Half the Sky

We're eager to make a difference in the world, but it can be confusing to know how.

In Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDonn, the book unflinchingly sheds light on the darkest corners of the globe, and provides a vision of what success can look like. They tell stories of despair and brutality against women and girls. But their reporting deftly turns to images and voices of hope. Instead of leaving the reader engulfed in numbing indifference... the book galvanizes the reader to do something. The reporting mixes violence, poverty, and ignorance, with stories of courage, creativity, and hope. It's a lens into how each one of us can make a difference, and how collectively we can change the world.

Last night 18 intrepid friends came over in a DC-version of a blizzard to create community around Half the Sky and ask: What are we called to do?

Our cozy gathering triggered many ideas. We didn't solve the perverse ways of the world. But we created a Half the Sky community to continue the conversation around what matters to each of us collectively. We talked about issues in Nepal and Cambodia, microfinancing outlets, and research needed to take the next step.

Nick Kristof wrote an inspiring note to the group:

The point of writing the book wasn't to inform readers but to galvanize them to action - and it sounds as if that's what's happening Saturday. I can't be there - I'll be just back from Congo, rape capital of the world - but feel free to share this with those there. My only advice would be for people to find some cause that speaks to them, whether it's maternal health, girls' education or human trafficking, and then look for a great organization to support. And don't support it just by writing checks, but also think about making a visit to see what your check accomplished. In the book we talk about a few women in Connecticut who supported Edna Adan's maternity hospital in Somaliland, and that's exactly the kind of project that is cheap and utterly transformative both for Somali women and for the Connecticut benefactors. We list a bunch of groups in the back of the book and also on www.halftheskymovement.org.

The other thing somebody suggested to us is to give the book to someone, but write your name on the inside cover, and tell the reader to write their name in and then give it to someone else, and so on and so on. That spreads the word to lots of people and creates these interesting chains where you can see who else that copy has reached. - Nick

My assignment is to do some more exploration around Kiva.org and report back to the group. We already managed a baby step buying $200 worth of exquisite woven scarves to support dental care in Nepal. It will support the cost of running one 3-day oral health seminar at a school in the Kaski Oral Health Care Project. It includes education, free checkups, and treatment for all the parents, students, teachers, and other community members who attend. In keeping with Nick's suggestion about staying in touch with the programs we support, anyone can see what KOHCP does: Evanepal.org.

To more adventures ahead exploring how we can provide HOPE... Stay tuned!

January 30th Book Party: Our cozy gathering of friends last night.

January 30th Book Party: Rod Beckstrom (President, ICANN) talking to Laura Spero and Bishnu Subedi of Nepal. Laura runs the Kaski Oral Health Care Project in Nepal.