For the past two months, I have had the fortunate opportunity to intern with the WORTH program under Project Concern International Zambia. I could never adequately express my gratitude and appreciation for having been a small part of such an amazing initiative. As soon as the WORTH model was explained to me, I knew it was something special. The motto of "dependency is not empowerment" signaled to me that this is a program that truly values women. Coming from the United States, I was only familiar with women's development programs that provided some kind of start up money or micro enterprise loan to begin with. After working with WORTH, I can't imagine such models since WORTH women are given no such supposed "assistance"; they are taught that they must help themselves to improve their own lives.
Every WORTH woman I have met has fully taken this advice to heart. I had no idea women could even be as strong and empowered as the remarkable women I met are. On my very first field visit, I visited a WORTH group composed primarily of elderly women. These women were engaging in testing physical labor to build a chicken pen. I remember watching in amazement as they stacked their freshly made bricks row upon row. What impressed me even further was how genuinely selfless these women were. They repeatedly explained that their ultimate goal was to raise money by selling chickens so that they could more adequately care for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children in their communities.
This noble spirit proved to be a common thread among all the WORTH groups I visited: WORTH groups building schools for OVCs, WORTH groups visiting the elderly and sick of their community, WORTH groups rescuing the troubled youth of their area who were dabbling in prostitution and drinking. These women are not satisfied with merely being empowered- rather, they are so thrilled with their newfound voice and strength that they want to touch as many people and do as much good as they possibly can. I was touched and inspired a million times over by the women I met. I always found myself thinking that American women could learn a great deal about hope, gratitude, and perseverance from these dignified Zambian women. I always felt apprehensive about intruding on their meetings, but each time, they greeted me with lovely songs and passionate dancing, immediately making me feel welcome.
I feel unbelievably thankful and privileged to have caught a glimpse of the impact WORTH is having on Zambian women. I'll never forget standing in a circle with other WORTH women and listening to each woman share how WORTH has ameliorated her life- in the final testimony, the woman proclaimed that she does not need men because she is married to WORTH.
That's empowerment.
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Posted by: Greg G | October 07, 2011 at 08:28 AM