“A dream you dream alone is only a dream.
A dream you dream together is reality.” – John Lennon
A dream you dream together is reality.” – John Lennon
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When children are in primary and secondary school, their minds are opened, not only to the subjects of their education but to the roles that individuals play in their family, community and society in general.
In an agrarian society, or one of subsistence farming, those roles may have been limited to working in the fields to produce food for the family, and perhaps to do hard manual labour in employment on government projects, such as making roads.
As they progress through school, their teachers and others they meet become their role models and they see the importance such people have in the society.
Young people start to dream and imagine what they might be when they grow up.
Girls have often looked toward caring roles such as teachers and nurses. But in many societies, girls will come across hurdles to them realising their ambition. They might be expected to marry in their teens, or even become mothers.
Within the employment sphere, women have faced so called glass ceilings; something which may not be seen, but exists all the same, to prevent them from achieving their full potential.
Even in western societies, it is still novel to see, as we have on TV during the Covid pandemic, young women as, say, Professors in Epidemiology at a University or lead researchers in somewhat obscure fields of study.
It is important that girls and young women can complete their secondary education, and go on to tertiary or vocational education institutions to learn the theory and skills for the career they wish to follow.
Being the Dream acknowledges that girls have dreams about who they might be, or what they may do, not only to lead a fulfilled life, but to contribute in a meaningful way to their family, community and the world as a whole. Being the Dream is committed to assisting girls and young women to reach those goals. But dreams are not singular or static.
Dreams can be recurring and as time goes by, they may become more detailed and/or refined. So, things may change, and our challenge is to be adaptable to new situations that arrive.
A dream is not just a distant destination. In pursuing the goal by undertaking study and training, and learning new skills, being is in the process and continues throughout the journey. And so, for these girls and young women we support, they are Being their Dream. They have a vision and with your support, we can assist them such that it can become a reality for them. That is why we call this organisation Being the Dream.
Initially, Being the Dream, supported young Monpa Tibetan women from the Tawang District in Arunachal Pradesh, a north-eastern state in India, high in the Himalayas.
Some are presently in university colleges, but need financial support to pay for tuition fees, hostel fees and living costs as their families are poor and cannot fully support them. A few are studying to become teachers. Others are still finalising their goals. The earliest students are now graduated and working as a social worker, clinical psychologist, a human rights lawyer and public servants. They desire to give back to their communities in their careers and to make their world a better place. It is a privilege to be able to invest in their futures.
Being the Dream was approached by a young woman, recently arrived from Afghanistan. She was doing voluntary work translating and interpreting for other refugees as she speaks seven languages. She dearly wanted to go to University, but her family had no money to support her. Being the Dream has now enrolled her to study Law at the University of South Australia. She has commenced her third year and is an exceptional student.
A Student Counsellor within the Government’s Education Department has asked if Being the Dream can support other refugee young women who want to study, but have no family financial support for them to do so.
These are the goals of Being the Dream, firstly to assist girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to be able to live their dream for a career, and secondly for us to see them fulfilling their ultimate ambitions and make contributions to the communities in which they live.
It means that all our donors and supporters are a part of that Being. But for you, their dream might remain a remote and unattainable hope or wish. You are an important part of that Being and therefore their dream, and their fulfillment will become your joy.
You can be a part of the dream of these young women by supporting Being the Dream.
Donations of $2 or more are Tax Deductible.
”Mother’s Wings,” a drawing by the Mexican cartoonist Dario Castillejos was discovered by our first Tibetan young woman to be supported by Being the Dream. I had been conversing with her about some of the horrible experiences of the Afghan refugees who had come to Australia. Within hours, she put this picture up as her profile picture on Whatsapp. She says it is the story of her life. As a child, she had damaged wings from trauma and abuse she had suffered. But now, Toni and I were plucking the feathers out of our wings to sew into her wings so that she can fly again. What a beautiful image Dario has given the world. It speaks of the sacrificial giving a mother can bestow on their child. But it need not be a mother nor of one’s own child. It could represent anyone who gives of themselves to a young person or group of young people say as a teacher, a coach, a barracker or supporter, an encourager, a provider, a mentor, a guide. For those of us who are much older, and our flying days are over, it is a privilege to be able to give our feathers to a young one, and see them fly