The Gift of Hope

I feel hope when I learn that women are rising

When one woman has reached another in need

When a woman who has been punished for speaking out

Meets a sister. 

When girls learn that they have a right to be free

To choose their lives

 

When a widow wins back her home and land

When women farming sustainably have a good crop year

When women plant trees

 

When women get girls into schools

When girls have pads so they won't miss class

Or be taunted by teachers and boys

I feel hope when menstrual huts are closed down

When girls have mentors like my World Pulse sisters here,

And all of these women's organizations forming everywhere 

As we find each other

And rise.

 

I feel hope when I hear of safe houses for women fleeing violence

When I hear of trafficked women being freed

I feel hope and I celebrate when I hear or see photos 

Of women gathering in these women centres

Being taught a trade

Having money for the first time

Having other women to talk with

About what they have gone through

About what is happening now

About what they want to see happen

About our right to be free

 

I feel hope as we find each other

When we are able to tell our stories

About what we know and have experienced

And what we see is possible

I feel hope when we know our own worth

Through our conversations with each other

 

I feel hope in the meetings we have with each other

To know the work that World Pulse sisters are doing

Encouraging so many women

Creating a safety net for women 

Globally

And that so many girls

At such young ages

Have the chance to be inspired 

By an older sister, a mama, an aunty, a grandmother,

A World Pulse sister

 

I feel such hope because we are connected now

 

I feel hope in the work that every one of you is doing

Knowing how many girls have been touched by your sweet loving care

I feel such hope knowing that now thousands of women and girls

Have been given the opportunity to meet and speak together

And believe in themselves

Because of the work of World Pulse sisters

 

I feel hope because I am alive and unafraid to speak the truth of what is going on

And that I am so far from being alone

I feel hope in the connections we are making across all our organizations

I feel hope because we have each other

I feel hope and I am continually inspired by the work and the energy of all of you, my sisters,

And of the daring of all of us here 

Willing to live outside the boxes, the prisons, the torture chambers we have been forced into

Our bodies, and our minds

In too many ways throughout our lives

I feel hope with every one of us as we fly free

 

I feel hope in celebrating all of you

Undoing these lives of servitude that we have been told are our sole purpose, 

Breaking free together for the world we know is possible

Bringing our strength and brilliance, that we were told does not exist

Feeling it rise in our very bones, through our hearts 

Though our discussions

And now out to the world

 

I feel hope because I am alive and unafraid to speak the truth about what is going on

And that I am so far from being alone

I feel hope in celebrating each one of you, 

My World Pulse Sisters

Fly, dear Sisters

Spread those magical wings

Built of tears and determination

Transformed by our joy in working together

Spread those magical wings

And fly!