the house was nothing more than four walls and open ceiling a water pump a
walls and open ceiling a water pump a
walls and open ceiling a water pump a bed and a corner for the cattle a single
bed and a corner for the cattle a single
bed and a corner for the cattle a single stairway led up to a sliver or group for
stairway led up to a sliver or group for
stairway led up to a sliver or group for the clothes laid out to dry and on the
the clothes laid out to dry and on the
the clothes laid out to dry and on the steps at nine children as we entered I
steps at nine children as we entered I
steps at nine children as we entered I could hear them always spring back and
could hear them always spring back and
could hear them always spring back and forth and Hindi and staring at it
forth and Hindi and staring at it
forth and Hindi and staring at it curiously their father sat in a cracked
curiously their father sat in a cracked
curiously their father sat in a cracked plastic chair by the single bed and was
plastic chair by the single bed and was
plastic chair by the single bed and was silent with no words it exchanged safina
silent with no words it exchanged safina
silent with no words it exchanged safina the eldest of all nine children stood up
the eldest of all nine children stood up
the eldest of all nine children stood up and moved over to the corner where a
and moved over to the corner where a
and moved over to the corner where a pile of metal dishes that were dirty a
pile of metal dishes that were dirty a
pile of metal dishes that were dirty a twisting miss began to scrub I have
twisting miss began to scrub I have
twisting miss began to scrub I have pet negara india with educate
pet negara india with educate
pet negara india with educate girls globally the charity that I work
girls globally the charity that I work
girls globally the charity that I work with as their student chair for the
with as their student chair for the
with as their student chair for the United Arab Emirates it’s my
United Arab Emirates it’s my
United Arab Emirates it’s my responsibility to go with the adult
responsibility to go with the adult
responsibility to go with the adult volunteers into the field and to meet
volunteers into the field and to meet
volunteers into the field and to meet with the young girls in the impoverished
with the young girls in the impoverished
with the young girls in the impoverished schools particularly it was my job to
schools particularly it was my job to
schools particularly it was my job to document my journey through photographs
document my journey through photographs
document my journey through photographs to give speeches and encouragement and
to give speeches and encouragement and
to give speeches and encouragement and also to interview the girls to document
also to interview the girls to document
also to interview the girls to document their stories but this interaction was
their stories but this interaction was
their stories but this interaction was the first one of its kind I was here to
the first one of its kind I was here to
the first one of its kind I was here to negotiate with subpoenas father for her
negotiate with subpoenas father for her
negotiate with subpoenas father for her rights to go back to school however I
rights to go back to school however I
rights to go back to school however I don’t speak any handy so for the first
don’t speak any handy so for the first
don’t speak any handy so for the first hour and a half for in conversation in
hour and a half for in conversation in
hour and a half for in conversation in 110 degree feats and a horrible stench
110 degree feats and a horrible stench
110 degree feats and a horrible stench all I could do was sits and stares
all I could do was sits and stares
all I could do was sits and stares safina as she scrubbed away the dishes I
safina as she scrubbed away the dishes I
safina as she scrubbed away the dishes I thought of my sink and but felt terrific
thought of my sink and but felt terrific
thought of my sink and but felt terrific guilts flow and I thought of my
guilts flow and I thought of my
guilts flow and I thought of my dishwasher and health even worse what
dishwasher and health even worse what
dishwasher and health even worse what could I say care how could we relate how
could I say care how could we relate how
could I say care how could we relate how can we even interact so I asked what do
can we even interact so I asked what do
can we even interact so I asked what do you want to be you anymore
you want to be you anymore
you want to be you anymore he surprised me replying in perfect
he surprised me replying in perfect
he surprised me replying in perfect English that he wanted to be a police
English that he wanted to be a police
English that he wanted to be a police officer and he wanted to help her
officer and he wanted to help her
officer and he wanted to help her country and protect her people if you
country and protect her people if you
country and protect her people if you know just taking out a new drug rug so
know just taking out a new drug rug so
know just taking out a new drug rug so quiet clean the mouth clean dishes to
quiet clean the mouth clean dishes to
quiet clean the mouth clean dishes to dry the Nephilim dishes and when dirty
dry the Nephilim dishes and when dirty
dry the Nephilim dishes and when dirty cluttered dark clouds are rolling over
cluttered dark clouds are rolling over
cluttered dark clouds are rolling over head and I knew that it would rain soon
head and I knew that it would rain soon
head and I knew that it would rain soon this would be fine right except for
this would be fine right except for
this would be fine right except for remember i started the speech what did I
remember i started the speech what did I
remember i started the speech what did I say there’s no ceiling so the water
say there’s no ceiling so the water
say there’s no ceiling so the water would come in and it was flooded for
would come in and it was flooded for
would come in and it was flooded for angles than the cow dung in the mud with
angles than the cow dung in the mud with
angles than the cow dung in the mud with mixed together during the dishes all
mixed together during the dishes all
mixed together during the dishes all over again so rust under subpoena and
over again so rust under subpoena and
over again so rust under subpoena and heard the dried all the rest of the
heard the dried all the rest of the
heard the dried all the rest of the dishes playing upon the crickets shelf
dishes playing upon the crickets shelf
dishes playing upon the crickets shelf and we were drying the last gap when the
and we were drying the last gap when the
and we were drying the last gap when the first drop of water hit my arm then came
first drop of water hit my arm then came
first drop of water hit my arm then came it down nine children the three egg
it down nine children the three egg
it down nine children the three egg voluntary and safina and I sat on the
voluntary and safina and I sat on the
voluntary and safina and I sat on the one bed and I need the sliver of roof to
one bed and I need the sliver of roof to
one bed and I need the sliver of roof to practice for the ring while safinaz
practice for the ring while safinaz
practice for the ring while safinaz father stayed in the cross cracked
father stayed in the cross cracked
father stayed in the cross cracked plastic chair and let the water rush
plastic chair and let the water rush
plastic chair and let the water rush open I turned to many one of the
open I turned to many one of the
open I turned to many one of the volunteers and asked will you translate
volunteers and asked will you translate
volunteers and asked will you translate for me swish your applied chillin then I
for me swish your applied chillin then I
for me swish your applied chillin then I turned to her father why will you not
turned to her father why will you not
turned to her father why will you not let her go to school he replied that he
let her go to school he replied that he
let her go to school he replied that he had no choice Sofia’s mother had died
had no choice Sofia’s mother had died
had no choice Sofia’s mother had died five years back and speedos the oldest
five years back and speedos the oldest
five years back and speedos the oldest of nine and children and he worked a 16
of nine and children and he worked a 16
of nine and children and he worked a 16 hour job he needed her to stay home to
hour job he needed her to stay home to
hour job he needed her to stay home to cook to clean to care for her siblings
cook to clean to care for her siblings
cook to clean to care for her siblings not only this but in their culture males
not only this but in their culture males
not only this but in their culture males of school you get a job and then they
of school you get a job and then they
of school you get a job and then they provide for their family the daughters
provide for their family the daughters
provide for their family the daughters get married up so what’s the point
so I bought them and then it got back up
so I bought them and then it got back up the courage and I said what if what if
the courage and I said what if what if
the courage and I said what if what if you did what if she didn’t get married
you did what if she didn’t get married
you did what if she didn’t get married right away and what if she graduated
right away and what if she graduated
right away and what if she graduated high school maybe she could get a job
high school maybe she could get a job
high school maybe she could get a job maybe she could make money maybe she’d
maybe she could make money maybe she’d
maybe she could make money maybe she’d be provided for you and your family just
be provided for you and your family just
be provided for you and your family just like her brothers that would happen
like her brothers that would happen
like her brothers that would happen would you send your back to school there
would you send your back to school there
would you send your back to school there was the longest of silences and I
was the longest of silences and I
was the longest of silences and I thought first I can I had insulted him
thought first I can I had insulted him
thought first I can I had insulted him but eventually he looked back up not to
but eventually he looked back up not to
but eventually he looked back up not to me the to his daughter who is sitting
me the to his daughter who is sitting
me the to his daughter who is sitting with her face in her hands weeping as
with her face in her hands weeping as
with her face in her hands weeping as her siblings I’ll put their hands on her
her siblings I’ll put their hands on her
her siblings I’ll put their hands on her back comforting her slowly he turned to
back comforting her slowly he turned to
back comforting her slowly he turned to me and said you can promise me you will
me and said you can promise me you will
me and said you can promise me you will find her a job after she graduates
find her a job after she graduates
find her a job after she graduates alessandra box and before the volunteers
alessandra box and before the volunteers
alessandra box and before the volunteers could shake hands with her father’s you
could shake hands with her father’s you
could shake hands with her father’s you know had run out into the rain in her
know had run out into the rain in her
know had run out into the rain in her father’s arms it was yelling Sonia
father’s arms it was yelling Sonia
father’s arms it was yelling Sonia Vardhan David thank you thank you and
Vardhan David thank you thank you and
Vardhan David thank you thank you and soon that the ring was gone and the
soon that the ring was gone and the
soon that the ring was gone and the dishes were dry and a little girl in
dishes were dry and a little girl in
dishes were dry and a little girl in soaking poses beaming with joy and I had
soaking poses beaming with joy and I had
soaking poses beaming with joy and I had said next I said only a few sentence but
said next I said only a few sentence but
said next I said only a few sentence but I hit system and that was enough
I hit system and that was enough
I hit system and that was enough educating girls is not just about her in
educating girls is not just about her in
educating girls is not just about her in fact benefits girls but it benefits you
fact benefits girls but it benefits you
fact benefits girls but it benefits you as well because when you educate one
as well because when you educate one
as well because when you educate one girl you actually benefit the community
girl you actually benefit the community
girl you actually benefit the community the nation benefits worlds I know that
the nation benefits worlds I know that
the nation benefits worlds I know that sounds cliche but just wait because I
sounds cliche but just wait because I
sounds cliche but just wait because I can prove it
can prove it
can prove it so how do though how can one girl change
so how do though how can one girl change
so how do though how can one girl change the whole world it seems kind of silly
the whole world it seems kind of silly
the whole world it seems kind of silly three words the domino effect see when
three words the domino effect see when
three words the domino effect see when you educate one girl this is what
you educate one girl this is what
you educate one girl this is what happened she then you’re likely to get a
happened she then you’re likely to get a
happened she then you’re likely to get a good job right and she’s better to it
good job right and she’s better to it
good job right and she’s better to it she’s likely to get better pic which
she’s likely to get better pic which
she’s likely to get better pic which means that she’s able to provide her and
means that she’s able to provide her and
means that she’s able to provide her and her family which means that she lived
her family which means that she lived
her family which means that she lived her in a family out of poverty maybe
her in a family out of poverty maybe
her in a family out of poverty maybe middle class not only this when you
middle class not only this when you
middle class not only this when you educate a girl it she’s able to get that
educate a girl it she’s able to get that
educate a girl it she’s able to get that job what happened there’s a stronger and
job what happened there’s a stronger and
job what happened there’s a stronger and larger workforce there’s a stronger and
larger workforce there’s a stronger and
larger workforce there’s a stronger and better economy you educate one girl
better economy you educate one girl
better economy you educate one girl benefit and make what else health care
benefit and make what else health care
benefit and make what else health care if you benefit if you educate one girl
if you benefit if you educate one girl
if you benefit if you educate one girl benefits health care how thinks about
benefits health care how thinks about
benefits health care how thinks about that how well if you educate one girl
that how well if you educate one girl
that how well if you educate one girl she’s more likely to have good hygiene
she’s more likely to have good hygiene
she’s more likely to have good hygiene more like they don’t understand how to
more like they don’t understand how to
more like they don’t understand how to use sanitation this means that she’s
use sanitation this means that she’s
use sanitation this means that she’s less likely to get infected by diseases
less likely to get infected by diseases
less likely to get infected by diseases and in the long run this means that life
and in the long run this means that life
and in the long run this means that life expectancy might improve in her country
expectancy might improve in her country
expectancy might improve in her country what else well when you’re educated
what else well when you’re educated
what else well when you’re educated woman she’s more likely to use detection
woman she’s more likely to use detection
woman she’s more likely to use detection which means hero teen pregnancies which
which means hero teen pregnancies which
which means hero teen pregnancies which means smaller families and what happens
means smaller families and what happens
means smaller families and what happens he has smaller families more money per
he has smaller families more money per
he has smaller families more money per child more food for child’s better
child more food for child’s better
child more food for child’s better shelter but our clothing and even maybe
shelter but our clothing and even maybe
shelter but our clothing and even maybe Sonny promised well in fact according to
Sonny promised well in fact according to
Sonny promised well in fact according to the world bank a woman is educated she’s
the world bank a woman is educated she’s
the world bank a woman is educated she’s three times more likely to set around
three times more likely to set around
three times more likely to set around the school now doesn’t that seem worth
the school now doesn’t that seem worth
the school now doesn’t that seem worth it to you yeah so why isn’t it happening
it to you yeah so why isn’t it happening
it to you yeah so why isn’t it happening it well the solution is fantastic but
it well the solution is fantastic but
it well the solution is fantastic but it’s hard to achieve and the problem
it’s hard to achieve and the problem
it’s hard to achieve and the problem feels enormous
feels enormous
feels enormous currently forty-five percent of girls in
currently forty-five percent of girls in
currently forty-five percent of girls in India drop out of school between grades
India drop out of school between grades
India drop out of school between grades 1 and grades 5 reads one and five those
1 and grades 5 reads one and five those
1 and grades 5 reads one and five those are key moments of Education where
are key moments of Education where
are key moments of Education where they’re gaining your basic knowledge yet
they’re gaining your basic knowledge yet
they’re gaining your basic knowledge yet if you look at that graph most of them
if you look at that graph most of them
if you look at that graph most of them leave like the three book the second
leave like the three book the second
leave like the three book the second amount isn’t first great so many girls
amount isn’t first great so many girls
amount isn’t first great so many girls leave before even beginning their basic
leave before even beginning their basic
leave before even beginning their basic education not Hugh now let’s move on to
education not Hugh now let’s move on to
education not Hugh now let’s move on to literacy rates I want to show of hands
literacy rates I want to show of hands
literacy rates I want to show of hands how many of you think that the US has
how many of you think that the US has
how many of you think that the US has perfect diversity rate for women the
perfect diversity rate for women the
perfect diversity rate for women the United States once with you here well
United States once with you here well
United States once with you here well you’re wrong or you’re right
you’re wrong or you’re right
you’re wrong or you’re right congratulations ninety-nine percent
congratulations ninety-nine percent
congratulations ninety-nine percent they’re closed so my face is ninety-nine
they’re closed so my face is ninety-nine
they’re closed so my face is ninety-nine percent for literacy for women now what
percent for literacy for women now what
percent for literacy for women now what about archive UAE what do you guys think
about archive UAE what do you guys think
about archive UAE what do you guys think you think it’s close two hundred percent
you think it’s close two hundred percent
you think it’s close two hundred percent yeah oh you’re close this close 95.8
yeah oh you’re close this close 95.8
yeah oh you’re close this close 95.8 still pretty great right what about
still pretty great right what about
still pretty great right what about Uganda 1.5 we’re dropping a little bit
Uganda 1.5 we’re dropping a little bit
Uganda 1.5 we’re dropping a little bit but I guess this is natural they’re more
but I guess this is natural they’re more
but I guess this is natural they’re more of a developing country or beginning to
of a developing country or beginning to
of a developing country or beginning to develop now what about India 60.6
develop now what about India 60.6
develop now what about India 60.6 percent now this is a live a whole
percent now this is a live a whole
percent now this is a live a whole number especially for India which is
number especially for India which is
number especially for India which is seen as the country that’s highly
seen as the country that’s highly
seen as the country that’s highly developed it’s becoming more more
developed it’s becoming more more
developed it’s becoming more more developed by the day it’s soon to become
developed by the day it’s soon to become
developed by the day it’s soon to become one of the developed countries yes still
one of the developed countries yes still
one of the developed countries yes still 60.6 percent for Larry superwomen this
60.6 percent for Larry superwomen this
60.6 percent for Larry superwomen this is a problem and here’s a bigger problem
is a problem and here’s a bigger problem
is a problem and here’s a bigger problem girl is who are not educated who don’t
girl is who are not educated who don’t
girl is who are not educated who don’t have that high larious e-rate who drop
have that high larious e-rate who drop
have that high larious e-rate who drop out between grades one in grades 5 what
out between grades one in grades 5 what
out between grades one in grades 5 what happens to them they’re not going to get
happens to them they’re not going to get
happens to them they’re not going to get the job and when they’re home with their
the job and when they’re home with their
the job and when they’re home with their families they’re just an extra person to
families they’re just an extra person to
families they’re just an extra person to feed that’s a person to quote so what
feed that’s a person to quote so what
feed that’s a person to quote so what happens they get married off him
happens they get married off him
happens they get married off him in fact in northern India fifty percent
in fact in northern India fifty percent
in fact in northern India fifty percent of girl are married off for eternity
of girl are married off for eternity
of girl are married off for eternity they’re married off of us still children
they’re married off of us still children
they’re married off of us still children now statistics are great and all but I
now statistics are great and all but I
now statistics are great and all but I feel like sometimes they don’t hit home
feel like sometimes they don’t hit home
feel like sometimes they don’t hit home so I want you to think about yourself
so I want you to think about yourself
so I want you to think about yourself put yourself in a situation even better
put yourself in a situation even better
put yourself in a situation even better I want you to think of someone you know
I want you to think of someone you know
I want you to think of someone you know who’s 18 years old or younger I want you
who’s 18 years old or younger I want you
who’s 18 years old or younger I want you to think of maybe a daughter Vidya
to think of maybe a daughter Vidya
to think of maybe a daughter Vidya sister maybe the cousin may be funny now
sister maybe the cousin may be funny now
sister maybe the cousin may be funny now imagine that person when you put their
imagine that person when you put their
imagine that person when you put their name in your mind you’re thinking of
name in your mind you’re thinking of
name in your mind you’re thinking of them right now right yeah now imagine
them right now right yeah now imagine
them right now right yeah now imagine them at 11 years of age dropping out of
them at 11 years of age dropping out of
them at 11 years of age dropping out of school so they can clean a cook and take
school so they can clean a cook and take
school so they can clean a cook and take care of their families and 11 years of
care of their families and 11 years of
care of their families and 11 years of age providing for their families out
age providing for their families out
age providing for their families out then I want you to imagine maybe it 18
then I want you to imagine maybe it 18
then I want you to imagine maybe it 18 maybe 17 maybe 16 maybe 15 maybe even 14
maybe 17 maybe 16 maybe 15 maybe even 14
maybe 17 maybe 16 maybe 15 maybe even 14 13 12 getting married off to men who
13 12 getting married off to men who
13 12 getting married off to men who they likely don’t know there’s likely a
they likely don’t know there’s likely a
they likely don’t know there’s likely a lot older than Nick you still have that
lot older than Nick you still have that
lot older than Nick you still have that person’s head of name and face in your
person’s head of name and face in your
person’s head of name and face in your head that’s scary but it’s happening
head that’s scary but it’s happening
head that’s scary but it’s happening it’s real but there is a solution we
it’s real but there is a solution we
it’s real but there is a solution we need to stop just giving eight giving
need to stop just giving eight giving
need to stop just giving eight giving money that’s not working building more
money that’s not working building more
money that’s not working building more schools find my books hiring or teachers
schools find my books hiring or teachers
schools find my books hiring or teachers that’s not doing the trick it’s
that’s not doing the trick it’s
that’s not doing the trick it’s benefiting education but it’s not
benefiting education but it’s not
benefiting education but it’s not helping these girls have their education
helping these girls have their education
helping these girls have their education in the first place so what do we need to
in the first place so what do we need to
in the first place so what do we need to do i need to change minds we need to go
do i need to change minds we need to go
do i need to change minds we need to go into those countries and we need to
into those countries and we need to
into those countries and we need to educate the societies that are
educate the societies that are
educate the societies that are preventing the girls themselves when
preventing the girls themselves when
preventing the girls themselves when we’re seeing their own education we need
we’re seeing their own education we need
we’re seeing their own education we need to educate these girls allow them to
to educate these girls allow them to
to educate these girls allow them to have that success they they can achieve
have that success they they can achieve
have that success they they can achieve and then send them back to their home
and then send them back to their home
and then send them back to their home countries are the examples of what’s
countries are the examples of what’s
countries are the examples of what’s possible this
possible this
possible this difficult it’s not an easy solution it’s
difficult it’s not an easy solution it’s
difficult it’s not an easy solution it’s not something that doesn’t take much
not something that doesn’t take much
not something that doesn’t take much time or doesn’t take much money in fact
time or doesn’t take much money in fact
time or doesn’t take much money in fact it takes no money at all what it does
it takes no money at all what it does
it takes no money at all what it does take is effort if passion is time in
take is effort if passion is time in
take is effort if passion is time in fact it could take centuries that’s why
fact it could take centuries that’s why
fact it could take centuries that’s why many people don’t try it as I discussed
many people don’t try it as I discussed
many people don’t try it as I discussed earlier it is worth it think about
earlier it is worth it think about
earlier it is worth it think about caterpillar that’s building its cocoon
caterpillar that’s building its cocoon
caterpillar that’s building its cocoon that takes time but the outcome is
that takes time but the outcome is
that takes time but the outcome is extraordinary so what about that
extraordinary so what about that
extraordinary so what about that metamorphosis from one girl who receives
metamorphosis from one girl who receives
metamorphosis from one girl who receives her education graduate despite the odd
her education graduate despite the odd
her education graduate despite the odd to an entire nation of educated and
to an entire nation of educated and
to an entire nation of educated and empowered women listing your societies
empowered women listing your societies
empowered women listing your societies out of poverty that is a metamorphosis
out of poverty that is a metamorphosis
out of poverty that is a metamorphosis we’re seeing that’s the metamorphosis
we’re seeing that’s the metamorphosis
we’re seeing that’s the metamorphosis worth fighting for and I hope I’ll be
worth fighting for and I hope I’ll be
worth fighting for and I hope I’ll be around when that happens I’m going back
around when that happens I’m going back
around when that happens I’m going back patna guard India this January and I’m
patna guard India this January and I’m
patna guard India this January and I’m going to see all the girls what they
going to see all the girls what they
going to see all the girls what they talked to you last summer p.m. will be
talked to you last summer p.m. will be
talked to you last summer p.m. will be one in fact I’ve been told that she’s
one in fact I’ve been told that she’s
one in fact I’ve been told that she’s now getting in your year I’ve been told
now getting in your year I’ve been told
now getting in your year I’ve been told she’s the top of her class I’ll tell you
she’s the top of her class I’ll tell you
she’s the top of her class I’ll tell you this I would not miss that in the world
this I would not miss that in the world
this I would not miss that in the world [Applause]
”
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