Posted to Sister Zeph’s Journal By Sister Zeph On July 11, 2014
I stood before a woman of approximately 35 years old, a mother of three daughters. Her eldest daughter, just five years old, and the youngest, a mere two and a half. As I approached her, her eyes, dried by weeks of ceaseless weeping, welled up with tears once more. Her visage was that of someone aged beyond her years, clad in threadbare clothes that bore the marks of hunger and poverty. Her daughters, blissfully unaware of their circumstances, played and giggled. Yet, the eldest clung to her mother, wiping away her tears and embracing her repeatedly.
The woman struggled to speak, her voice choked by tears, and her words were nearly indecipherable. Witnessing her plight, my own tears threatened to escape, but I knew I needed to remain strong. My purpose was to offer her hope and strength for the challenging future ahead, for her daughters were now solely her responsibility.
A mere six and a half years after their marriage, her husband tragically succumbed to an electric shock. She did not possess a home of her own; the house provided by her husband’s employer was slated to be reclaimed (details were unclear). She found herself lost, uncertain of her next steps. She had no plans for her future, her mind consumed by one question: Why did her husband leave her? He was meant to be her eternal companion, the one who had, in her eyes, kept her content within the confines of their home.
Reality often diverges from our dreams. Her husband had been our colleague, and after his untimely passing, I approached my superiors with a proposal. I offered to provide her with training in hairdressing, party makeup, and bridal makeup so that she could eventually establish her own beauty salon, ensuring a means to support her family. Thankfully, my superiors granted their approval, allowing me to visit her home and present the opportunity. When I arrived at her doorstep, the sight of her condition weighed heavily on my heart.
Nevertheless, there was a glimmer of hope in her story. She possessed skills and an intermediate level of education, including stitching. With determination and effort, she could learn to take care of her family. While her loss was immeasurable, I held onto the belief that she would build a good life for herself and her daughters. Challenges would arise, moments of loneliness would surface, but adversity is a common thread in every life. Strong individuals confront their circumstances head-on; they do not succumb to them.
The greatest source of strength for women lies in education and empowerment. Unfortunately, in many developing countries, the significance of women’s education is often underestimated. The truth is, without education, a woman remains incomplete. Education embodies life, change, power, wisdom, reality, and an unwavering life partner that never deserts her. Brothers may distance themselves, fathers may pass away, husbands may fall ill or stray, but education remains a steadfast companion. No matter how far she ventures, even in times of sickness or death, education stands by her side, unyielding and ever-present.