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I've always been an advocate of "women helping women," so when The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) contacted me about sponsoring their annual World of Difference Awards, I was thrilled. As the organization explained, the awards are meant to honor the world's unsung heroes: the women working in relative obscurity to raise the prospects of their sister women and provide a hand-up through mentorship. Showing the best of selfless, cooperative feminine energy, these women give no thought or concern to being recognized for their work. Indeed, many are shocked when TIAW contacts them to inform them of their nomination!
 
Over the last few weeks I've highlighted the stories of many of these nominees on my blog. My goal is not only to further recognize the accomplishments of these incredible women, but also to show how they typify the best principles of Womentorship and Gender Physics. By using a blend of feminine and masculine energy, they are able to put their values to work and effect real change in the lives of women across the world. Today I'd like to once again recognize some of these honorees, and introduce a few others.
 
This year's honorees were a diverse group. They hailed from two dozen countries, including Uganda, Sweden, Nigeria, and Malaysia. They made their mark in numerous fields – there were businesswomen, politicians, volunteers, filmmakers, and journalists. And they showed that real change can happen through large scale, top-down actions or grassroots community activities. The one things they have in common, though, is that they've all recognized the value of supporting other women to create a better world.
 
I've already highlighted the stories of Dennie Theodore (pictured right) and Dalila Rodriguez, two women actively engaged in helping to bring out the potential of their communities. These women called upon their feminine energy to cultivate an environment conducive to growth, finding creative hotspots previously undercut by the dominant masculine energy to forge mutually beneficial business partnerships. Both Dennie's "Similar Circles" project and Dalila's extensive volunteer work in Panama have brought opportunity where it is needed the most.

 
While feminine energy emphasizes community-level actions, other honorees utilized masculine energy by working from the top down to bring large-scale change. Saida Agrebi (pictured left) is a member of the Tunisian Parliament who has used her position to work towards the empowerment of women in her country. In 1992 Saida established the Tunisian Mothers' Association, a multi-pronged organization that helps women in such diverse areas as micro-credit, education, and social integration. As a result of her work she has become one of only five women elected to the African Union commission, and also represents North Africa as a member of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council of the African Union.
 
Others have used their influence in the business world to help women. Gaetane Austin is the founder of Pure Fiji, one of Fiji's most recognized exporters of spa products. Approximately 75% of Pure Fiji's employees are women, and the company has also supported local communities through its handmade paper project, which is run almost exclusively by women and creates income for hundreds of people in rural areas. These communities have used their new income to purchase water tanks, pay for school fees, provide a more balanced diet, and help strengthen children's health. Another such businesswoman is Teresa Correia de Lacerda, who created a women's business group in her native Portugal. The success of this venture eventually led her to establish the Portugal branch of European Women in Management Development, which provides mentorship and guidance to aspiring businesswomen. These two women successfully used action-oriented masculine energy to establish organizations which exemplified the best of communal feminine energy.
 
Feminine energy also recognizes the importance of education to raise the long-term prospects of communities, as exemplified by Sabra Desai of South Africa. A survivor of apartheid who earned a graduate degree at the University of Toronto, Sabra now encourages women to pursue their dreams of higher education as a professor at Humber College. She has also engaged in extensive volunteer work, founding a women's shelter in her adopted home of Canada and working with individuals with HIV/AIDS in her native Africa.
 
As someone committed to "womentorship," it's encouraging to see these women find various ways to help other women, whether through political, economic, or educational means. Many of them have experienced a certain amount of friction for going against the grain, but their continued presence and undeniable achievements speak loudly and proudly to the balancing nature of the feminine presence. And isn't it an honor to witness what they are doing, not only for women, but for the world at large?

© 2009 Betty-Ann Heggie. All rights reserved.