Building Communities, Bridging Continents

Ben Okri once said, "I was born not just because I had conceived a notion to stay, but because in between my coming and going the great cycles of time had finally tightened around my neck. I prayed for laughter, a life without hunger. I was answered with paradoxes. It remains an enigma how it came to be that I was born smiling."
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage women to be brave and to make them believe that help will always be given to them.

Internet has a growing popularity all over the world; and its benefits are known to all. But, what about those who have no access to the internet at all? There are households in India where the computer is seen as an accessory and owned by the "rich". There are so many families that cannot afford two meals a day, therefore having a computer is simply out of question. Women are confined to house- hold chores and looking after the family. The very idea of a "working woman" is still not acceptable in many communities.I would like to quote Terry Pratchett, "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."
Basic education and general awareness is essential, especially for women. Laws have been made to empower women, but the status of women can only improve if the women themselves are aware of it. Making a law and putting it under practice are two different things. A community can be created to bring about a change in the lives of many. The internet connects the people, and creates a sense of belonging. It makes one realize that they're not the only one. However, it must be noted that this is a gradual process and not that easy. The single-most important factor, in my opinion, is education. Many women are simply denied access to basic education. It must be noted that many women have no idea that it is their right as an individual, to have access to education. They live their entire lives being unaware of the fact that they, too, have a right to voice their opinion. The culture, the tradition, the practice of patriarchy is so deeply rooted, that it is almost impossible for women to take a stand. This is where internet can play an important role: It can act as a medium where we as individuals, can voice their opinion, on their behalf. It is by its name International Action, as the primary rationale to service to others and society as whole.
I am a firm believer that service is not measured in accordance to magnitude, rather it is measured in accordance to self-satisfaction and self-sacrifice.
Finally I would like to conclude by saying that, " It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all- in which case, you fail by default."