The Gift of Hope
Feb 1, 2021
Story
I feel hope when I learn that women are rising
When one woman has reached another in need
When a woman who has been punished for speaking out
Meets a sister.
When girls learn that they have a right to be free
To choose their lives
When a widow wins back her home and land
When women farming sustainably have a good crop year
When women plant trees
When women get girls into schools
When girls have pads so they won't miss class
Or be taunted by teachers and boys
I feel hope when menstrual huts are closed down
When girls have mentors like my World Pulse sisters here,
And all of these women's organizations forming everywhere
As we find each other
And rise.
I feel hope when I hear of safe houses for women fleeing violence
When I hear of trafficked women being freed
I feel hope and I celebrate when I hear or see photos
Of women gathering in these women centres
Being taught a trade
Having money for the first time
Having other women to talk with
About what they have gone through
About what is happening now
About what they want to see happen
About our right to be free
I feel hope as we find each other
When we are able to tell our stories
About what we know and have experienced
And what we see is possible
I feel hope when we know our own worth
Through our conversations with each other
I feel hope in the meetings we have with each other
To know the work that World Pulse sisters are doing
Encouraging so many women
Creating a safety net for women
Globally
And that so many girls
At such young ages
Have the chance to be inspired
By an older sister, a mama, an aunty, a grandmother,
A World Pulse sister
I feel such hope because we are connected now
I feel hope in the work that every one of you is doing
Knowing how many girls have been touched by your sweet loving care
I feel such hope knowing that now thousands of women and girls
Have been given the opportunity to meet and speak together
And believe in themselves
Because of the work of World Pulse sisters
I feel hope because I am alive and unafraid to speak the truth of what is going on
And that I am so far from being alone
I feel hope in the connections we are making across all our organizations
I feel hope because we have each other
I feel hope and I am continually inspired by the work and the energy of all of you, my sisters,
And of the daring of all of us here
Willing to live outside the boxes, the prisons, the torture chambers we have been forced into
Our bodies, and our minds
In too many ways throughout our lives
I feel hope with every one of us as we fly free
I feel hope in celebrating all of you
Undoing these lives of servitude that we have been told are our sole purpose,
Breaking free together for the world we know is possible
Bringing our strength and brilliance, that we were told does not exist
Feeling it rise in our very bones, through our hearts
Though our discussions
And now out to the world
I feel hope because I am alive and unafraid to speak the truth about what is going on
And that I am so far from being alone
I feel hope in celebrating each one of you,
My World Pulse Sisters
Fly, dear Sisters
Spread those magical wings
Built of tears and determination
Transformed by our joy in working together
Spread those magical wings
And fly!