Community….a word we hear so often these days whether it’s referring to geography or the online arena, however a community can be a powerful body. Generally it refers to a group of people unified by a number of circumstances or situations such as: geography, resources, beliefs, needs, resources, risks, intent and even preferences. Many times we find ourselves members of a variety of communities and mostly because it is our choice and for a variety of reasons some of those listed above.
About 380 km outside of Nairobi, in the Samburu district of Kenya, there you will find a tiny village unified by all of the circumstances listed above with one more…survival. The name of this village? Umoja, Kiswahili meaning “Unity”, founded by a group 16 homeless women on an unwanted field of dry grasslands in the early 90s .Rebecca Lolosoli is the matriarch of this village unwaivering in her determination to fight for human rights and the end of female genital mutilation (FGM). She’s suffered beatings and death threats yet her desire and determination remain constant. Today, Umoja is financially independent and a safe haven for women in the region. However, the Samburu men in the region are still a threat, in August of 2009, the husband of Rebecca Lolosoli attacked the village chasing women from their homes and threatening them with a gun. Witnesses say he was threatening to kill Lolosoli but she was not home.
Rebecca Lolosoli is passionate about the Samburu women and the community of Umoja, she’s a strong inspiring leader committed to changing the culture to one of respect. Community leaders/organizers of this caliber are hard to find in this day and age, and in my mind Rebecca Lolosoli is one of the best. She’s uniquely authentic and the perfect person to honor as we close out the week that started with International Women’s Day. She’s a remarkable example of the fact that you don’t need wealth to become a change agent, you need passion,determination and commitment.
Today, in honor of International Women’s Day, I thought who better to highlight than one of the bravest women I know who has made a tremendous impact on me. Her courage, and entrepreneurial spirit is a testimony that all things are possible if you believe, work hard and never ever give up on your dream.
Mukhtaran Mai – I’ve mentioned Mukhtar Mai before, her story of triumph and determination always moves me. Her brother was falsely accused of fornication. She went to court to argue on his behalf and was sentenced to the most severe form of humiliation in her culture. In the eyes of her family and village her destiny was suicide. However and most importantly not in her eyes, she stood up to her attackers and demanded prosecution. The Pakistani government gave her $8300 compensation and she used that along with money from other donors to build a primary school for girls. The story doesn’t end there, she’s also built a high school for girls, runs a school for boys, she bought a van for the schools that is also the village ambulance and she has a herd of dairy cows that generate an income and help her maintain the schools. And in March of 2009….she married. I’m really in awe of this woman as when she set out to start the primary school she was unable to read and write and enrolled herself. While I think Mukhtaran Mai’’s story is tragic, it’s my hope that in the years to come that she is known for her leadership, entrepreneurship, courage, and the sheer goodness she has brought to Meerwala.
Mukhtar Mai’s story has had a profound impact on me personally in ways that I still struggle to put into words. I am currently working on a plan to put action behind the impact and to thank Mukhtar Mai….stay tuned as I will share that here.
So now it is your turn….is there a woman in your life who has had an unexpected profound impact? What’s the cause and effect of that impact? I’d love to hear your story and hers!
Last week I had an interesting conversation with two friends about our vision. Our conversation was centered around who wears contacts, whether we are near sighted or far sighted. Each one of us has different vision challenges. That conversation got me to thinking about the lens through which we view the world, and how all three [...]
Yesterday was an exquisite February day in Atlanta, the sun was shining, it was unseasonably warm, even the birds were singing. So I grabbed my dogs, Keely and Rainier, and we headed out to the dog park. I was sure that it would be packed because of how beautiful the day was, but my dogs [...]
Yesterday, that’s the challenge 50 entrepreneurs accepted at Start Up Riot, hosted at The Fox Theatre. This event is one, in a series of events in Atlanta, designed to showcase and fuel the start up community. As a native of Atlanta, I thought The Fabulous Fox, as we affectionately refer to it, was the perfect backdrop for this [...]
At first glance, Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya is a peaceful beautiful safari park. It’s best known for the thousands and sometimes millions of flamingos that make their home along the shore. Recently, the park was enlarged so it could provide sanctuary for more than 25 black rhinos. Overlooking Lake Nakuru is a picnic [...]
“Furious activity is no substitute for understanding.” H.H. Williams
All successful marketing efforts, (whether they are online, word of mouth, direct mail, you name it) have one thing in common. It’s so simple and yet so often overlooked and as hard as it is to believe intentionally ignored. And yet it’s the one ingredient that can [...]
This week I’ve been glued to all the news related to the situation in Haiti. The images and news coming out of Port of Prince have been heartbreaking. These tragedies remind us that things can change in the blink of an eye. While I’ve been moved by the tragedy of the situation, I’ve also been [...]
Did you know that:
- Every 30 minutes, an Afghan woman dies during childbirth
- 87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate
- 30 percent of girls have access to education in Afghanistan
- 1 in every 3 Afghan women experience physical, psychological, or sexual violence
- 44 years is the average life expectancy rate for women in Afghanistan
So here we are at the doorstep of a New Year, a new chapter, new beginnings. The promise of a New Year always makes us hopeful and in my case excited to see the twists and turns the New Year will bring. As I’m getting ready tonight to spend the evening with my dearest friends, [...]
Community….a word we hear so often these days whether it’s referring to geography or the online arena, however a community can be a powerful body. Generally it refers to a group of people unified by a number of circumstances or situations such as: geography, resources, beliefs, needs, resources, risks, intent and even preferences. Many times we find ourselves members of a variety of communities and mostly because it is our choice and for a variety of reasons some of those listed above.
