Dreams for My Daughter: Christy Turlington Burns
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 will be launched at WOW – Women of the World festival at the UK’s famous Southbank Centre. The exhibtion features photos by leading photographer Joanna Vestey, and presents the hopes and dreams of women around the world. Dreams for My Daughter 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 Joanna Vestey exhibit.
Christy Turlington Burns, Every Woman Counts Founder & WRA Member
Dearest darling Grace, Your very existence is a dream come true. Your presence has taught me so much about my capacity as a human being. The day of your birth forever changed me and has given me such a sense of purpose in my own life as I advocate on behalf of girls and women and their safe pregnancies so that they, too, share the most vital relationship of all between mother and child.
What do I hope for your future? I hope that you remain willful, flexible and confident and that you recognize the value in all of your remarkable qualities always. May you make decisions mindfully and choose your friends and partners with an open heart. Learn to accept and love yourself first. Be kind, be sweet, be present and you will soar. Love, Mommy.
Photo by Pamela Hanson
