Last month, I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion following a screening of the documentary She Rises Up.
A huge thank you to one of our incredible sponsors, Romina Boccia, for the invitation. It was an honor to be part of such an important conversation.
The film follows three remarkable women from Peru, Senegal, and Sri Lanka who are working against incredible odds to build businesses that support not only their families, but their communities as well.
As I watched their stories unfold, I kept thinking about something we often misunderstand when we talk about poverty.
Many people assume the solution is simply providing resources. Resources matter.
But opportunity matters too.
When women have access to education, entrepreneurship, financial independence, and the ability to earn an income, the impact extends far beyond one person. Families become more stable. Children are more likely to stay in school. Communities become stronger.
I see this same principle at work in Guatemala.
Our sewing center creates income opportunities for local women. Our education programs help children stay in school. Our garden tower initiative has generated more than 2.3 million meals since 2019 by helping families grow food for themselves.
None of these programs are about creating dependence.
They are about creating opportunity.
One thing I’ve noticed lately is that conversations about poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and global issues often attract smaller audiences than they deserve. Yet these conversations matter because they help us better understand what actually creates lasting change.
The work of empowering women is not charity.
It is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and create long term change.
If you have a few minutes this week, I encourage you to watch the trailer for She Rises Up. I think you’ll walk away inspired by what is possible when women are given the chance to thrive.
Watch the trailer here:
https://www.sherisesupfilm.com/home#trailer
Thank you for continuing to believe in solutions that create lasting change.
With gratitude,
Tobie
If you’d like to help create opportunities for women and children in Guatemala, you can sponsor a child here: https://behumanitarian.org/sponsorship-donations/
If you’d like to see this work firsthand, we’d love to have you join us on a volunteer trip: https://behumanitarian.org/travel-with-us-2/
P.S. One of my biggest takeaways from the film was simple: when women rise, entire communities rise with them. I’ve seen that truth firsthand in Guatemala, and I believe it is worth investing in.
