Forward Young Girls Out Of Poverty
Hey Rebellious Ones,
I want to introduce you to some courageous girl rebels at Girl Effect. It’s “normal” in developing countries to marry or sell young girls by the tender age of 12, who often die during childbirth. Unfortunately, girls are often seen as a financial liability to their families. (The underlying cultural problem.) We can get all mad about it and stomp our designer shoes over here, but it would be more effective to step up on our bare tippy toes to start the wave of change here we want to see over there.
Let me introduce you to Anita from India — a brave girl who broke from convention (you go girl!) and went on a hunger strike to get her parents to send her to school. What spirit and spunk Anita has … She refused to take “no” for an answer.
She was the first girl in her caste to go to school.
She was the first girl in her village to go to college.
Now she has her own business.
After seeing her, all the girls in her village started to go to school.
She wants to hear from us — to help the other 600 million girls who need a chance.
Listen to Anita first hand
Want to join me in finding a way to contact her?
I’d like to start the program: Sponsor a Girl In A Developing Country — with Anita’s help, if she’s willing. Anita could help match female business owners up with girls who need a helping hand out of their impoverished circumstances. I’d like to help them directly. Sometimes donated monies get diverted into the wrong pockets (witness Haiti) before they can make their way into the hands of the people who actually need the help. Can’t think of a better way to pay it forward, then to forward these young girls out of poverty.
In Bangladesh, $60 would buy a young girl a cow so she can start a business. (That’s equal to about two trips to the chain pharmacy down the street to buy more stuff you’ll end up jamming into your already overstuffed medicine cabinet.)
Let’s make the wishes of more girls like Anita come true because it helps all of us … Let’s be the wave of change we want to see here, there and everywhere. Ready to stand up and wave your arms up over your head so those waves join with other waves until they reach girls like Anita? Please leave a comment if you’d like to support or even join me … All ideas welcomed!
Muse thx, Giulietta
p.s. if you’d like to read what other bloggers have to say about the Girl Effect or want to add your own link to a post, dash on over to the fabulous Tara Sophia Mohr’s site. She’s the change-maker organizing this blogging campaign.
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Great post, Giulietta. You’ve got that right — we can be the change we want to see by focusing on supporting young girls everywhere. Thank you for this.
BTW globalgiving has many Girl Effect programs already set up. Here’s their link to ones in India and Bangladesh: http://www.globalgiving.org/girleffect/learn-more/india-bangladesh/
Hi Anastasia,
Thanks for the giving GE link. Just checked it out. $45 goes a long way! G.
proud to be connected to you in this effort, mission, yahoo giving to girls!
Thanks Jennifer! We’ve got connections of girls all over the place … G.
Hi Giulietta! Wonderful post. I can tell from your writing you have much energy and strength. It is such an amazing thing that the people at GE are doing and I’m glad to at least be a little part of getting the word out. Thank you for going to my site and commenting on my post. That’s the great thing about women — the ways we can support each other. We need those girls to grow up healthy and strong and join the conversation 🙂
Eli,
I’m happy we met via Tara! Yes, let’s invite girls (and boys) everywhere into the circle so they can have a say. I’m a huge circle fan — we all have an equal say.
Thx, G.
Humanizing the idea of the girl effect with one woman’s story is a wonderful way to share the message. Great post, Guilietta. I’m also proud to be sharing in this campaign with you today. Much love.
Hi Katie,
Humanizing the GE story. Like how you put that. (Didn’t even realize I’d done that. Anita’s strength just jumped out at me! She could be prez …)
Thank you! G.
Giulietta, thanks for spreading the word about what we can do to help young girls grow up to a full life where they have the power to make the important choices.
Hey John,
Understanding we have power really makes a difference! Thx, G.
This is absolutely excellent. Thank you so much for writing it.
Appreciate the visit and kind words! G.
I love this project! Anita’s story was probably my “favorite,” too, because it so fully demonstrates the hope and possibility wrapped up the the Girl Effect.
A loud amen to this: “Can’t think of a better way to pay it forward, then to forward these young girls out of poverty.”
Hi Kristin,
Anita has a HUGE fan club among our bloggers. She’s a terrific role model for anyone of any age! thx, G.
How amazing is Anita? Yes, I too watched all of those videos, and it was their tenacity – their belief that life could be – IS – better another way that brought me to my knees.
It’s wonderful to connect with you, Giulietta. Keep doing the thing. 🙂
Hi Ming-Zhu,
Anita brought us all together! She’s quite powerful. Thx, G.
It’s a great reminder that knowledge is power and it levels the playing field. Everybody should get a chance at their best life.
Hi J.D.,
It’s time for the world to embrace what you say here, “Everybody should get a chance at their best life.” There’s some weird fear about doing this — that too many of us will lose. Think it’s the opposite, we’ll all win. G.
I just added my blog post to the many fantastic posts here… I admire your idea! I would love to be involved!
Hey Julie!
I will read your post as well. Glad you like the idea. I’ll keep you informed. Maybe we can get a bunch of cows! thx, G.
Giulietta,
I appreciate how you do everything with passion and conviction. Your approach to this issue is no surprise to me.
I also LOVE JD’s words: “Everybody should get a chance at their best life.” Thx, P.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the kind words! Yes, J.D.’s got it right. Why can’t we all get the chance? What a world that would be! G.
Always love your spirit, Giulietta! I’m ready to wave my arms too…or as you also said, so very well: “We can get all mad about it and stomp our designer shoes over here…” I choose to do something about it over there, in my adopted home of Turkey. Proud to join you in blogging about the girl effect. Time to be useful!
Catherine,
You say it all, “Time to be useful.” We spend a lot of time & energy talking about how to fix things when we could just fix them! I’m going to buy some girl a cow this year! My quest for next week. Will check out your blog too! Thx, G.
Giulietta: What a great post. I totally agree with what J.D. said … everyone should get a chance at their best life. I would love to join in on what you are doing. Thanks for bringing this story to my attention.
Hi Sibyl,
I’ll keep you informed on my progress toward getting in touch with Anita for buying a couple of cows for some of these girl entrepreneurs (or whatever else they need.) Thanks for the support!
Giulietta