The black thing again

When I visited Christian Aid projects in India I met some of the most fearsome women imaginable! These were women who had been empowered to fight for their rights, stand up to corruption and tackle the culture of inequality that keeps women oppressed.

I had the privilege of meeting staff of women’s organisations that were focussed on helping women out of dangerous situations and offering education and support to girls to provide them with the many opportunities they deserve.

On one particular day I sat in a tiny room with an interpreter and one by one, men, women, parents and children told me of their experiences. Some, like Gina, had saved their mothers from neglect. Others like Reema, had been forced into marriage at the age of 13 and been abused and denied education. Others like Ramesh, watched their daughter become trapped in a vicious cycle of domestic violence. I heard some appalling stories that day. I cried with parents as they asked me to make sure it doesn’t happed to anyone else’s children. I got angry with the staff who are fearlessly tackling the corruption and culture that means that most of these atrocities are swept under the carpet.

I came back from India changed and a bit broken. Yet I have a confession… I knew that unless I made an effort, everything I felt in India would fade as I readjusted to my comfortable life. I decided I wanted to stay a bit broken, so I joined the growing movement of people who wear black on Thursdays as a peaceful protest and a symbol of solidarity with all those fighting and affected by gender based inequality and violence. I’ve not missed a Thursday yet, and it has connected me with those who showed me just how uncomfortable I should feel with the way the world is for far too many people.