As I have been sitting in session after session, first at the International Women’s Summit in Switzerland, and now the World YWCA Council meeting, I have been overwhelmed by the issues and challenges that some women and girls face in their communities. In a room with over 1000 women, representing locales around the globe, at the conclusion of information sharing, left are the stark realities of the multi-dimensional fears and terrors that dominate the lives of far too many girls and women.
War, violence, the fear of rape, child marriages, access to health care and social services, gender biases dominant in the culture, elder abuse are coupled with the currently prevalent worldwide issues of povery, economic strife, HIV/AIDS, joblessness, educational underachievement, and hopelessness. The stories of pain and suffering shared within the halls of the Kongresshaus Center here in Switzerland are certain to evoke caring and concern among even the most cold-hearted individuals, even the most ungrateful individual would take pause and in a split second come to realize how much they have to be thankful for after scanning the big picture of their life.
In spite of all of this, I have met women from around the world, who are passionate about the practice of human development work, and who are intent on transforming both the lives of people, as well as the communities in which they live. My spirit has been warmed by the countless women who are keenly focused on deriving sustainable solutions, rather than belaboring dialogue about the magnitude of the problems.
The foundation to both personal and organizational excellence is linked to leadership, and I believe that in growing numbers, divinely women are being prepared to serve as catalyst for transformative community change that will uplift girls, boys, men, families, community.
Today, July 15th, in the face of such societal strife, as I write this at 6:30 am Switzerland time, I ask for divine wisdom as I prepare to faciliate a skill building session based upon my book, Follow Her Lead: Leadership Lessons For Women As They Journey From the Backroom to the Boardroom.
I ask the Creator to order my steps and use me as He always does to provide tools that can further equip these community builders, I ask that the Creator guides my speech so that I uplift these women so that they can return home in a few days and sow even more powerful seeds of visionary change.
By harnessing the divine brilliance within each of us, we CAN change the WORLD!!
