Welcome to our Creative blog. Our blog will help Creative connect to our long-term goal to be true leaders in development.  We strive to learn more and share knowledge to be the best leaders we can be.  The strength of development is built by learning and teaching, sharing and learning, not by imposing knowledge on anyone else.

During the month of March, we have celebrated the gains women have made in development as well as the struggle felt by so many. Throughout my experience at Creative, because of our focus on women’s issues and because we were built by women leaders, we have understood our responsibility to give the best of ourselves because we know how much women need around the world.  We learn from them.

I am often surprised by the women we work with.  I am stunned and heartbroken by the hardship faced by so many young women in areas of conflict specifically.  Often denied formal education, many young women that I have met are so wise about the basics of life.  They take care of the home and the family, care for siblings, collect water, the list goes on.  From Afghanistan to Pakistan to Sudan, these young women have had little opportunity to be children.  They work tirelessly for their families and their communities, and are so wise and beautiful while they do it.

On the other end of the spectrum, some women in equally as challenging and conflicted environments are so extraordinarily well schooled, bringing a vast amount of scholarly knowledge.  Removing barriers and providing opportunities for women to become business leaders, political leaders, doctors and lawyers is how societies begin to grow and develop.  I have met women on both extremes and I learn from them.  Building relationships and partnerships between both groups is vital to give women and girls the opportunities and rights they deserve, and drives our work each and every day.

Through our blog contributors and readers around the world, we look forward learning, sharing and growing together.

Peace,