Nation's Annual Freedom Celebration, US Independence Day
In a recent journey, the writer and their family ventured to The Gambia in West Africa and returned from the United States, where they participated in the Fourth of July parade. However, the experiences in both countries left the writer with contrasting sentiments.
In The Gambia, the writer was fortunate enough to visit Starfish International, a Baha'i-inspired school that uplifts Gambian girls through world-class education and a focus on service to humanity. The writer's daughters, aged 14 and 13, participated in the Starfish International program during their summer vacation, and the writer was struck by the happiness and resilience of the students, despite facing significant challenges.
Meanwhile, the parade in the United States, held on July 4th, left the writer feeling disheartened and out of place. The writer perceived this as a defining period in the history of the United States, with rancor and cynicism dominating the national political scene. Yet, the writer believes that the nation can find meaning and purpose by shifting its focus from serving the military to serving humanity and prioritizing service to others.
The writer's experiences in The Gambia underscored the importance of humanitarian projects that empower women and girls, addressing challenges such as poverty, lack of education, and gender discrimination. Initiatives like ShambaLetu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mtende Women’s Cooperative in Malawi, African Alliance for Entrepreneurs (AAE) Green Innovation Projects, and Empowerment Program in South Africa are examples of such projects. Conscious Americans can get involved in these efforts by supporting these organisations, volunteering, advocating, and engaging in knowledge-sharing and mentorship programs.
The Baha'i Faith, which the writer follows, emphasizes service to humanity as a central tenet. Abdu'l-Baha, a key figure in the Baha'i Faith, encourages followers to prioritize service to God and humanity, urging them to be like candles casting light and spreading sweet scents wherever people gather. The writer posted a Baha'i prayer for America on Independence Day, hoping to inspire others to prioritize service to humanity.
Americans donated $410 billion to charity in 2017, the highest donation total of any nation in the world. The writer hopes that this generosity will extend to supporting humanitarian projects that empower women and girls, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable world.
In these challenging times, the writer believes that service to humanity is more important than ever, and that by working together, we can create a brighter future for all.
[1] ShambaLetu in the Democratic Republic of Congo: https://www.unfpa.org/news/democratic-republic-congo-women-farmers-transform-agricultural-waste-eco-friendly-briquettes [2] Mtende Women’s Cooperative in Malawi: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/democratic-governance/gender-equality/mtende-womens-cooperative-in-malawi.html [3] African Alliance for Entrepreneurs (AAE) Green Innovation Projects: https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2019-november-2020/green-entrepreneurship-african-women-lead-way-clean-energy [4] Empowerment Program in South Africa: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/12/south-africa-empowerment-programme-helps-women-overcome-poverty-and-gender-inequality
- The experiences in The Gambia, where the writer encountered service to humanity at Starfish International, underscored the significance of transforming lifestyle through education-and-self-development and personal-growth opportunities for girls, fostering oneness of humanity.
- On returning from the United States, where the writer felt disheartened by the Fourth of July parade, the writer emphasizes the importance of shifting America's focus from serving the military to serving humanity, following the Baha'i tenet of prioritizing service to God and humanity.
- To create a brighter future for all, Americans can engage in humanitarian projects that empower women and girls, like ShambaLetu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mtende Women’s Cooperative in Malawi, African Alliance for Entrepreneurs (AAE) Green Innovation Projects, and Empowerment Program in South Africa, by supporting these organizations, volunteering, advocating, and contributing to knowledge-sharing and mentorship programs, ultimately promoting travel that uplifts humanity.
