Today, it’s pretty common to hear stories of women finding success in their chosen careers. Although traditional gender norms are slowly being shattered, it’s undeniable that there still remains a gap in terms of how men and women are treated in society. To this day, women are fighting to prove their worth, seeking to earn the respect of those around them. Many women manage to climb up the ranks, while others continue to struggle.
Women who have experienced abuse or incarceration, in particular, often struggle to find their place in society. It’s as if they’re completely helpless, especially when the people they used to consider friends no longer want to be around them. Studies show that women going through dislocation have a higher chance of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder compared to men. Some even succumb to substance abuse in an attempt to cope with their situation.
Kumari Fulbright, a self-made entrepreneur and women’s advocate, dreams of lifting up these women and providing them newfound hope for living. She has experienced difficult times herself, but she has always managed to rise above her tribulations. These experiences have made her a stronger woman, and she now wants to share the things she has learned over the years to empower others to be strong and independent regardless of the situation they’re facing.
A Loving and Supporting Family
Kumari wouldn’t be the person she is today without the guidance of her family. When she was young, she would visit old age homes and soup kitchens together with her parents and siblings. She has fond memories of helping the elderly go through their everyday lives a bit easier and providing them with care and attention even for a little while. The mere thought of putting a smile on the faces of other people would bring her unmatched joy, something that Kumari continue to bring with her to this day.
She can’t stop raving about her tight-knit family. It’s the kind that others would envy. Aside from being close to her parents and siblings, she also shared a special bond with her aunts whom she calls her “built-in best friends.” Kumari feels comfortable sharing everything with her family, and her family never stops supporting her in all her undertakings.
Knowing full well the importance of having a family, Kumari wants to let struggling women feel that they’re not alone. No matter how tough life gets, there’s always somebody out there willing to listen to them. That’s exactly what she wants to achieve with The Freedom Initiative Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting women to triumph over their troubles in life.
Teach, Transform, Triumph
Kumari has her fair share of traumatic experiences. The road has never been easy, but thanks to her family and friends, she has fully recovered and been doing better than ever. She knows that each woman is more than capable of overcoming their trials in life, but many do not get the support they need to get out of their situation. The Freedom Initiative Project reaches out to these women, showing that it’s not impossible to conquer their fears and face their life with a renewed spirit.
The organization largely involves teaching their members essential life skills. There are various programs tailored to the varying needs of the members. For one, the women are taught how to go through their day-to-day lives and develop their life skills to enable them to re-enter the workforce. They also offer housing solutions to those dealing with dislocation. A proper shelter is one of the basic needs, and Kumari knows that having a safe place to stay in each night can mean a lot for struggling women.
The unparalleled attention given is the Freedom Initiative Project to education comes from Kumari’s lifelong passion to teach others. She has been blessed to achieve so much in school, but she knows that not everyone has been given the same opportunities as she has. By volunteering her time teaching kids and women, Kumari feels that she’s doing her part to make the community better.
She further explains that education means a lot in terms of keeping offenders out of jail. According to studies, 60% of repeat offenders didn’t finish high school. Those who graduated from college, meanwhile, only accounted for 19% of repeat offenders. Kumari says that education is the key to getting women out of the poverty cycle, giving them the knowledge to reshape their lives.
Building a Legacy
The Freedom Initiative Project is Kumari Fulbright’s most ambitious project yet, but it has shown a lot of promise even in its early stages. Kumari now dedicates her time in organizing awareness campaigns to spread the word across the United States. This has led to a steady growth in their number of members; a trend she sees will go on for the foreseeable future. Her goal is to let others be more aware of what women have to deal with on a daily basis and show empathy and compassion toward them.
Kumari understands that she’s climbing a steep hill, but giving up doesn’t ever cross her mind. By remaining positive on her project and focused on her dreams, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before more people become aware of the struggles of women in society and do their part in helping them live better lives.
The positivity in Kumari proves to overflow, as can be seen on her Facebook and Twitter profiles. She keeps her followers updated on what’s going on with her campaigns and shares useful bits of information to inspire women to take action right now. Knowing that a lot of women now look up to her, Kumari wants to prove that life shouldn’t be as difficult as some make it out to be. With the support provided by the Freedom Initiative Project, Kumari believes that building a family of strong and independent women would go a long way in making this world a better place.
To learn more about the project, be sure to visit the official website at freedominitiativeproject.org.
