HR1529

LRB095 22477 KXB 52850 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Molly Melching on 
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her placement on the Danville High School Wall of Fame; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Molly Melching has lived in Senegal for the past 
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28 years; she has written and published books for the children 
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of Senegal, adapted to their culture and environment; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She created the non-governmental organization 
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Tostan, which means "breakthrough" in the Wolof language; the 
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mission of Tostan is to provide communities with skills 
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necessary for positive socioeconomic transformation, including 
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democracy, human rights, leadership, and problem-solving as 
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well as literacy, math, health, and management skills; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The program has been adopted by other countries, 
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such as Sudan, Burkina, Faso, Mali, and Guinea on an 
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experimental basis; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The program has helped reduce maternal and infant 
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health mortality rates; it has implemented successful and 
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sustainable income-generating activities for rural women; and 
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through the program progress has been made to end the tradition 
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of female genital cutting; and

 
 


 






HR1529
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LRB095 22477 KXB 52850 r




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    WHEREAS, Molly Melching was awarded the University of 
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Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Prize in 1999 and the Sargeant 
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Shriver Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service in 2002; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Molly Melching on her placement on the Wall of 
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Fame at Danville High School and thank her for her hard work 
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and dedication to the people of Senegal; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Molly Melching as a symbol of our respect and 
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esteem.