One Girl's Courage - Another powerful report from Kristof of NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/opinion/one-girls-courage.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

 

I think it is very valuable that reports like this come out in the New York Times. I've been impressed by the current series that Kristof has been doing researching how NGOs and NPOs have been working in Africa. A lot of powerful stories are coming out of this and showing us that we have a lot to learn about our world and how we can make a difference in it.

For one, these reports give us in the US and other countries (like Japan where I live) some perspective on how fortunate most of us are to be able to live in peace with our families and pursue our studies and dreams.

Another value is that we see how outside assistance can be helpful for bringing change to areas where violence against women or other weaker groups is structurally embedded. NPOs that work with issues like that clearly have a role to play in the lives of girls like Fulamatu, who otherwise would be a victim of a system that allows male rapists to walk free while she, as the victim, is shamed and exiled to the countryside away from her school and family.

Hopefully she will be allowed to go to a boarding school. The Internet hopefully will be a medium that allows us in developed economies to see opportunities to help assistance organizations in developing countries and help make a difference more directly.