My Elusive Vision

Looking back from where I came, I believe the best is yet to come. I have always had a dream, a vision to live a life free of debt and worries that come with the stresses of everyday life. To be able not to worry about money matters; make no mistake, I am not a greedy person. I don’t need millions of dollars in a fat bank account. I don’t even need to be rich. What I need is to be happy, worry free, contented. My contentment will only be realized the moment my children have enough to eat, everyday, decent clothes on their backs, a roof over their heads and a quality education to boot! I have a vision to be able to get my family quality healthcare when they fall ill, as they most probably will. God give me that and I will have realized my personal vision.

For my community, I have a vision, to see women respected for what they stand for, girls being educated, not because it is a favour they are being done, but because it is their right. My vision is for parents in my community to treat their children equally, disregarding their sex. I would love to be alive when girls are allowed to inherit their parents’ property, because it is equally their birthright, as it is their brothers’. I long to live long enough to see men encourage their wives and daughters to climb the ladder of education, to pluck the fruits of an enlightened mind, which means a paying job. A community free of slavery under the influence of poverty, brought about by ignorance that can only be cured by education. I would love the day I see my community free of the numerous skinny, potbellied malnourished babies, due to a lack of any or enough food to eat. I have a vision to see contented children with rosy cheeks that signify that they had something to eat, and have the energy to play. I have a vision to live to witness the day that the children in my community will be just that; children who will play childhood games and leave the worrying for survival for grownups. A community empowered with education is my vision for where I come from.

For the world, I have a vision to be around to witness gender equality; watch as women take up positions of power at a higher percentage than the mere 9% that they are accorded at the moment. I have a vision to see the day that war is no longer common in our conversations or in the news constantly. I would love to live in a world where we embrace each other with genuine love, regardless of where we were born or the colour of our skins. I have a vision to live in a world where women are respected as human beings, free from all sorts of discrimination and domestic violence. My vision for the world is peace.

I long to be a Voices of Our Future Correspondent because I believe that here is the only platform where my voice will be amplified enough to get into the right ear. I have been on this journey alone, this being my 12th year, and the burden is just too heavy for me to carry anymore. Am not a quitter, thus would rather have a mentor who will lessen the load, than give it all up. I know that united we will stand, which translates to my being able to make my vision tangible. My biggest vision is to build a vocational college to empower the girls here with skills to sustain themselves. I have a vision to build a hospital in my community, which should be cheap enough that everyone affords treatment, and doesn’t wait for death to come knocking. I have a vision to set up a radio and television station which will amplify the female voice. The vision I have for myself, my community and the world can only be realized with a hand up, not hand outs, and this is why I really need to make the VOF 2013 TOP 30, to be empowered to empower.