Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize you have been totally selfish, self-absorbed, self-righteous or whatever other self words comes to mind? It hit me like a sledge hammer a few weeks ago when I was in DC visiting with some World Bank professionals.
They went through the history of their organization, from the beginnings in 1944 for reconstruction purposes after WW2 till today. And today...
Reconstruction remains an important part of our work. However, the global challenges in the world compel us to focus on:
- poverty reduction and the sustainable growth in the poorest countries, especially in Africa;
- solutions to the special challenges of post-conflict countries and fragile states;
- development solutions with customized services as well as financing for middle-income countries;
- regional and global issues that cross national borders--climate change, infectious diseases, and trade;
- greater development and opportunity in the Arab world;
- pulling together the best global knowledge to support development.
So, they are doing so really BIG things to help people and country that rarely cross our minds. Let's face it, the world is a mess...
But, then they shared something rather thought provoking. The single answer that could help change things. Girls.
The Girl Effect.
The unique potential of 600 million adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world.
And then they showed us this...
Well, now I felt like a little spoiled brat sitting there in my designer shoes, carrying my smartphone, wondering what fantastic place we were going to eat supper at that night. And then all these conversations I have had with other moms started slamming through my mind. You know the ones about only feeding organically raised food, is HFCS safe or not safe, are there artificial hormones in milk making our girls develop sooner, and on and on and on...
When these girls become mothers, those things are the farthest things from their mind. For heaven's sake, they are only 15 years old when they give birth for the first time.
Then I felt guilty.
Here I am in an ag leadership program learning about poor, hungry girls across the world turning to prostitution to feed their families. A lot of good I am doing to help feed the world! I thought, am I doing enough to make sure we have an abundant food supply? Are we developing technologies that allow farmers in their countries and villages to grow abundant food supplies so these 600 million adolescent girls don't have to worry about food?
And then I thought about my dinner with WSJ Journalist, Roger Thurow.
You see, after a few beers at the Rathskeller, we asked him his opinion on things like Michael Pollan's views on food policy or slow food movements or organic methods, etc. His very candid response, especially candid since he just had returned from Kenya, "Does it get any more organic or local than Africa? Does it look like it is working?" No it isn't. Why is that in a world of plenty African farmers are starving to death??? These girls can't live in poverty any longer. Something has to give.
And then I thought of my girl.
If she was one of those girls, I would want someone to help her.
So, given the chance, girls are uniquely capable of investing in their communities and making their lives, and the lives of their brothers, sisters and communities, better.
This is the ripple effect that happens when girls are given the support to realise their full potential. This is the Girl Effect.
To unleash it, we need to make the great, untapped, potential of girls known and visible both in their own societies and the rest of the world.
There's no better way to fuel the Girl Effect than by spreading the word and letting others know what it's all about. - From the https://thegirleffect.org/mobilize/share-it
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Liz @ Two Maids a Milking
Great post!
Cris
Fantastic post.
And yes, that video made this weepy-hormonal mama to be tear up.
Dawn
I completely agree and am sharing this with my microloan account teams out here on the West Coast-we have to start doing something here to improve life abroad for others!
Kyle @ Fodder for your Thoughts
Very good post! Well done!
Jeanette
Well said. And something I struggle with as well. What impact is my job, life, faith, mothering, and choices having for the world? It's hard not to get overwhelmed when there is so much struggle out there. Right there with you...
Brandie
Very good post! I always say if Mothers were running the show everywhere in the world, it would be a better place with no one going hungry!
Jacey
Now we know who the senlsbie one is here. Great post!
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It's imperative that more people make this exact point.
abilify
That's not just the best answer. It's the bestest answer!
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AFAICT you've covered all the bases with this answer!
Megan
Wonderful post! It's amazing what we take for granted while others struggle.
The Wife of a Dairyman
Something must be done, but will it? I hope so. Sounds like things are moving in the right direction with more and more people becoming aware how important it is to grow enough food to feed the world amongst other things, of course. Great job on this post Leah:)
BigD
I found that visit to the World Bank to be one of the highlights--or should I say eye-opener?--of the trip.
I had the same thought about my girls!
Whitney @ Life's a Highway
Great post and nicely done. I recently wrote my thoughts after hearing Thurow speak for my AgriNews blog (it went live Monday)and I hope this link works http://agrinews-pubs.com/rural-voices/default.asp?bid=28B394D478905A4B23BD83AC996A7937BBAB5446BB17B402
It had been rattling around in my head until I just had to get it all out!
Farmchick
A very well written post. Very thought provoking...
Anonymous
Hey Leah,
My Dad still (after nearly 40 years) talks about how heart breaking it is to look at a young child, so full of hope and life, and watch that spirit and energy and joy drain out of them as the realization of poverty takes root in their mind. Dad suffers from the same thought that you do - what if that was my kid, how could I stand the thought of a certain miserable existance. I struggle too, with how to help. I think we too easily see the pain of poverty and we don't force ourselves to think down to the root cause of the poverty. Why, in so many countries, with awesome natural resources, is there so much poverty? Why, after decades and billions of dollars of aid is there STILL so much to do? Why have other areas developed so much more quickly than Africa? I hope organization like the World Bank are addressing these questions. I think they are...the World Bank recently released a report on the cripling effect of "quiet" corruption on development in Africa.
I agree we need to continually produce more food - there are lots of ways to do that (new technology, less food waste, better application of current technology, etc.). BUT - there must be better income distribution in order for the hungry to access food. This issue is so much more complex than simply increasing the volume of food - unfortunately.
We all need to do what we can - thanks for reminding us of that. And one thing we can always do is pray and look for ways to show love to those in need. It is easy to (for me) to blaim and get frustrated by the politics, corruption, lack of law and the many other factors that hurt development. Yet, we are called to show love, no matter what.
Sorry for my long-winded rant - I've been reading too much lately.
Mellona Suris
Oh this blog is best
Shell
That video is very powerful. It's so heartbreaking to think of girls living lives like the first half of it. Not something we'd want for any of our kids.