On November 18th, 2007, Pope Benedict, speaking from St. Peter's Square issued a call to ban all landmines. Benedict said, "These weapons, which continue to cause victims, including many children, should be completely banned.''
On November 20th, 2007, one of those children of which Benedict speaks, will take important steps towards a hopeful future. Vanna Min was just five years old in 1997, when she stepped on a land mine while feeding her father's chickens. The family had thought the area was safe. In the ensuing explosion, Vanna was tragically maimed, losing the bottom part of her right leg.
Now sixteen, Vanna will be arriving at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on November 20th on her first trip outside Cambodia. Accompanying her will be Sokhon Prak, a representative of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre who will act as her guide and interpreter. Vanna has been invited to take part in a Land Mine Conference organized by Global College, University of Winnipeg to take place from November 28th - 30th. The event will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty. Pushed through by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, then Foreign Minister and currently President of the University of Winnipeg, the Treaty was signed on December 3rd, 1997, just a few short months after Vanna had stepped on a land mine.
As part of the event, Canadian author Maria Almudevar-van Santen, will do a reading of the children's book she wrote about Vanna and her courageous struggle to learn to walk again. The book, Vanna's Dance, is illustrated by schoolchildren. Published by Trafford Publishing, it is a fundraising project. Part of the profits from sales of the book are donated to Adopt-A-Minefield and part are deposited into a fund set up for Vanna's education.
The young girl who wondered what would become of her is becoming an inspiration to others. The voice of this young land mine survivor will be heard clearly as she speaks for not only herself, but also for the hundreds of thousands of land mine victims, those who have survived and those who have not.
About the Global College Land Mine Conference
Global College, the vehicle for The University of Winnipeg's international initiatives, is dedicated to the development of global citizenship in our students and in the Winnipeg community. In keeping with the mandate to establish a succession planning approach to global issues such as the land mines ban, and to commemorate and celebrate this occasion, Global College, University of Winnipeg is planning a Land mines Action Week for November 28 - 30, 2007. www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/global-college-index
About the book:
For more information on the project visit www.vannasdance.com
Vanna's Dance: www.trafford.com/05-0751
French version: La danse de Vanna: www.trafford.com/05-0752
To arrange for an interview with Maria Almudevar - van Santen contact:
Annette Humphries
Tel: 877-412-4743 (toll free