"Journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of development issues – from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina BokovaHAPPY BIRTHDAY, NELLIE BLY | Committed to changing the world
The Womanity Foundation is proud to bring together the laureates of the Womanity Award and luminaries working to prevent violence against women.We invite you to join us online as we announce and celebrate the 2014 Womanity Award winners, and to engage in a discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities in preventing gender-based violence:
- The innovative Womanity Award and its vision for supporting and scaling successful approaches.
- How the winners will collaborate across geographies and cultural boundaries to curb violence against women.
- Successful strategies for preventing gender-based violence, involving boys and men.
- Implementing prevention strategies in conflict and crisis areas.
My dear girl, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: "You said the same thing a minute ago"... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.
When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?
When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way ... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issues every day... the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through.
If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.
And when my old, tired legs don't let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don't feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you ... my darling daughter.
Stephanie DotyOriginal text in Spanish and photo by Guillermo Peña.
Translation to English by Sergio Cadena
