NAMASTE !
I am Michelle, educator, author, humanitarian, and seeker of freedom and justice. Sounds like a heavy description of my person! At 78 years old I have the luxury of looking back and seeing that this is exactly what I have done throughout my career as a teacher, therapist, trainer and founder of Her International through the roles of being a religious sister for 27 years and now a single woman. Both roles gave me the freedom and opportunity to seek freedom and justice within myself and in others.
At 58, I sold all I owned, packed one suitcase and left for Nepal. Both family and friends thought I was a bit “whacky”. That decision has shifted the lives of hundreds of women and girls way beyond all those who trusted and believed in my somewhat sketchy dream of providing freedom to ex-bonded girls through the gift of education. But here we are today.
(herinternational.org - The result a world where every woman is seen and heard)
What Matters to Me
Life before Her International…
Truthfully, I entered religious life at 18 to find myself. Unfortunately, I am a slow learner and finally after 27 years of searching I took what I found and left for Kelowna, BC. There I put into practice what I thought I had learned. Finding that I needed to expand my experiences I saved and travelled the world for a year. Despite the awesome beauty, I saw what caught my heart were all the women I met and what they taught me. Upon my return, still trying to make sense of my life’s direction, I was inspired to honor all the hard-working women whose rights were ignored, so I founded Her International. Starting this international charitable society in Nepal, a complex country, was only possible with the helpful strength of Nepalese and numerous committed Canadians.
After Her International…
Truthfully, I am still discovering myself and the best in others during these last 20 years of traveling to and from Kathmandu, Nepal, Kelowna and Montreal. When in Nepal my life is filled with challenges and too many joyful surprises to recount. While in Canada my life is daily trying to live as a retired woman who has three homes, Montreal, Kathmandu, and Kelowna. Wherever I unpack my one suitcase in one way or another, I continue to be of service, which always helps either another or myself to a new discovery and to a deeper understanding of life. Also, in each place I work at accepting life as it presents itself daily.
