World We Dare to Imagine Pt. 3

I grew up with an abundance of privileges and opportunities. I was raised by a father who taught me I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. I recognize how rare this is especially given my Indian cultural background. That is where my organization, EmpowerHer, comes in.

EmpowerHer is fundamentally aimed at changing the systematic negative views of Indian women. In Indian culture, women are definitively inferior to men. They are expected to obey their husbands and have little freedom or free will. In traditional Indian families, women do not have a say in their future as their husband is selected for them, and they are expected to stay home and raise the kids and do housework. This fundamental lack of respect and inferiority that Indian women experience contributes to deeper issues throughout the country, such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, prostitution, teenage pregnancy, homelessness, and much more. EmpowerHer's mission is to change the way that women are viewed in Indian culture, which in turn will improve some of the adversities Indian women face. Of course, changing how an entire culture views women is an ambitious task. 

While that is EmpowerHer's overarching mission, there are specific things we focus on to help us move towards this ambitious goal. The first step is for our volunteers to take the proper time to listen and learn from the Indian women they are trying to help. While EmpowerHer has the best intentions to help these women in need, it is of the utmost importance to thoroughly understand the needs, goals, hopes, dreams, attitudes, mindsets, and daily lives of the women we are trying to help. EmpowerHer will implement education programs for young girls to set them up for a future where they feel empowered. Education will teach these girls that they have a place in this world other than what they grew up thinking is their future. We aim to open their minds to more paths in life and disrupt the generational inferiority that they experience. Each girl will be matched with a mentor in a field they are interested in to see firsthand what their future can be. This is what makes EmpowerHer unique. We bridge the gap with this mentorship program, connecting two worlds and realities. 

I am passionate about this mission because I have seen the inferiority that Indian women experience first hand. Through my family and friends, I have witnessed the drastically different cultures that young Indian girls grow up in. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the United States with a father who empowered me daily. I want to share my dad's empowerment with every young Indian girl. I must use my privilege and opportunities to create change. 

AMDP should invest in EmpowerHer as the problems for Indian women run deep and are dangerous and unjust. They require systematic change, and that is what EmpowerHer aims to accomplish. We do not only want to provide short-term solutions for these women in need. We would like to create lasting change and self-sufficiency for these women. We also focus on getting to know and understand the people we are helping to be the most effective we can be in the most strategic way. EmpowerHer also has room to grow to other nations around the world to help women in need. Our program can expand globally to help women achieve the respect they deserve. We want to empower every little girl and teach them they can someday run the world.