Half The Sky - Turning Oppression into opportunity for women worldwide

This amazing book, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and published in 2009.  It is a must read for anyone and everyone who envisions a just and peaceful world.   The authors have traveled extensively as international reporters for The New York Times and have witnessed first hand the condition of being female in the developing world.  The title is based on a Chinese proverb that states "Women hold up half the sky"
The challenges and atrocities faced by women and girls around the developing world are as diverse as the cultures they live in, almost universally their contributions, potential, power and worth is not recognized or honored.  Often their lives are seen as disposable.  The trafficking of young girls for the international sex trade, the marriage of young girls to much older men, female circumcision, lack of education, bride burning, acid burning.... The list goes on and on and it is all happening right now.

Chapter 14 of Half The Sky is titled What You Can Do:  The authors list 4 options for getting involved on a grassroots level, which is where we believe real and lasting change takes place.

1. Create an account with Kiva (www.kiva.org), Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org) or  Givology (www.givology.com), organizations that put funds directly into the hands of women wanting to start a business or girls needing tuition to attend school.
2. Sponsor a woman or girl through Plan International, Women for Women International or World Vision.  This is also an opportunity to connect directly with the women or girl you sponsor through letters.
3.  Stay up to date on what is happening in the world concerning women by signing up for email updates at www.womensenews.org or www.worldpulse.com.
4.  Join the Care Action Network (www.can.care.org)  a citizens advocacy group

These are the ice breakers, simple ways to get started because getting started is often the most difficult part. 

Buy The Change is developing relationships with NGOs around the world that are working to create jobs and income for women.  Most of these wonderful organizations were started by one or two people with a vision of being part of the solution.  One of our rolls at Buy The Change is to help expand the market, here in the US, for the high quality products being created within these partnerships of fair trade organizations and talented, hard working women.

Check out or website  www.buythechangeusa.org  or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/buythechange  to learn more about who we are and what we do. 
Another great place to spend some time reading is www.halftheskymovement.org

FROM IDEA TO ACTION

In July, it will be one year since Shanan and I sat down on the patio at Plum Market in Ann Arbor to have our first meeting about starting this company.  Two inspirational books, Half The Sky and Global Girlfriends, cemented the idea that we would focus on selling products made by women in the developing world.  We jumped in with all four  feet; created a mission statement, chose a name, filed paperwork, opened a bank account, secured web and email addresses….  Buy The Change was off and running and we haven’t stopped since.

How does one person (or two) create a cycle of activity that can really change hearts and lives?  Well, one small step at a time.  We are doing what we can from where we are and learning as we go.   Every item we buy has put lifesaving funds into the hands of a woman in great need.  When we sell that item we take the money and buy something else.  As far as I can tell, that’s how it’s done.