Here at Casa Couture we believe that women hold the future for both our communities and our economy and are dedicated to empowering women. After reading the best-selling book, Half the Sky by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn we feel an even greater need to do our part to stop the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.
In Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn guide us on an odyssey through Africa and Asia, telling the stories of individuals affected by oppression in their countries. The women and children chronicled in the book deal with sex trafficking, gender-based violence and little to no education, among other issues.
The stories of the women included in the book are unimaginable. Many have had to overcome unbelievable struggles that most of us can’t even begin to conceive. These women who overcame tremendous challenges are inspiring and with the help of organizations and education are now becoming agents of change to help women and young girls in their communities.
Through these stories, Kristof and WuDunn show how the smallest amount of help can transform the lives of women and girls in the developing world, and that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. Here at Casa Couture we truly believe that any small act toward helping women reach their potential is an important step toward progress for women worldwide.
As a result of Kristof and WuDunn’s book, a four-hour television series for PBS was created. The documentary premiered in the United States on PBS on October 1st and 2nd. The documentary chronicled Kristof and WuDunn and their experiences interviewing women and girls in 9 countries including Sierra Leone, Kenya, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Liberia, and Somaliland. Actresses America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde joined Kristof and WuDunn. Not only does the documentary expose us to the conditions the women and children in these countries endure, but also it lets us see their faces, hear their voices, and feel the hurt and for some hope that exists for their futures. The documentary calls us to take action and responsibility for our fellow human beings and help them find a solution.
Kristof and WuDunn’s book in combination with this documentary has sparked greater awareness and has inspired people to be a part of this movement to help women and girls.
Check out our ‘Belief’ page above and see how we at Casa Couture are doing our part.
