JustOopsJess

I don't often use this tumblr... most of the time I just use it to browse craft ideas and check out fitblr's but this is important to me so it was worth a post. 

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to an amazing concert. I won't lie... when I bought the tickets two months ago I was drawn in by the big names like Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce but I didn't really know what the concert was about. 

As it got closer I saw the advertisements everywhere and realized that this was more than just a concert. This was a movement. This was standing up for women's rights everywhere. 

The concert was amazing, it was a great show with great performers and, while I'm sure I will be writing a review this week of the musical talent, that's not what I want to talk about right now. I want to talk about everything else that happened that day and after. 

Throughout the concert there were short films shown and speeches given to highlight some of the issues and charities being supported by the Chime For Change organization. From education to health to justice, a plethora of issues were brought forth. It's easy to talk about issues and see them as something separate from yourself but in this event we were taken to the front lines and shown what a young girl in Nigera has to go through for good schooling or the kind of abuse that South American woman can expect daily and even the kind of sexualization and demeaning behavior inflicted on women of all ages around the world. We were shown what happens when even one girl is given the chance to excel and the kind of potential that we might see if all women were given that same chance. 

It was both upsetting and uplifting to see. 

After the concert it could have been easy to say "well that was good enough, bye now" but Chime For Change followed up with the concert-goers. We received emails with links to gift cards in the amount of our ticket and given the opportunity to browse Catapult.org for specific projects to donate to. 

The organization literally let us pick where our money went. 

I spent hours browsing and after a heart wrenching and difficult decision I donated my  entire ticket price to Housing for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth. There were so many amazing groups to chose from but I decided on this one because as noble and amazing it is to prevent future abuse and crimes against women I also think it's important to support those who have been through hell and back. Women who have had their lives irreversibley damaged by their gender. 

House for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth doesn't just provide a bed and a roof but also basic necessities such as food and clothing, 24 hour support and development programs to foster healing and help build self-esteem. In 2012 they did some amazing work with 148 survivors and I hope that they can continue their great work in 2013, 2014 and forever, until their services are no longer needed because we have ended human trafficking and sexual exploitation. 

At then end of donating you're encouraged to leave a note of why you give and here's my blurb: 

"I give for every person. Because not only do women gain from this support, but the world. I give because it's unacceptable that women of all ages are allowed to be treated as lesser people. Because it's not only men that have great ideas... the kind of great ideas that change the world. I give to honor the past, educate the present and create a better future. Why will you give?"

So I ask it again... why will you give? Regardless of whether you went to the concert I urge you to log on and find a project that you support. Whether it's $5 or $500, every donation counts and it counts towards something that you decide on. So go on, find out what matters to you and give what you can.