Technology and Communications Team: Log # 4 by Sylvia Yu

The ideals behind GLOBE continue to touch into multiple aspects of my life. Just before our GLOBE class, I had the pleasure of attending the “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” event with the speakers Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Nicholas told many touching stories about the endless possibilities that stem from empowering women. He reinforced the notion that just giving monetary aid is not enough, there has to be continuous monitoring of the process and the support given. He stressed that education can be a way to empower women to provide for themselves and their communities.
When Nicholas spoke about brothels and how at times women were the ones that continued the oppression of women, I was deeply saddened. As a woman myself, I would hope that no one (male or female) willingly oppressed women but the fact that a woman is willing to sell another woman is just unspeakable. I wonder if the brothel owner has ever thought of the fact that the she could be the one being sold. I can’t say that I was completely surprised of such events, because even in the 21st century, there is still inequality in the world. What I have resolved to do is to be someone who makes a difference in women’s lives around the world and not negatively impact women, or anyone else for that matter. Sheryl WuDunn, Nicholas’ wife, also spoke at these occurrences and she highlighted the fact that education and microfinance are two ways to fix some of the injustices around the world. Providing someone with education will give them a new outlook on life and microfinance will be the source of capital that they once were not able to receive. This ties in beautifully with GLOBE, we seek to educate others about people in the developing countries and provide potential entrepreneurs with the capital that they would otherwise not be able to obtain.
During class Caroline Willie, a Sister of Charity, came to speak to GLOBE. She spoke of the organization that she runs that provides a pregnant cow to families in Uganda. The organization provided training for the families to take care of the cow and required work before the cows were distributed. The village would be responsible of taking care of the cow and eventually every family in the village will have one. Due to the great care the cows received, they were able to provide plenty of milk to the families; the extra milk was sold. This created a profitable business environment for the village and thus it continues to be self-sufficient. This is a great story and GLOBE should seek to reach this a goal for the future. Changing lives one loan at a time.