About Us
WE'VE MOVED!
Dear Dalit Freedom Advocate and Partner,
I have just returned from Berlin, West Germany, after the official launch of Dalit Freedom Network Germany with Mr. Wolfgang Schwarz as the DFN Director. We attended the 15th Berlin International Gathering of politicians and leaders and were able to present a summary account of the triumphant first decade of the Dalit Freedom Movement. Yes, we are into our tenth year, and we can only thank our God and, of course, all of you for the incredible victories and milestones in what is now a worldwide Dalit emancipation movement.
Before flying into Berlin, I was with Dr. Ana Aspras Steele, the new President since last November of DFN USA. She is an amazing answer to prayer for our movement. Dr. Steele taught at Harvard University for 10 years, eight and a half of these at Harvard Law. She also brings to DFN vast intercultural experience and 10 years of international missions expertise that came out of her position at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in the Missions Department, where she ultimately served as Missions Director.
I first met Ana in Fort Lauderdale in 2005 at a briefing where I spoke, and as soon as she heard about the plight of the Dalits, especially Dalit children and women, she knew God was calling her to this movement. Ana served as our Washington, D.C. Director for two years becoming our Executive President; and then the U.S. Board appointed her as President of DFN last year.
Ana is a passionate leader for the cause of Dalit Justice and a gifted communicator on the issue of Dalit Freedom.
She ably led her team of DFN Social Justice Advocates and was instrumental in much of our success in Washington and in getting the issue of Dalit Freedom in front of U.S. lawmakers. We are thankful to God for House Concurrent Resolution 139 passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2007.
We have always had the dream to be located in Washington, D.C. as a Dalit advocacy movement. Finally, now, we have moved to D.C. Our new headquarters is: 631 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E. Suite 2, Washington, D.C. 20003.
Our new number is 202-375-5000.
We are thankful to all our Denver friends who gave us the support and help as we launched DFN in the USA. Without doubt, we are thankful to each one of you as we complete the first decade of the movement.
Just think: we will be into our 100th Dalit Education Centre (Schools) in India with nearly 20,000 children freed, empowered, educated in English-medium instruction, and equipped to be the leaders of this generation. The Andhra Pradesh State Government becomes the first Government to give us subsidized land for 5 of our schools.
Ten years into the movement, thousands of women and children across India are being freed from the evils of human trafficking. We have launched our biggest effort with our motto for this decade: End Dalit Trafficking, Make Slavery History. Our healthcare initiative is in 50 of our centres and impacting over 1,000 villages and communities and the lives of women, men, and children. We begin work on our nursing and community health workers’ college this year.
Our advocacy work for true Dalit Freedom continues as strong as ever. Dalit Freedom Networks are now fully operational also in Canada and the UK, and offices are opening in Australia and a number of other nations this year. The issue of human trafficking, especially Dalit trafficking, is acknowledged by the Indian Government, which is seeking how best to tackle this monumental problem that directly and indirectly involves 100 million Indians.
Well into our tenth year of the movement I continue to believe that Dalit Freedom in our generation is indeed possible, that this long standing system of discrimination will come to an end, and 250 million Dalits will find true and lasting freedom and experience the Kingdom of God.
Thank you for joining us in this journey of freedom.
Dr. Joseph D’souza
International President
Dalit Freedom Network
Partnership is a core value for DFN.
We believe that partnering with individuals and organizations around the world that share our commitment to justice and freedom for the Dalits accomplishes greater work, establishes accountability, strengthens our advocacy voice, and results in additional resources.
Our major partners are Operation Mercy India Foundation (OMIF; formerly Operation Mercy Charitable Corporation), the All India Christian Council (aicc), and the All-India Confederation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Organizations (SC-ST Conferedation). These long-standing partners in India make up an expansive network of national workers who provide the expertise and power to implement highly successful programs in Dalit communities. We also operate within a broad coalition of U.S. and international partners committed to Dalit freedom.
Mission Statement
The Dalit Freedom Network partners with the Dalits in their quest for freedom, justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, intellectual, and financial resources.
