Why India?

I've heard the question, "Why India?" so much recently. I thought I'd put my thoughts here.

a. Honestly? I wanted to travel again.

b. I wanted to do some good or contribute and connect with local cultures in a fascinating place.

c. I wanted to see if the books I read in my downtime and the passion I feel for contributing/connecting was an actual life path/career goal or ...a phase?

d. I found a Womens Empowerment Program that intrigued me.

e. It was in India, again, a place that intrigued me.

f. I applied.

g. I was accepted.

h, i, j, k, l through to z. Half the Sky impassioned me to read more about women's struggles around the world. Making me oh so interested in the struggles women face everyday in other countries.

That's what brought me to this point.

"Women hold up half the sky" - Chinese proverb

Words are so powerful. Here are just a few parts of the book that have me so intrigued.

"Empowerment is a cliche in the aid community, but it is truly what is needed. The first step toward greater justice is to transform that culture of female docility and subservience. Women's empowerment helps raise economic productivity and reduce infant mortality. It contributes to health and nutrition for all. It increases the chance of education for the next generation."

Problems? 

Modern day slavery - women sex traffickers, brothels. (India almost certainly has more modern slaves than any other country.)

Healthcare (girls in India from 1 - 5 years of age are 50% more likely to die than boys the same age. The best estimate is that a little girl in India dies from discrimination every 4 minutes.)

Maternal Health - 5 jumbo jets worth of women die in labour everyday around the world.

Lack of schooling. Lack of education. And the list goes on.

What do I believe could help? Private philanthropy. Microfinance. Economic empowerment for women. Entrepreneurship skills. And -- seeing it first hand. "Aid projects have a mixed record in helping people abroad, but a superb record in inspiring and educating the donors."

What do I know for sure? That "it's dangerous for foreign cheerleaders to urge local girls to assume undue risks." Definitely. But, "it is essential to help young women find their voices."

That's why I'm going.

Remember:

"Women might just have something to contribute to civilization other than their vaginas." 

- Christopher Buckley.

*All these quotes are from Half the Sky. If you do nothing else, go check this book out from your library.