International Women’s Day honors women around the world with different events
By EMMA PALOVA
EW Emma’s Writings
Czech Republic celebrates women on March 8th during the International Women’s Day (IWD). And it is definitely making a comeback considering all the posts on social media.
Check out my last year’s series IW Inspiring Women leading up to this event with the orchid logo. I profiled women from all walks of life: teachers, politicians, businesswomen, non-profit workers and long distance hikers.
Here are pictures of some of the women I wrote about in the series.
Former Lowell city clerk Betty Morlock.Chamber director Liz Baker.Carolyn Kane received an award in Washington DC for trail development in 2011.
It was a big day for women in former Czechoslovakia.
They received flowers, chocolates, cakes and nylons.
. It was also a reason for men to drink to our health.
What I love is that the country kept both the old observations of special days, while picking up on new ones like Mother’s Day. That way they doubled up on fun.
Globally, the International Women’s Day celebrates the social, political, economic achievements of women around the world while focusing on areas needing attention.
This year’s theme is, “Pledge for Parity.”
I’ve always been all about change in everything, but this area of change in women’s equality around the world has always been close to my heart.
Betty Dickinson of Ionia
I lived in Africa for many years, where a woman meant nothing. I’ve seen women sit in the dirt at the markets nursing their babies with their older children running around them in the 110F heat. And they were all begging for money.
The well-to-do women wore long saris from head to toe.
The majority of dad’s students at the University of Khartoum were men.
Gail Lowe shows a quarter as a message from her daughter
In this election year democratic candidate for president Hillary Clinton about equal pay for women.
I find it hard to believe that in 2016, there still isn’t equality in the workplace.
Sow Hope president Mary Dailey Brown.
According to IWD 2016 hub, the vast array of communication channels, research, campaigns and corporate responsibility initiatives allow everyone to be an advocate inspiring change for women’s advancement.
Shocked by the life of the African women, I’ve always wanted to do my share to help the cause through awareness and writing.
And the local SowHope organization based in Rockford also believes in inspiring women around the world by promoting education, wellness and economic opportunities. This year’s IWD theme is Pledge for Parity.
“As I traveled I saw the plight of women around the world,” said president Mary Daily Brown.
This is the 10th year for the organization that has helped thousands of women through various programs such as literacy classes and health programs.
Lynn Mason 2016 Democratic candidate
“We’ve had photo exhibits in the past to raise money, now we’re doing the documentary screening,” said Brown.
To raise awareness and money for women around the world, the event celebrating IWD was held on March 3. Brown talked about non-profit work with women in the Reflections speech at the Wege Ballroom.
Nancy DeBoer, Station Salon ownerBlogger Leigh Ann Dickey.
Note: This is the seventh installment in a feature series about Inspiring Women. It is dedicated to all women who are trying to make a difference and better other people’s lives, as well as their own.
In putting together this feature series, I was inspired by several moments in life that in particular stand out.
No.1 A dedication of a Relax, mind, body & soul book by Barbara Heller from my son Jake: “I dedicate this to my inspiring and motivational mother.” Kuba
No. 2 While on a story before Mother’s Day, I dropped in at Ace Bernard Hardware to talk about the prizes with owner Charlie Bernard. We talked also about the Lowell Area Chamber and its director Liz Baker.“You know what I like about Liz, she keeps re-inventing herself,” Bernard said.
No. 3 Again on a story for the International Women’s Day I talked to Sow Hope president Mary Dailey Brown.“If you want to make a difference in this world, seriously consider helping impoverished women. Helping women is the key to unlocking poverty.”
No. 4 At a parents teacher conference at Cherry Creek Elementary in Lowell in mid 1990s: “Mrs. Pala, we do not give up,” teacher Karen Latva said.
Rockford woman sows hope for women of Third World countries
Name: Mary Dailey Brown
Occupation: President of SowHope.org
GVSU non-profit management
Residence: Rockford
Husband: Douglas, two sons Alex & John
Hobbies & interests: golf, photography, video editing, getting together with friends
By Emma Palova
EW Emma’s Writings
Rockford, MI- “If you want to make a difference in this world, seriously consider helping impoverished women. Helping women is the key to unlocking poverty,” said SowHope president Mary Dailey Brown.
Sow Hope president Mary Dailey Brown.
There are hundreds of organizations helping children in the world, but minimum of those that help women get out of poverty.
Brown is working on several projects in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. These include a birthing clinic in Uganda, a micro-project in Congo, projects in India and Pakistan including vocational training and literacy programs in Nigeria and Kenya.
In order to start the SowHope organization, Brown sold the family inheritance farm in 2006. As she traveled around the Third World countries, she noticed the plight of women in Ethiopia.
“I noticed the imbalance of responsibilities,” she said. “Women do all the work, while men get out to the squares, chat and play games. Half of the world lives on less than $2 a day. One seventh of the world lives on less than a $1 a day.”
Brown said that women are suffering disproportionately to men.
“They’re up before sunrise,” she said. “Carrying wood, water, babies, growing food for the families. They use their own strength. Eighty percent of farmers are women, and 80 percent of food is produced by these farmers.”
So, what do men do?
Documentary screened last year in Grand Rapids to raise awareness and funds for IWD.
“They run the government,” she said. “They drive all the vehicles, they handle and run the markets. They sit around the village squares, drink tea, smoke hookahs and play board games.”
Brown uses a translator and she visits with people who are already helping others.
“We provide funds for them,” she said.
SowHope spends about $1.5 million on program costs and the organization has so far impacted directly 46,000 women.
Among the programs are: micro loans to start busineses,, birthing clinics and literacy classes by local teachers.
Many women have been raped and abused.
“We provide emotional care,” Brown said, “and training centers for the villages. We find local leaders and we have 100 teams in 30 countries.”
The success behind these projects is that SowHope already use capabilities in place.
“When we go there as Westerners, we’re imposing our ideas on the people,” Brown said.
She used an example of a female gynecologist in Cairo who goes out and educates women about sex.
“Sex is taboo in these countries,” Brown said. “You don’t talk about sex.”
The doctor gynecologist gives talks at churches.
“It’s very freeing and liberating for them,” Brown said. “A five minute lecture can change centuries of practice.”
The mission of SowHope is to empower the women and to identify their leaders, to give them resources like buying a knitting machine.
The women also face risk from terrorists. Brown spend the week in Nigeria, before the girls were kidnapped.
“Every night we were terrified,” she said. “It was the most terrifying week in my life. The only way to survive is to run.”
SowHope does have a system of criteria in place.
“It depends a lot on relationships and recommendations who we trust,” she said.
There are people like Josephine who helps AIDS widows.
“It’s the most efficient system,” Brown said. “They do the development work.”
What motivates Brown?
“It is the original sense of injustice,” she said.
Did she ever wanted to quit?
“Yes, but my husband told me go into the basement and tell these women why this is so hard for you to do,” he said.
Brown realized that the women were full of dignity and grateful for what SowHope does.
“We want to do holistic care,” she said. “Focus on the basic needs of the women. We want to make it so simple that people can copy us. Women in general are no recipients of sympathy.”
It took three years to get the organization going and to make it sustainable.
And who is Brown’s role model?
“My husband, he is the visionary,” she said. “He helps me stay focused and positive, and not to be discouraged.”
Brown says that the biggest lesson she has learned, is that helping women is the key to unlocking poverty.
Mary Dailey Brown-the woman behind the superwoman 1-What do you do for yourself?
Mary: I want to be a good leader and an inspirational speaker. I also have fund Fridays with Doug and friends. 2- What kind of tips do you have for other women?
Mary: It’s incredibly rewarding what I do. I have feelings of embarrassment that I have struggled. There’s nothing else I’d want to do. 3-What are your plans?
Mary: We would like to expand into other countries, and raise more revenues. We would like to open up affiliate offices around the world.
If you want to donate online contact Mary at SowHope.org
Featured photo by Kathleen Mooney has been inspired by Gee’s Bend quilting tradition. See her story in the archives.
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