Note From President Shernaz Vakil
WOMEN IN THE DARK
This morning, I listened with horror to CNN’s international correspondent Christiane Amanpour as she interviewed a Taliban spokesman. She interrogated him about how women were not allowed to be educated nor interact with a man outside their household in any way.
Whilst, on the same day, I was presenting a proposal to our office bearers of a special project to promote adult literacy amongst the women of the Vaidu community who have never had any formal education.
Both sets of women left to operate in this world with no knowledge of what is happening around, subservient to believe what was told to them.
The difference being that though both had been denied the opportunity to study, one group was being actively forbidden to study while the other only needed the support and encouragement to what I believe is a basic human right in today’s world.
How can humanity progress if 50% are kept ignorant and in the dark? My grandfather always said educating the Indian woman will bring all the change India needs.
I hope in our small way we, at Rotary, will do our part in progressing this vision.
Bhavishya Yaan, Lighthouse cater to the girl child and the Adult Literacy initiative in Palghar addresses the needs of 25,000 older women… all making a small change to the gender divide.
— President Shernaz Vakil