This essay by Grace Handy, student from Sri Lanka studying in the US, describes her visit to Washington in May 2009 to participate in the three day Awards program for the ten US/Canada scholarship recipients of the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF). Ms. Handy, a Master of Arts in Education student at Truman State University, is developing ways to help child violence victims and plans to train teachers at the University of Colombo.

During their visit, recipients were hosted by MMMF Board members and Friends in their homes. Over the course of three days, they took part in a World Bank forum, an IFC/Pangea awards ceremony, discussions with MMMF Board members and Friends of MMMF, met the Selection Committee and Panels, and attended the WBFN Annual Dinner. An awards program also took place in February in South Africa for the seven MMMF Overseas Program recipients studying there.

Established in 1981 to honor the life of Margaret McNamara, whose husband was President of the World Bank from 1968 to 1981, MMMF is headquartered in the WBFN office and supported by volunteers from WBFN, Bank staff and retirees, and others. Raising funds through the annual Fair and other donations, the MMMF awards scholarships to graduate women from developing countries studying in the US/Canada and overseas in academic areas designed to help women and children. Recipients must return to their own, or another developing country upon completion of their studies.

Sarah Brau, MMMF Board member

 

Making a Difference in the World One Woman at a Time

I arrived anxiously at the airport, my heart full of expectancy and my head full of thoughts rushing around. I didn’t know what to expect. But one thing I knew for sure, that this DC experience would be a turning point in my life. I asked myself, “Could it be that I am actually in Washington DC to be at the World Bank?” I had to constantly resist the urge to pinch myself, that this was not a dream but a reality. My heart beat faster and faster as I was getting more and more excited to meet my host, who at this point was only a contact on my email and a voice I had heard just once. She met me with a warm smile and a friendly greeting. Immediately, I felt like I had known her all my life, and I felt like she knew me so well. Not just my name, but my story too.

This is the same feeling I got when I met every member of the MMMF Family. They knew who I was, they knew my story and they were genuinely happy that I was there. I was a “nobody” compared to the achievements and positions these women held, but here they were celebrating me. It was nothing like I had experienced before; I felt like I was walking in the clouds.

These wonderful women made sure this whole experience was about us recipients, and all the attention was on us. For many of us women who received the grant, this was the first time we felt like our stories and our journeys mattered, that we were indeed “somebody”. None of the volunteers talked about their achievements or positions, rather they only talked about us and what we, the recipients, have achieved and what we were about to accomplish. Within two days, we formed friendships that could last a lifetime; from forums to dinners, tours to casual conversations, and of course paperwork, meetings and photographs, these women were with us; as sisters, friends and mentors. We laughed and we cried, we told stories and shared our lives, and, guess what wasn’t there...barriers! All of us women were from all over the world, from different walks of life, yet there were no barriers just bridges built as we bonded and that was all that mattered. These women I met in the MMMF family were full of humbleness and sincerity, and every day we spent in their presence was both enjoyable and rewarding.

Receiving the grant was one of the major achievements of my life, but the greater realization of the impact of the grant was made clearer when I arrived in DC It was for the first time in my life that I felt that my passion for educating the marginalized children who are disabled, victimized by poverty and war was finally recognized and appreciated and by others, and not just others, but particularly by women who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the world. Thus far this road I had traveled felt lonely at times; full of sleepless nights, ridicule, countless tears and hardships. There was a time when no one believed in what I wanted to do. Many times I had come very close to giving up. I only had my faith and the thoughts of the children whom I wanted to serve that kept pushing me forward. Meeting the MMMF Family was a turning point in my life, because now I know that the women I met at the World Bank will be my support and encouragement as I face future challenges. Not only did I receive a grant, but I also received a gift that is priceless; I met a host of women who believed in each and every one of the recipients and what we wanted to do with our lives.

The women were not too concerned if our projects would be successful or not, nor were they checking on our achievements and failures. Rather they were interested in where our hearts and ambitions were. They recognized and rewarded our commitment to serve women and children in our communities. Meeting the MMMF Family filled me with a huge sense of contentment, achievement, sisterhood and service. It was not so much the things I saw or what I did in DC that made a difference, rather it was the opportunity of meeting amazing women who tirelessly gave their time and energy to make my and other recipients’ dream come true. The one thing I will never forget about this experience is that I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful group of women who have committed their lives to helping women like me. I will never forget that within the large somewhat overwhelming buildings of the World Bank, somewhere in a small corner office are a small group of women who are building bridges of change, love, acceptance and service; a group of women who are making a difference in the world, one woman at a time.

By Grace Handy