On this International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on the past two months spent volunteering abroad with women from all over the world. If there is one thing that stays the same across various nationalities and cultures, it is the love and care that women extend to other women through a gender-wide concern for each other’s well being. I have felt this in every country I have been to. Language barriers and cultural norms do little to stop women from looking out for each other with a fierce passion. I felt this in the camaraderie that developed so quickly between myself and other female volunteers from Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, etc. No girl was ever unaccounted for. I felt this in the warm chai tea the Indian ladies from the tailor shop made me each day as I regained my strength after sickness. And in the detailed directions a Balinese woman gave me to get home from the grocery store. Through actions like these and the sharing of global feminine knowledge, I deepened my understanding of the universal challenges that women face when it comes to physical and emotional safety. But, there is still so much to learn.
I believe that in the United States there is a vast need for a platform where young women can learn the most up-to-date safety information, grow in their confidence and independence, and access a community of professionals to support them in this process. Operation Halo is this vision: a startup tackling issues such as physical and sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, cyber safety, and so much more. Follow along with me on this journey and stay tuned for what is to come!
Sincerely,
Ashlyn Darter
Operation Halo CEO
@operationhalo
