My vision? A world in which all women and girls are given an opportunity to succeed. A world where the unique gifts and talents of women are appreciated, respected, and sought. I believe that when girls have what they need to succeed, they will. And then we all will. Education and dignity are key.
Girls are the greatest untapped resource know to humankind and many don’t know what they are capable of. Imagine if every girl on the planet was given a chance to contribute, to express herself. The economy of the world would be stronger, health outcomes would improve, and quality of life for families and communities would be elevated, including our own.
Educated women are more open to new technology. They stand up for themselves and for peace and our natural environment. They are better role models for their children. They use money intelligently and effectively. They experience freedom and dignity.
And this is not a women’s problem. It is a human rights issue. Gender Equality is a Sustainable Development Goal voted unanimously into the charter of the United Nations. This vision we share includes support from men, in fact, expects men to want to be in action to end the system that limits and diminishes women, often those they love.
This is why I do the work I do. This vision becomes real at Women To Be. This project, now a movement, began the instant I become galvanized by another woman’s story. It started from nothing, from an idea, from this vision I describe here and into the action needed to achieve it.
We are a small scrappy group, but our impact is great. In the future, I would like to see us expand our reach in Nepal, become better established in Mexican communities and consider other Southeast Asian countries. And now we have our eye on Kenya. The need is limitless and must be resupplied every three years, a daunting task.
With the help of many, many others with the same vision, it’s happening. I am grateful and in awe of our tireless volunteers, our committed international community partners, and the many governing bodies that share our vision. Someone more clever than me said, “The Future is Female”. It’s true.
