Invited to speak in a class on Globalization at Fairfield University, I used the opportunity to highlight Vital Voices Women Can campaign, which aims to persuade individuals, entities, and even governments why investing in women will improve our world. It is necessary to move beyond the empowerment of women as the right thing to do toward arguing forcefully, and with evidence, that investing women in a smart strategy, a lucrative strategy, and one that is everyone’s best interests.
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When I was visiting communities in the Moshi rural area in Tanzania in July 2007, I always noticed that the church was the center of the community. Whether the reason was that church was a central meeting ground for the community, supported their religious organization, or where people found their connection with the larger world, the church was a fundamental component of each community. It seems that the central role of the religious institution (whether it be church, mosque or temple) can be extrapolated to many parts of the developing world. People regard the words of the religious leader with particular attention and preeminence. Some people suggest that religious leaders have not played a positive role in confronting societal stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. I’d like to offer a different perspective that the leader can be an influential voice to breaking down these barriers within communities. In addition to breaking down stigma, what else can the network of religious institutions throughout the world contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS? Continue Reading »

The alliance between Vital Voices and Diane von Fustenberg, had me flying across the world this time . . . and it was an amazing experience!!!

More and more, as women, the awareness of who we are, our possibilities, our role in creating a beautiful world, become evident and fascinating!!! This week was a peek into it!!

Before the trip, I was somehow nervous . . . the journey from working with women in rural Guatemalan communities to Washington, through Vital Voices, seemed far enough!! But to be able to go into a totally new world, the Fashion World is something I never imagined . . . but was possible because of Diane working together with Vital Voices.

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To celebrate International Women’s day Vital Voices has planned various events across the globe. The London event was the first to kick off at the Diane von Furstenberg shop in Mayfair. As I arrived promptly at six for the cocktail I was greeted by all the Brower Lewis staff (Diane von Furstenberg’s PR people) and the wonderful sales assistants all dressed in various DVF dresses. Soon the shop was buzzing with a good atmosphere as it was filled with the 100 or so people who attended, including some guests who came all the way from Paris. With people talking, networking and shopping, it made for a very lively event. Women loved the fashion and quite a bit of shopping was done!
I spoke about Vital Voices and their role not only in training and empowering women leaders but also in combating Human Trafficking. Young women who I spoke to were very interested in the issue of Human Trafficking.
We all left with a bag, containing Vital Voices literature and a Diane von Furstenberg t-shirt.

Memories of a small woman with a huge voice leading hundreds of women in singing ‘Bread and ‘Roses’.
They were celebrating women who lived in a time when women’s rights had no name. Women whose names will never be known who had fought the shadow of injustice so that their daughters and granddaughters could live in the sun.

Memories of warmth and laughter as women of different traditions and communities in Northern Ireland stepped outside their own worlds, exchanged stories and discovered the pleasure in each other’s company

Memories now of watching a play in New York which honored the courage and determination in the lives of all such women across the world.

Through telling the stories of seven women who had embarked on journeys for which there were no footprints, the women playrights and actresses resonated the strength and determination of women around the world who make these lonely choices.

Humbled at being one of the seven, honored by the company I am keeping, marveling at the ingenuity
of the women in vital voices who used their space and power to insist that such voices be heard as of right and respected as the necessary pre condition for the health of our world.

Memories of a night of strength, of pain but most of all memories of a night of love and laughter in good company.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to join an informal discussion with Guatemalan Congresswoman Anabella de León. Anabella is a strong and articulate woman that has dedicated herself to transforming Guatemalan society and has become a voice for the poor and marginalized in her country. Through determination and education she broke away from the poverty of her childhood and became an attorney. She has been a member of the Congress of the Republic since 1995 and is an outspoken critic of corruption which she asserts, “…is present on every level of Guatemalan society.” Despite threats to her life and the alienation that accompanies her activism, Anabella continues her efforts to make a reality, the Guatemala she has always envisioned.
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I grew up in the Soviet Union and was used to women receiving gifts and flowers on March 8th from their husbands, fathers and boyfriends as a celebration of women’s beauty, femininity and motherhood. Only many years later I have learned that this holiday is actually dedicated to women’s rights and solidarity. When I started a help line for battered women, I’ve learned that March 9th for many women is the day of abuse following the yesterday flowers.

I guess as a combination of my childhood memories and my experiences working with issues of violence against women this holiday still signifies to me a beauty of a woman’s soul, women’s ability to care and ability to make changes, our survival and at the same time strength, but also pain and struggle of women suffering day after day from violence and injustice.

We can make this holiday a true celebration of women’s rights and solidarity only by investing in women’s leadership around the world, supporting each woman who takes the initiative and risk to make a breakthrough for other women to follow, giving opportunities to women and girls to fulfill their potential, dreams and as we all know the world will only benefit from it.

This morning Melanne and I joined Goldman Sachs in launching their 10,000 Women Initiative. It was an extraordinary event - a sea of primarily businessmen in black suits talking about the importance of investing in women to build a better future for us all.

But it was an even more extraordinary commitment - over the next five years Goldman Sachs will provide 10,000 women with a business and management education.
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For me, International Women’s Day comes as a great reminder. As IWD approaches, I can’t help but think of the women in my life who have invested their time, energy, love and nurture in me. These reflections conjure feelings of gratitude and remind me that I too, have many roles yet to fill- as a future mother or aunt, friend or mentor. International women’s day also inspires me to remember my heroes- trailblazers who fought for positive change and continue to pave the way for progress in their communities, countries, regions and beyond. The stories of these courageous women inspire me and remind me that I can also act to make change. I believe in the importance of investing in women’s leadership because I know that the kind of change I want to see in the world can only evolve from the joint efforts of both men and women.

This week kicks off a flurry of activities for Vital Voices, and for the women of the World.

Although widely celebrated from Russia to Indonesia to Nigeria - in the United States, International Women’s Day is just beginning to gain mainstream recognition.

For me, International Women’s Day on March 8th is an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come and explore new ways to move forward.

A hundred years ago, leaders gathered to call for economic security and increased rights for women. The march of 15,000 women in New York in 1908 sparked a chain of events which three years later led to the founding of International Women Day in 2011. On Monday, as we begin International Women’s Week - Vital Voices is bringing together a new and diverse group of partners to kick off an innovative campaign to advance women and the world - gathering 100 years later to spark another a chain of events to foster greater investments in women’s leadership.

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