I wear many hats and one of them is as Global Ambassador for Global Women’s Leadership Network. I have the distinct honor and pleasure of representing all of its graduates, myself included. To me, these graduates are not just names on a list. They are real people, with audacious dreams and bold visions. I carry their vision for a better future as my own, and I am an active advocate for their projects, raising awareness for the causes they so passionately address.
I enjoy networking events of all kinds, as it is an opportunity to meet new people, listen to what drives and excites them, and share about GWLN. Usually, these encounters are fun, sometimes interesting, once in a while intriguing, and then there is the occasional instance where such a meeting leaves me touched to the core.
Last Saturday I attended a small women’s conference organized by my friend Nellie Lee, founder of the Dream House Project, where I represented Destiny Foundation, founded by fellow Woman Leader for the World Smarita Sengupta. The attendees had very diverse backgrounds, with some of them from low-income communities. A few of the attending women had faced challenges I never had to experience. One young woman shared her story, from being completely lost and out on the street, to where she is now, finishing her college degree at SJSU, while working a full-time job and being a single mom to an adorable pre-schooler.
The vision of Destiny resonated deeply within her. She had empathy for these young brave women on the other side of the globe, fleeing the abuses of the sex trafficking industry. She had been where they are: lost, alone, no way out, no support. She recognized that for some, organizations such as Dream House and Destiny, were the only lifelines left to a better future with economic independence, and a life based on dignity and respect.
I know this young woman didn’t have a penny to spare, and yet she did the unthinkable. She reached into her purse and gave me a $5 bill to support Destiny. I had no words, and later at home, the tears came. Her gift meant so much more than what she gave in dollars. Her gift said: I care, I have been there, I believe in you. You see, it was personal for her now. She saw the people behind the story of Destiny, she could envision their faces and maybe even recognized herself as being stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation not that long ago. Her empathy moved her to action. And now it is personal for me as well. When I witness these acts of random kindness, how can I not be touched? How can I not be challenged to do more, to step out of my comfort zone and to take a stand? It is personal, because now, I also see the people behind the stories, I hear their voices, and I feel their desperation. I want to give them hope, and tell them that I care, we care, and they are not alone. So make it personal, and touch a live today!
Read on about Destiny Foundation www.destinyreflection.org
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