Know the difference!

DOT visits Aarti Home & Lalita's Women Cooperative

Aarti Home & School. The concrete box at the corner was built to provide shelter for babies left at the gate, so that they won't be exposed to the sun and rain.

DOT on the road...

Training class for DOT's cute animal purses. 

Most of the women and girls learning this craft are Muslims from 16 years old to 30s. 

Aunty Sandhya tells us these ladies are all married. When I interviewed them, some said they are not. 

Unmarried Muslim girls are not supposed to leave their houses unaccompanied, hence the cover story. And the only reason why the families of these girls allow them to come to Aarti Home for training is because they know that it's a safe place for women - a reputation Aunty Sandhya has spent the last 20 years to build within the community.

Card-making class with the children from Aarti Home. 

One of the talented ones - little artist in the making.

A major step in eradicating violence!

Sharing something with our men fans -

I wish you enough

A touching story and a CNY wish for all our friends.

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?" 

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. 

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

Please Share this with your friends. It has the potential to inspire alot of people. 

Be Blessed Of Divine Light.

Miss Representation Trailer

Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

Watch the trailer of Miss Representation, the film written, directed and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. 

Millions of people all over the world have seen the inspiring film to date, have you? 

Singapore Screening: 8 March 2013 (Fri), 7:30pm.

Email Empower@DaughtersOfTomorrow.com for ticket enquiry.

Bbc article: Is Delhi gang rape India's 'Rosa Parks moment'?

Keeping this alive in our minds. 

Favourite quote:

"It was men not God who bar women from mosques", said Muslim academic Ashgar Ali Engineer, deriding the idea that such bans are to protect them from harassment.

Click here to view the article