Commencement 2009
Jocelyn Wright
Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: News
"Don't have any pressure on you not to live your truth on a daily basis," Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International said during the 96th Commencement, held on Saturday. "Live your dream. It is not worth living life without that."
Salbi founded Women for Women International, an organization that gives support to women in war-torn areas by providing basic necessities, education and microcredit loans for new businesses, at age 22. She said once she had discovered this was her passion she was often ridiculed for being so young.
"First, to live one's truth you must take risks and you must jump off the cliff," Salbi said. "Living one's dream does not come cheap and it does not come easy and it does not come without a sacrifice."
By living her dream, Salbi said she has directly impacted 179,000 women and has distributed over $79 million in microcredit loans to women around the world to start their own businesses. Salbi said the success of her organization since its founding 16 years ago has shown her that it is possible to achieve one's dreams.
"Do I believe change is possible? Yes, I do," Salbi said. "Do I believe we can act to live our truth and dreams? Yes, I do. Do I believe we can make this world a better world? Yes, I very much do."
Salbi told graduates that life was like a rollercoaster, and that they would encounter many ups and downs along their journey.
"Be grateful for whatever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond," Salbi said. "In every misfortune there is a fortune; in every crisis there is an opportunity."
Salbi said she was surprised by the invitation to speak at Rice.
"I work on two things: women and wars," Salbi said. "Both are marginal issues."
Salbi shared the lessons she had learned from working on both issues. She said that although the media tended to focus on the trauma and the number of deaths, there were some positive lessons to be learned by individuals in war.
Salbi founded Women for Women International, an organization that gives support to women in war-torn areas by providing basic necessities, education and microcredit loans for new businesses, at age 22. She said once she had discovered this was her passion she was often ridiculed for being so young.
"First, to live one's truth you must take risks and you must jump off the cliff," Salbi said. "Living one's dream does not come cheap and it does not come easy and it does not come without a sacrifice."
By living her dream, Salbi said she has directly impacted 179,000 women and has distributed over $79 million in microcredit loans to women around the world to start their own businesses. Salbi said the success of her organization since its founding 16 years ago has shown her that it is possible to achieve one's dreams.
"Do I believe change is possible? Yes, I do," Salbi said. "Do I believe we can act to live our truth and dreams? Yes, I do. Do I believe we can make this world a better world? Yes, I very much do."
Salbi told graduates that life was like a rollercoaster, and that they would encounter many ups and downs along their journey.
"Be grateful for whatever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond," Salbi said. "In every misfortune there is a fortune; in every crisis there is an opportunity."
Salbi said she was surprised by the invitation to speak at Rice.
"I work on two things: women and wars," Salbi said. "Both are marginal issues."
Salbi shared the lessons she had learned from working on both issues. She said that although the media tended to focus on the trauma and the number of deaths, there were some positive lessons to be learned by individuals in war.
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