Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a performance of documentary play, SEVEN.  Hosted by Vital Voices in partnership with NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, the play was performed on NYU’s campus for an audience of around 1,000 people.

The performance was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Tina Brown, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Beast and featuring 4 of the SEVEN women whose stories are profiled in the play.

It was truly a remarkable and transforming experience. In closing, panelist and Vital Voices leader, Hafsat Abiola from Nigeria read the following poem that captured the spirit of the evening- which was filled with strength and hope:

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers
But to be fearless in facing them
Let me not pray for the stilling of my pain
But for the heart to conquer it
Let me not look for allies in life’s battlefield
But to my own strength
Grant me that I may not be a coward
feeling your mercy in my successes alone
But let me find the grasp of your hand
In my failure.

by Rabindrath Tagor