It was announced Friday that Amanda Lindhout has started the Global Enrichment Foundation (GEF). Here is the stated vision of GEF from their website launched this past weekend:
The Global Enrichment Foundation believes in developing strengths already within women to assist them in changing their lives. We believe that building stronger communities, cultivating leadership and promoting peace through education are goals which can be achieved though proper support. With the right tools, women in even the most poverty-stricken and violent of countries can forge their own key roles in society, using gifts they naturally possess.The Global Enrichment Foundation believes in developing strengths already within women to assist them in changing their lives. We believe that building stronger communities, cultivating leadership and promoting peace through education are goals which can be achieved though proper support. With the right tools, women in even the most poverty-stricken and violent of countries can forge their own key roles in society, using gifts they naturally possess.
A few months ago I wrote about Amanda Lindhout, about Somalia, and discussed some of its difficult modern history and how the country has come and gone many times from radar of the western media.
Here is an excerpt from my post entitled Somalia – In the news, but soon forgotten… again:
When the five Toronto Somalis fade deeper into the web of jihadist groups and while the former captive journalists begin to return to their normal lives, will the world again turn away from Somali, and wait for a more bad news?
Even though Ms. Lindhout is undoubtedly trying to return to her normal life, she is not forgetting the people of Somalia. Though it was a place where she likely spent some of her darkest days, her Foundation is attempting to give some women in Somalia the ability to govern their own futures through education.
UPDATE: Video and report from the Red Deer Advocate on Amanda Lindhout’s appearance Sunday at a church she attended in her childhood. Amanda discussed GEF and her time in captivity.
