| Have you ever had the feeling while reading a | | | | change. Here is a quote from the Baha'I writer, |
| newspaper, listening to a lecture, or sitting around a | | | | Abdu'l-Baha, which I like very much: "What profit is |
| dinner table talking with friends about current events, | | | | there in agreeing that universal friendship is good, and |
| that "Something ought to be done about that"? Or | | | | talking of the solidarity of the human race as a grand |
| perhaps you have felt appalled by an injustice of | | | | ideal? Unless these thoughts are translated into the |
| some sad event and thought, "What is to be done?" | | | | world of action, they are useless. The wrong in the |
| Some events, especially those at the global level, | | | | world continues to exist just because people talk |
| seem insurmountable -- poverty, injustice, and | | | | only of their ideals and do not strive to put them into |
| environmental degradation, for example. And even in | | | | practice." In other words, as you seek to make |
| our local communities, we seem beset with problems | | | | change, you need to take very specific actions to |
| -- destructive behavior, a lack education in the arts, | | | | give reality to your dreams. I found that a good |
| cruelty to animals -- that may make us feel upset. | | | | beginning is to meet with others, even two or three |
| Such shock or sadness about the state of the world | | | | friends, and talk about your vision for change. Begin |
| or even everyday problems signals our recognition | | | | to write down your ideas. Decide to meet again to |
| that things can be otherwise. Differences can be | | | | figure out how to proceed. Take on different |
| made. Hope persists. Recognizing a problem and | | | | responsibilities for the program or organization -- |
| feeling that things can change is the beginning of | | | | deciding when, how often, and where you will meet |
| change itself. If you have had this experience, you | | | | and what specific programs you will undertake. One |
| can be part of the change; you can dream and | | | | or two of your friends will begin to think about |
| develop a vision and a plan of action. Gandhi wrote | | | | writing a brochure or a statement of the vision and |
| that "we must be the change we wish to see," and I | | | | purpose of your enterprise. Another will begin to |
| agree. He meant, I think, that we must embody the | | | | think of sources of money, including your own |
| change itself, but I would add that we must dare to | | | | donations, if your activities are going to require funds |
| dream of change for the sake of the world. In this | | | | (for publications, advertising, travel, or whatever). |
| short article, I would like to share with you how I | | | | Begin as volunteers until you truly find that you need |
| came to believe this idea. I hope the story will be | | | | to hire people to run the project. Most important, be |
| helpful to you as you address issues that upset and | | | | clear about your vision and purpose. If people say |
| concern you in your community and in the world. | | | | that your dream is too big or that it "can't be done," |
| Briefly, here is what happened to me: Back in 1987, I | | | | try not to be brought down by such negative |
| began to dream of creating an organization that | | | | thoughts. Instead, address the central issue that they |
| would help women around the world be strengthened | | | | raise and think positively about whether or how to |
| and empowered. The idea became a passion, and I | | | | address their criticisms; it may be necessary to avoid |
| worked with others to put together The Global Fund | | | | negative people for a while. Giving reality to a dream |
| for Women, which grew from the seed of an idea to | | | | can be hard work, and one doesn't want to be |
| a fully developed organization, now about twenty | | | | burdened with negativism. Make a note of |
| years old and the largest foundation in the world | | | | constructive criticism for future reference; in the |
| working to support the human rights of women. In | | | | beginning, your ideas for change need to be nurtured. |
| other words, from a dream came the reality. In the | | | | At this time of beginnings, think not only of what |
| course of developing The Global Fund for Women, I | | | | you want to do but the way you want to do it: |
| came to know that the way an organization does its | | | | what is the nature of the program or organization |
| work is more important than what it does. I also | | | | that you want to build? Do you want it to be an |
| learned that there can be some definable steps | | | | "idea factory"? If so, be sure to seek out people |
| toward effecting change. First you must dare to | | | | very different from yourself to ensure that they will |
| dream of positive change and then clarify that vision. | | | | bring in perspectives that you will not think of. Do |
| Try to be as clear as possible about what you hope | | | | you want it to be a calm and gentle place? If so, |
| to do and why. As you dream of creating a program | | | | think of ways that your group can set in place |
| or an organization that will "change the world" at | | | | processes that allow people to feel safe and calm. |
| whatever level you may wish to work, people may | | | | Are you working on issues of social justice? If so, |
| suggest that you are being "unrealistically idealistic." | | | | make sure that your everyday practices in the group |
| Never mind; that may be a good thing. Major change | | | | recognize and respect differences and that the |
| seldom occurs without seemingly "unrealistic" ideas. | | | | day-to-day work practices are based on respect, |
| Your dream will act to galvanize others. My dream of | | | | trust, and compassion. The medium is the message: |
| getting money directly into the hands of grass-roots | | | | the way you do your work is more important than |
| women around the world in respectful, trusting, and | | | | what you do. I suppose that these thoughts on the |
| flexible ways inspired a good number of people. My | | | | very beginning of change may seem very simple. |
| experience urges you to let yourself dream and then | | | | They are. But they will get you started to create |
| clarify the vision. Very soon, however, our dreams | | | | change. There is no beginning too small. |
| must be turned into reality if we want to see real | | | | |