Our Managing Director, Nina Corder, has an opportunity to be part of the Mentors group for the 2024 Professional Fellows Program by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Global Leaders Division. The ProFellows Program is a two-way exchange involving professionals from selected countries and mentors from the United States to build connections and promote collaboration. With support from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), we hosted a fellow, Xianshuang Zhang from China, who happens to be based in Singapore and serves as a Regional Gender Expert Consultant at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Xianshuang has graciously shared her #419herstory with us!
"In 2013, on the eve of her circumcision ceremony, Eunice ran away from home. Only 14 years old, she had the wherewithal to seek out the Deputy County Commissioner, who connected her with Maasai Girl Life Time Dream Foundation (MAGRIAF), a community-based organization that placed Eunice in a temporary rescue shelter.
I met Eunice nearly two years after her escape on what I expected to be a happier day. She was to return home to visit her home, a small village near Amboseli National Park in Kenya—her first visit since the incident. Her excitement was infectious. I could hardly contain mine as we pulled into shamba, a collection of mud houses traditional in Maasai communities, and towards the waving figure of Eunice’s mother.
To my surprise, Eunice’s mother ignored her. I thought at first that it must be an accident. Then I noticed the other women following suit and the men standing off to the side. “I want to leave,” Eunice whispered shortly after we had arrived.
In the car on the way back, MAGRIAF’s founder explained the situation: Euince’s departure had caused her father to flee, fearing arrest. Female genital mutilation (FGM), of the type that was going to be carried out on Eunice, had been banned in Kenya since 2011. In Maasai families, men tend to be the primary breadwinner and are considered to be the most important. Eunice’s mother blamed Eunice for her father’s departure and felt she betrayed the whole community.
This experience shook me up. I used to think traditional rites like FGM existed only in novels and history books. Meeting Eunice and interacting with other survivors brought this type of practice and its social complexities to life. My experiences working with them have left me with a strong set of beliefs and led me on the journey of women’s empowerment and advocating for gender equality.
Back in university, I chose Social Work as my major and devoted myself to community service through extensive volunteer programs and internships. Working with diverse marginalized groups in China - from individuals living with mental health challenges to children in remote mountain villages to migrants in urban resettlement communities - planted a profound seed in my heart. This seed slowly blossomed into a deep, unwavering interest in supporting underserved communities, as well as a yearning for Africa where, although undeveloped, numerous social innovations are taking place to tackle complex problems. Hence, I joined a social enterprise in Kenya right after university, determined to bridge the gap between Chinese companies operating in Africa and local communities through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and improved cross-cultural communication. Chinese companies officially adopted several capacity development programs initiated by our organization as part of their long-term strategies.
Reflecting on the past decade working in the development field and pursuing further studies, I feel incredibly fortunate to have discovered my life's purpose early on. It was inspired by reading the biographies of inspirational figures like Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela - to serve those in need and relentlessly fight for equality and justice.
This calling led me into the non-profit sector initially and later into a career as an international development professional specializing in the gender field. More importantly, I've had the privilege of always being surrounded by like-minded people who have supported my passion and continuously challenged me to do more, such as colleagues, friends, and mentors I get to know about in and through Women of Toledo.
There were so many wonderful activities, programs, and initiatives I experienced firsthand during my Professional Fellowship Program with Women of Toledo this past May. What has touched me most is the fundamental idea of being deeply rooted in the community where one is living and serving. This grounded, community-centric approach allows us to truly identify the real, on-the-ground needs and then leverage the community's collective wisdom to shape impactful, sustainable solutions. After returning to where I’m currently based – Singapore, I immediately searched for local women’s organizations and signed up for volunteer opportunities.
Tremendous thanks to the Women of Toledo for providing this amazing learning experience. And I'm deeply grateful to everyone I met there for generously sharing their personal and professional stories. I strongly believe in the power and beauty of individual stories and voices, which have the ability to connect us, inspire us, and spur us to action.
Xiangshuang's A Seat at the Table Project: Breaking the Glass Ceiling
When I first heard we would have the opportunity to use glass as elements for chair building, the concept of the "glass ceiling" immediately came to mind. The glass ceiling is a metaphor for the invisible social barrier preventing women and other marginalized groups from being promoted to top jobs and leadership positions. But for me, this idea extends beyond just corporate hierarchies - it represents the broader invisible barriers that exist in society, rooted in patriarchal norms and structures.
In my chair design, the person on the seat panel appears to be a neutral figure - it could be anyone of any gender. However, the pink hair intertwined with rusty iron wire ("a chain") is a memorial to a Chinese lady, Zheng Linghua, a 23-year-old who died by suicide after a six-month battle against cyberbullying. Following her death, a campaign called "PinkUp" emerged online to combat cyberbullying in China. (To read more, click here)
The design speaks to how systemic oppression and social stigma can have devastating consequences on individual lives.
Yet, including printouts featuring my personal women role models from different times and parts of the world also highlights the power of collective action and solidarity to drive meaningful change. These diverse representations of trailblazing women have inspired me to keep pushing against the barriers that hold women back.
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