will take quite a while to deal with that interview! - So patience.

Summary of an article in Billed Bladet 47, 2012.
Mary gik lige til sagen - Mary went straight to the point.
Written by our Africa correspondent Ulrik Ulriksen

The meeting with the youths took place in a high school in the capital of Maputo.

Mary went straight to the core of the issue: "Why don't men use condoms"?

A young man replied: "To a guy sex is something special and the question should perhaps rather be addressed to the woman. Why can't girls just refuse to have sex with men, who don't use condoms"?

To that Mary smiled, shook her head and raised her finger. (There's a charming picture of her doing that in the article). Clearly showing she didn't agree that it was the woman's responsibility. (*)

A female student said: "We simply have to convince men to use condoms. When I have sex with my boyfriend he takes the condom off at then, just before he ejaculates and that doesn't work".

That started a lively debate among the 100 students present and it was actually scehduled to end here but Mary wanted to stay: "I'd like to hear (she probably said learn) a lot more".

An adult woman said: "Married women are financially dependent of their husbands and dare not deny them sex without condom. That's unfair and scary".
Another, also adult, woman commented: "I can't know if my husband is having something on the side with another woman, and then I don't want to have unprotected sex with him".
That made Mary and those present to stand up and applaud.

Then She stood up and addressed those present: "Education is the key and it's important to be able to choose for yourself. We are going to teach you about all sorts of prevention and we women must decide over our own bodies. You as well educated youths have a big responsibillity. You must pass on your knowledge to other less well educated and out in the rural districts. You must tell what you know. That you must use condoms. It's a shared responsibillity between men and women. But a condom is not the only form of prevetion. (**)
If you are in s secure and long-lasting relationship then the Pill and forms of prevention are also applicable.
By using a condom you not only protect yourselves. You also protect your common future. You are the new generation and you must remember your responsibillity.
Thanks for the nice chat. I've enjoyed meeting you".

On the way out Mary said this to our reporter: "It made a strong impression on me that the young students were so frank and honest in their way to speak. It's good that they can speak openly about such a subject.
They can have a discussion about very life-essential rights which can ensure the future of them and the entire country. There is not enough knowledge about this subject, so I hope there will be more discussion-foras like this in this country. It's among the young that the battle must be fought and won, so that you for example can avoid more unwanted pregnancies".

(*) In the light of the very frank exchange of views presented here I'll venture out and offer a very brief male explanation for men not wishing to use condoms.
We men are basically testicles with legs. - That's what we are here for, that's the purpose of our existance.

(**) It's on purpose I use the word prevention rather than birth control as this is just as much about preventing sexually transmitted deseases.


Translation of the personal impressions by Ulrik Ulriksen and the photographer, Hanne Juul, who went to Mozambique with Mary.

We had a positive (as in pleasant) shock.

Billed Bladet's reporters and photographers have followed Crown Princess Mary all over the globe and experienced her speaking to large assemblies about significant subjects.
But never have we experienced a Crown Princess who performed so strongly as in Mozambique. Mary's behaviour on her last mission/job/task in Mozambique was a shocking experience in the very most positive way.
It was refreshing and important that the Crown Princess in her extremely direct and utterly new way to communicate efficiently utillized her potential as intermidiary of knowledge, opinion-maker and as a strong woman on a long and to many people life-important mission.
It suited the Crown Princess to speak in the language of the young and to deliver her opinion without any form of royal etiquette-wrapping. In that way the message went straight home for everybody and at the same time it seemed like the Crown Princess enjoyed to leap out of the polished crown-princess-role for a brief moment and go directly to the point without speaking waffle (i.e. speaking like Sir Humphery from Yes, Minister) or being instructional and aothoritarian. Mary seemed to enjoy the present and acted like an ordinary Danish woman and mother of four. who spoke to Mozambiquan women and men too about a local and global problem. And in that way she won the respect of the Africans and a couple of Danish press-people.

[julliette]

Originally Posted by Muhler

(*) In the light of the very frank exchange of views presented here I'll venture out and offer a very brief male explanation for men not wishing to use condoms.
We men are basically testicles with legs. - That's what we are here for, that's the purpose of our existance.

you made my day Muhler

[gerry]

Originally Posted by julliette

you made my day Muhler

Wonderful translation as always, Muhler; glad that Mary made such a strong impact on the girls of Mozambique. I also think that her words will impact Denmark and, indeed, all who read her message. Thank you as well for your very forthright explanation about men and condoms with which you create an image that will be hard to forget!

[Muhler]

Excerpts from article in Billed Bladet #48, 2012.
Mary er helt unik - Mary is utterly unique.
Written by our Africa correspondent Ulrik Ulriksen.

It's no secret that the current governemnt put aide up among the top most priorities - even above the needs of the citizens here in DK some critics may argue.
And this is what the Minister for Developement, Christian Friis Bach has to say about Mary and her role during the recent visit to Mozambique.

"Crown Princess Mary is utterly unique. She has a fantastically strong profile and she makes a difference in regards to the struggle for women's rights and repreductive health. We have seen that during the trip to Mozambique. It is the second time the Crown Princess and I travel together with the message that womens should have the right to decide how many children they want.
First in New York where we delievered the message in UN and then in Mozambique.
I think we have a good co-operation, the Crown Princess and I, we supplement each other well and (we) also have a sense for when we can help each other, when we stand there in front of 500 people, who wait for us to say something. I'm very pleased with that co-operation. The Crown Princess kick in the door and I walk in trhough the open door and deliver the message".

In the article Christian Friis Bach claims that he (the government) was very much behind giving Mary the current status as member of the High Level Task Force. Reminicent of the position the late Princess Diana had, albeit in a more modern and Danish version.

"I was very active in regards to including the Crown Princess in the high-level panel the High Level Task Force, which she became a part of when we were in New York and which she has also represented in Mozambique. That was something the Crown Princess and I discussed in a meeting we had and that she accepted the proposal and the invitation I think is grand. I'm very proud of that on behalf of Denmark.
High Level Task Force was something I in particular had to find a strong Danish representative for and then I had the idea that we could ask the Crown Princess.
I'm very proud of effort she delivers. It's incredibly grand. And that is something that places Denmark nice and strongly on the agenda where we already help as much as we can all over the world.
Women's rights is indeed an utterly central subject in regards to repoductive health. It's very central for Danish developement-policy and in that regards we cannot get a stronger voice than the Crown Princess".

Christian Friis Bach, Folketinget - Christian Friis Bach (RV)
is a member of the most influential government party, the Radicals.
The Radicals are republicans or at least don't see much point in having a monarchy - except when it suits their political interests.
If I were to guess what party Mary would vote for, depending on her actions, background and what she has stood up for, I believe she would vote Radical.

There was something about an interview last week, I must confess I haven't translated a single word yet. - You know, life is in the way.

My pleasure, gerry & Juliette.

[polyesco]

It seems to me Mary is winning over the Republicans

"I think we have a good co-operation, the Crown Princess and I, we supplement each other well and (we) also have a sense for when we can help each other, when we stand there in front of 500 people, who wait for us to say something. I'm very pleased with that co-operation. The Crown Princess kick in the door and I walk in trhough the open door and deliver the message".
this is a nice quote and Im sure Frederik will say the same about him and Mary on their joint events

[Muhler]

Excerpts from interview in Billed Bladet #47, 2012.
Interviewer: Ulrik Ulriksen.

Q: What has been the main purpose of the trip to Mozambique?
M: "The purpose is to put forcus on reproductive rights and healt. Women must have opportunities to dicide how many children they want and when they want their children. They should also have access to safe conditions when they give birth".

Q: Do you think you have achieved the purpose?
M: "Yes, certainly, because we have managed to direct attention towards the problem. It's necessary that something is done in Mozambique.
The local projects, among others, do make a difference. For example, the women who learn to drive ambulances help promote egality and break down prejudices about all that women can't do. The DANIDA project that has helped women in this country to get a mans-job, is a good project.
So too are the projects that have been started in order to help the young in Mozambique in protecting themselves against HIV and too early pregnancies, they are important projects. Even though they are based locally.
There are also way too few health clinics in Mozambique. We have shed light on that problem as well. There are only 65 for every 100.000 people and the acceptable figure is 234, so a lot is missing. That's why it's important that Denmark continues the fruitful co-operation we have with the government of Mozambique".

Q: How was it to meet the suffering women who are fistula-patients on Beira Central Hospital?
M: "Fistula is a very, very isolating condition and it's a condition that in many ways puts focus on the many problems here in MOzambique. Fistula shows that there is something wrong with the healtcare system in Mozambique.
It begins with that you while young haven't been informed about prevention and pregnancy and that you are simply too immature to give birth. The young women perhaps live out in a village and then they have to give birth.
It may be a long drawn out affair lasting three days and then you may, in the very last minute have to go to a clinic far away from the village. And by then the fistula-condition may already have set in.
The baby will die in many cases at the same time as the condition sets in. And then the woman will simply be ostracized and isolated.
Something that really struck me is that it is almost acceptable that the man who is father of the child, that has died in connection will all this, he can simply say - You've got fistula, goodbye!
And the women who are abandoned are left with a life in total isolation. That group of women are so much exposed in this country, but now women to a higher degree than before can go through surgery.
On the other hand we don't know what happens when they come home from the hospital. Are they met with open arms or are they still ostracized?
And that's where we have to set in, so these women can get re-integrated in their local society and become active citizens. But changes takes time".

Q: Why is it important to tell very young teenage women in Denmark about the importance of fighting for the sexual rights of African women?
M: "If you as a woman stop for a moment and try to imagine that you have never been told anything about where babies come from, and what a man has between his legs, and how you contract AIDS and other sexually transmitted deseases.
If you think that it was like that, imagine how difference your life would be as a woman and man too for that matter. And that's good starting point for Danish young girls to try and put themselves into the situation young Africans are or can be in.
In Africa you don't know about your sexual rights either and that you should decide for yourself over your own body, and that you must stand up yourself against sexual abuse".

Q: How will you follow up on the Mozambique visit and what is your next big project?
M: "I can't with 100 % certainty say what my next project is, but all what I have experienced in Mozambique can help support my work in general, but also specifically in my work in the High Level Task Force, which is an international organisation focusing on reproductive health and womens rights.
Now I can better pass on what really takes place and then I go home being even more motivated and determined to ensure women get the right to decide over their own bodies.
It's simply a becessity to create developement. This subject I will keep working with and to me that is the core in fighting poverty globally".

- This contitutes about a quarter of the interview. Mary is not a woman to be brief in interviews, but what she has to say makes sense and itøs interesting.

What is also interesting is to reflect over Mary's life now. She has reached the stage where she is now an experienced royal, setteled in her role. From that position she from now on can use the rest of her life to genuinely make a difference, however little or how much it will eventually turn out to be.
The rest of us usually only have few opportunities throughout our lives to really make a big difference.
Many who have the chance Mary has, don't use it.