World Pulse LIVE: An Evening with International Women Speaking for Themselves.

On Thursday, October 6th, Awaz representatives attended a night of stories, empowerment, and strength. World Pulse, along with the Mercy Corps Action Center in Portland, sponsored the reception for three women who were there to share their powerful stories of overcoming obstacles in order to reach their goals and help other women and girls do the same. As the founder of World Pulse says, our goal is to "[put] women at the dials of control of their own destinies".

World Pulse is a magazine founded by Jensine Larsen in 2003 as a forum for women from all over the world to share their stories. It includes opportunities for women to send in their short narratives, to be connected to a large online community of other women, and even a chance to be involved in a US speaking tour.

No One Speaks for me, I Speak for Myself

Three women-- Sarvina, Beatrice, and Martha-- traveled from Cambodia, Uganda, and Colombia to the US to share their stories. They were part of a journalism training program called "Voice of the Future". They were selected from a group of 600 women, and are now part of the first group to be able to tour the US with their stories.

Sarvina grew up in Cambodia, where she beat the odds and became the first woman in her province to get a university degree. She is using her education to help other girls and women in Cambodia do the same. There are strong prejudices against teaching women, as well as teaching poor women; Sarvina believes that if this prejudice were overcome, these same women would not need to become sex workers in order to make a living.

[My goal is] to have a community of women who are empowered to stand up for their rights and are equal participants in society

Sarvina shared a story of self-empowerment that was enhanced by the global network of women at Pulse Wire. She taught herself in order to go to University, and along with the support of her online friends, taught herself English. Thursday's event was the first time she had spoken English in front of a crowd, and she did a brilliant job!

Another particpant, Beatrice, also shared her story of self-empowerment. She is from Uganda, where AIDS runs rampant. She has lost all seven brothers and one sister to the disease. Her passion is grass-roots education to end the stronghold it has on people in her community. She also wants to see all children educated--she herself educates her nieces and nephews at home--because "with education and good health we are empowered".

I believe everybody has the potential to live a better life. Given the opportunity, education and motivation ANYONE can become someone admirable.

Beatrice works to empower those around her, starting with her family. With her support and encouragement, her mother was able to keep the family land after the last adult male relative died. This is unheard of in Uganda, where women have no right to land.

Martha comes from Colombia. As a child, her father taught her the importance of the forest and all of its inhabitants. Today, she keeps that passion with her in her work. She seeks to be the voice of indigenous people who live in the forest, and for the forest itself. The mission of her non-profit organization Sentir is to help sustainable development through education, conservations, eco-tourism, and investigation.

We might think we can not change the world. But WE CAN. If everyone cares...ANYTHING CAN BE CHANGED.

Through her work with World Pulse, Martha is able to have a voice, and share her stories. She sees that more women are speaking up, but many more are kept in silence. They believe they have nothing to say, but they all do. They are taught to keep silent, and through those teachings learn to stay silent.

From left to right: Jensine, Beatrice, Martha, and Sarvina

This event was part of a movement to show that when women unite, empower each other, and are allowed to share their stories, wonderful things happen. This is also part of the work AWAZ is doing. Awaz works with women's cooperatives in Northern India that give women the opportunity to develop skills--often traditional crafting skills--interests, and a personality. By involving themselves in something they enjoy, that gives them more freedom of expression, these women are able to find their voice and their own way in life. These women are compensated fairly for their work--they set their own prices-- and through the fair wage are able to support their family, send their children to school, and have a life outside of the home.

This is the goal of many Fair Trade organizations. Women and men are empowered to be their own voice, and to be part of the change they wish to see. By supporting World Pulse, Awaz, and other similar organizations, one can be part of that change. By supporting these organizations, one can help the marginalized become the demarginalized.

Read more about these courageous women, other women involved in World Pulse, and the artisans AWAZ works with. You can also watch a video with Jensine and Beatrice in Portland!