Dreams for My Daughter: Ande John
Mothers and fathers the world over have dreams for their daughters; for love and happiness, for fulfilment and equality, for peace and prosperity….
But in all too many countries their daughters still have little option but to follow an age old pattern: forced into early marriage and risking death to give birth. In Afghanistan, 1 in 11 women die in childbirth, and in many countries it is more likely that girls will die giving birth than go to school. This reinforces the vicious circle of low education, poverty, child marriage – and back to early death in childbirth.
This week, on International Women’s Day, 8th March, the Dreams for My Daughter exhibition, by leading photographer Joanna Vestey, will be launched at WOW – Women of the World festival at the UK’s famous Southbank Centre. The exhibition, featuring the hopes and dreams of women around the world, will run from Thursday, 8th March through Sunday, 11th March. For more information visit: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/wow.
To read more Dreams click here. Or watch a slideshow, or video compilation of the exhibit.
Ande John, TV journalist, White Ribbon Alliance Tanzania
My dream for my daughter is that I see her grow into a very independent woman, mature, successful in education and god fearing, because I know that is a route to making good choices in life. I do my best to make time for her, talk to her and to be her friend so when she becomes a teenager I will be holding her hand. There will be times when I take her out, just me and her so I can set standards - high ones in the way she should be treated. I will love her the best I can. Generally, I just hope she makes positive choices when she grows up and that’s the solid ground that I’m setting out for her.
Photo by Jo Vestey
