Women Speaking Out on Their Concerns

This is my favorite photo from my Mother Tour that has been traveling around North America and parts of the world. She is a Ixil woman from Chajul, Gualtemala speaking out a community event about her concerns. I love the way the children are looking at her and the expression of the woman near the bottom who seems to be thinking, "you go, girl." In Chajul I had given my Empowering Mother Voices workshop and then facilitated community-performed skits about the costs and benefits of fuel-effiencent cook stoves that dramatically reduce the amount of indoor air pollution (a major threat to the respiratory health of women and children who spend long hours inside and cooking over an open fire). Here's a link to a short documentary about the Mother Tour if you're interested! http://vimeo.com/16482993
I'm commited to continue this work in devising methods to help women around the world empower their voices. I see vocal empowerment as completely necessary for women to participate in all facets of life--from development projects, to gender equity in the home. I'd love to hear any feedback or advice from this amazing community!
With love, Beth Osnes