My sisters; my wealth

Unlike many people, I had a difficult take off. This made me to come to the conclusion that life may not hold beautiful experience  for everybody on earth, most especially myself.  Therefore,  I cherished every little opportunity that came my way, my slogan was, it's not an entitlement,  it is a privilege.

That was how life seemed to me, until one day, when I discovered the internet. A life-transforming opportunity. It changed my perception about life, placed me on equal footing with everyone and created a new mindset within me that, the universe is for aĺ, has enough for all and can become a fertile ground for everyone to bloom and blossom.

My story changed the day I got to connected to the internet.

The internet connected me to my sisters from another mothers who showed me that the universe is much more than a space but its a fertile land, filled with greenery and enough natural manure that germinate even rotten seeds.

On a fateful day  in 2010, I logged on to Worldpulse,  as my usual rite, after reading and commenting on stories, I went on to the resource exchange section, there, I found an opportunity for a training in Bangalore, India. I wanted empowerment opportunities, at no cost, because I was very poor. Life was tough. We were always thinking about food, school fees of our out of school daughter and survival. Suddenly, here came an opportunity to transform my life. Who do I talk to? Definitely,  not my darling husband, he was a volunteer.

I was keen about learning. I wanted to fulfil my life purpose. I wanted to start well, like an informed woman. Empowered to take the lead, working with little mistakes and knowing enough to be able to run a transformation organisation like a Pro. Not just starting an organisation but starting well, running it intelligently while creating a sustainable business alongside.

I cast all fear aside, because, nothing creates so much fear like death and poverty, so, I sent a mail to the organiser of the training as regards my interest in the programme,  and my inability to pay the training fee. The organiser responded that I should apply at no fee but I should find a way to pay for my return ticket to Bangalore.  I was so happy about the training fee cancellation but then, the ticket was another rat race.

Although, the the visa was another hard nut to crack but my online sister, who has never met me before provided letters for the embassy. Finally and miraculously, I found myself in Bangalore,  in the open hands of my kind sisters. These women had never met me before,  but they welcomed me lovingly with open arms. The experience was unforgettable . It changed my life.

At the end of the programme,  I found my new family in India and a light in my dark path. The organiser recommended me for further training in Cape town, South Africa, that same year . The recommendation paved the way for a scholarship for another one year in-service Training for Transformation programme in Kleinmond .

Both training gave me the needed solid foundation in Transformation and a change of life. In Cape town, due to the recommendation from India, I had the best experience of transformation and a beautiful foot-hold in transformation. 

These opportunities for empowerment taught me how to run a sustainable organisation but also created another yearning for more knowledge into my life. The sudden change in my life and organisation  made me to vow that I will always support other women who want to be empowered. 

If there was no internet, if I did not learn computer, if there was no Worldpulse,  If there was no resource exchange section on Worldpulse. ....if I  did not check resource exchange, who knows where I will be today, may be I will not be able to access such opportunities and become empowered. 

On many occasions,  in solitude, I always ask myself a lot of questions about my life, but I have a secret joy within me that, the wealth of women is not really about finances, it is more about our interconnectedness and every woman's resolve to support other women.

It's been eight solid years that I accessed that opportunity on Worldpulse and, altogether,  I have been able to recommend twenty women for Transformation training in both institutions; in India and Cape town. I find inner satisfaction in knowing that women lifted me up and I have been able to lift other women.