A new dawn

The sun was up early warm and welcoming, the birds alert and happy to herald a new day. The future looked bright and promising. However, before long, the sun became increasingly hot and by noon temperatures had soared to 30 degrees and it was clear that a storm was brewing. Before long, the dark grey heavy clouds began to pelt the earth with big drops of rain and a few seconds later hail stones began to fall, the rainstorm that had gathered in the morning was finally upon us. That is how 2013 began, bright and beautiful full of hope and expectation, but alas, there was a storm on the way.
It was this point and time that I knew that I had to evaluate my choices; it was time to develop new skills. I sought advice from friends and family. Volunteer! write! enhance your skills! they said and this is what I set out to do.
One day as I checked my email, I saw it! the perfect opportunity to develop my skills – a training program - with how timely, I thought to myself. That is how I was led to this online community.
One thing that I like about Voices of Our Future is that the online community welcomes all women, those in the cities and those in the rural areas, to meet exchange ideas, thoughts and innovations with each other. It is an opportunity to use the new media for education and development not only to socialize. This is important to me as it is my belief that time well spent on the internet is when learning is taking place. One of my goals this year is to make a positive impact in someone life, and this online community offers this opportunity.
Secondly, Voices of Our Future, offers a unique opportunity for training and publishing of our stories. One of my goals for this year, which this forum has made that possible, is to improve my writing skills. I am therefore excited about this opportunity, not only to write but see how others think and present their ideas. Furthermore, to date I’ve not had the opportunity of having my work published and this is now possible. It is actually easier than I thought it would be.
Thirdly, Voices of Our Future, has enabled the participants to get a feel of working with Web 2.0. In this forum, I not only have a direct link to the facilitators, but also to participants like myself from all over the world. There is a global conversation in progress. This forum is therefore timely as it has giving me the boldness to be part of a conversation which, without this forum, would not have taken place at this time.
In conclusion, after the storm has come and gone, it leaves the ground well watered. After the rain the sun come out and the plants benefit from a fresh new start. That is what Voices of Our Future is to me.