As often the case with big gatherings (on Zoom or otherwise), there is often one phrase that stands out. In the case of the U.N.-sponsored conference just ended, it is “Voluntary Shared Abundance,” the aim of the California non-profit, White Pony Express. In Northern California, it’s a food distribution service for low-income and homeless people, supplying other non-profits with food for their distribution services. “All Of Us Taking Care Of All Of Us”—the original mission of the original Pony Express.
Like all philanthropies, this raises two issues for me: are the not-for-profits in this country now filling the social service gaps (or trying to fill them) traditionally taken care of by the U.S. government?
An impossible job. A worthy effort.
And can top-down philanthropy ever do more than make an inherently unjust system bearable—or almost bearable?
Unanswerable, perhaps, but disturbing.
These questions were not raised at the too-long, repetitious conference, largely attended by Afghan women with messages of change and hope that seem in danger because of a possibly more powerful Taliban, rising up when the U.S. troops are finally pulled out of that country on September 11, 2021.
But these young women are promoting messages of hope and change, even suggesting that Islam is not by the nature of its original teachings inimical to the rights of women, and posing the possibility of working with the Taliban, once the U.S. removes its oppressive occupation. One of the dire results of that occupation—among many others—is that we have interpreted Islam and the Taliban according to our own often ignorant and limited views. How refreshing to hear these views challenged—if gently.
And these young women have created and supported alliances in their country that give me reason to hope:
A University for women, perhaps at this point a dream. It wasn’t clear to me whether it already exists. Again I heard the assertion that Islam is not opposed to educating girls and women. This followed the story of Lima Sarhadi, who dreamed as a child of becoming a doctor but gave up her dream as she realized how limited her educational possibilities were. In 2010, male literacy stood at 55 percent, female at 35. I don’t know if these figures have changed.
In Mexico, a group called La Cana (the jail) offers legal advice and job training for incarcerated women. Natalie Willis of Mexico spoke of “breaking barriers for women in business in Latin America” and, even more radical, changing “gender-based investing” with a “women empowerment fund” holding $35 million in funds, largely U.S. donations. The word for this is “Sororidad”—Sisterhood—only appearing in dictionaries in 2018.
“More Than Soil, Seeds and Water” examines the undervalued labor of women farm workers, often undocumented in this country, often facing “awful discrimination.” The Sustainable Food Trust, headed by Adele Jones of Britain, spreads the message that “true cost accounting” in farming includes “soil health, and gender equality” as monetized items.
Coffee and Cocoa cultivation must “articulate a gender strategy” for addressing injustices, including “data capture and reporting.”
In California, a not-for-profit supported by Stanford University with the slogan “All Of Us Taking Care Of All Of Us” supports low-income senior women in the Bay Area, disproportionately affected by the pandemic, food shortages and isolation.
Many other groups and funds participated, including the Global Fund for Women with the motto “Holding Ourselves Responsible.”
And it was mentioned by several that the goal of these new organizations is “to lead with the heart.”
It seemed a comforting message.
Perhaps more to my way of thinking was the question of why successful women must always be tragic figures, and the photos of the “Skate Girls of Kabul,” expressing the importance always of actions and efforts that bring joy to women in addition to addressing crucial issues of survival.
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