Women's Equality Day!!! August 26

I had the idea to have a special event for the local middle school and high school girls for Women's Equality Day which Rajan was wonderful in making happen.

After school the girls gathered at Buddhas Smile School. 35 beautiful girls showed up and each had in hand the writing assignment I had given. They each wrote five things they like about themselves or are proud of. To help break the ice, I had a girl pick a random name from a cup so she would have to say something nice about that girl and then she would have to say something nice in return. Since teenager girls from any part of the word can be catty or into their little cliques, I thought this would help them see each other in a positive light. After each girl spoke, we all gave her a round of applause. This seemed to boost their confidence in speaking in front of the crowd and they would have the biggest smiles. 

I spoke to them, with Rajan translating, on the importance of supporting each other. Also made a point to mention that they receive enough teasing from the locals in their villages about going to school or not being married so they can make a difference in each other's lives by not teasing each other about other things at school. If they want to make changes in the world then they must stick together and uplift one another. Rajan also told them that God did not give them less ability just because they are girls, God made all full of potential no matter what the community says. 

When discussing the issues they face as young women trying to get an education, one girl named Jyoti said, "We are not free, there is no freedom for us; but at school we are not a burden. At school we can have hope"

Another girl said that in the village they can not hold their head high but must look down when walking because they have no authority or power there. They constantly get harassed about not being married and their mothers receive criticism as well.

As the girls spoke I was moved by their words and decided to walk over to each and every one to give them a hug. Since hugging is not a common thing here, they were kind of hesitant and looked at me like I was weird. I'm glad that by the end they were coming up to me for hugs. For me, hugging is one of the best ways for me to show my friendship, love or acceptance so I am glad they embraced it. 

I went to the market the day before to get them sweets and the girls were laughing as some of them were trying to shove huge pieces of cake in my mouth. It is a sign of respect to feed another person but the girls had a good laugh trying to fit pieces of cake the size of baseball into my already full mouth! 

Each of the beautiful girls deserves the chance to make their dreams come true and I hope that they all remain safe. Hopefully the on site girls dormitory will be built soon so they will have a safe place to come home to and pursue their dreams without the harassment of those stuck in traditions that make them second class citizens.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.” 
― Gloria Steinem

“Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke . . . She will need her sisterhood.” 
― Gloria Steinem

 

  “This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race because they are easy and visible differences have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups and into the cheap labor on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned. We are really talking about humanism.” 
― Gloria Steinem