From Denny: Former First Lady of Britain, Cherie Blair, is calling attention to and focusing upon the plight of widows, especially young widows with children, all over the world. The statistics will astound you as to how many widows living in abject poverty there are today globally.
Normally, when we think of a "widow" we presume her to be elderly and is cared for by a son or daughter in her old age. Such a caring attitude does not await most young widows, especially in places like India and Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries.
In Asia and the Near East, it is a social stigma to be a widow. What's worse is these women, especially in Afghanistan, are not allowed to work to put food on the table for their children. As a result, they end up in terrible crushing poverty. They live sad lives suffering terrible diseases, malnutrition and abuse. It's no wonder those National Geographic pictures always show their faces to be so sad.
The reasons for widowhood? HIV, AIDS, war.
Surprisingly, the largest number of widows in the world are in the United States, China and India. Afghanistan has the highest number of widows in relation to marriage age women.
Current count of widows:
China - 44 million
India - 42 million
United States - 15 million
Right now former First Lady of Britain, Cherie Blair, is asking the United Nations to focus attention upon an often overlooked segment of society: widows. She wants the international organization to create International Widows Day.
Out of 245 million widows, over 100 million live in extreme poverty which leads to malnutrition, disease and abuse - according to The Loomba Foundation. Cherie Blair is President of The Loomba Foundation. Check out her website to see how you can help your fellow women.
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2 comments:
As one of these young widows living like this, here in the US, I so appreciate this post. Thank you
Hi, Neva, sorry to hear about your situation. Would contacting The Loomba Foundation help in any way? I haven't had a chance to read their site in depth to know what all is available. I really think we all need to get serious about helping each other in this country and around the world. What many women don't realize is we are all a step away from this poverty, especially with the chaotic economy and job loss the way it is. Praying for widows, especially those with young children, is what we do at our house every day.
BTW, your poetry is beautiful and so wonderfully heart felt, girl! Enjoy your poetry blog very much.
Keep your attitude up like you always do. You are such a beautiful person. I have faith in you and faith in God that things will work themselves out for you and your children. Keep an open mind and an open heart, no matter how much it is aching, to grab a hold onto the opportunities God presents. It's easy to get lost and downright drown in the grieving process. Keep writing as I know it really helps the hurt and loneliness. You have a lot of fans and one here too.
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