This Thursday is International Women’s Day. I would like to mark this occasion by
describing some of the awesome-ness that I’ve been witness to in the past few
weeks. Specifically, I went to a graduation ceremony. Three of the teachers at the local school, just
a block or so from where I live, have been studying their butts off for the
past year.
These three ladies have stayed up countless nights – or more
honestly into the wee hours of the morning – to improve their leadership
skills, be a positive force for change within the education system, and in some
ways, to prove to themselves that they are capable and avid learners. With their commitment and passion, they are
an inspiration.
Even the graduation ceremony itself was a test of wills, as
a few minutes into the introductory speech, the skies opened up and torrential
rain threatened to drown out the speaker’s words and soak the grads sitting
closest to the back edge of the stage.
[this is not what dry
season looks like]
It should also be noted that none of these women live in a
vacuum. They are mothers, wives,
daughters and full-time teachers. Each
of them had family supporting them throughout their studies, and of course on
graduation day itself. In a place where only
56% of women are part of the labor force*, these women have families that
support their continued education and community leadership.
Today I am so proud of my village, these three leaders, and
the families they are a part of.
Congrats, and best of luck as you strive to move forward
with your new-found skills, inspiring the next generation of leaders and
teachers yet to come.
