Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - Night 2

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide is a documentary film based on the bestselling book of the same title by journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The two-part series aims to highlight the struggles that women face in various parts of the world, and the efforts made by people and organizations to counter them.

Night 2 of the film takes the viewers through stories of women who are fighting to improve their social and economic conditions, and the people who are empowering them. The documentary is hosted by actress America Ferrera, who travels to different parts of Africa and Asia to explore these stories.

One of the stories covered in Night 2 is that of Edna Adan Ismail, the former Foreign Minister and First Lady of Somaliland who runs a teaching hospital in the country. Ismail talks about the high rates of maternal mortality in her country, and how she is training midwives to reduce it. Ferrera also talks to women who have benefitted from Ismail's hospital, and their stories are both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

The film also explores the issue of sex trafficking in Cambodia, and the efforts made by local activists and organizations to combat it. Ferrera meets Somaly Mam, a former sex worker who now runs an organization that rescues and empowers trafficked women. The documentary shows the rehabilitation process that the women go through, and the hope that they find after their ordeal.

Another story covered in Night 2 is that of Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghan woman who runs the Afghan Institute of Learning, an organization that has set up schools and health clinics for women and girls in Afghanistan. Ferrera visits one of the schools and sees firsthand the impact that education can have on these girls, who face numerous challenges in their daily lives.

The film also examines the issue of maternal health in India, and the efforts made by a group of women known as the "Health Workers" to improve it. The Health Workers are local women who provide maternal health services to women in their communities, and do so with limited resources. Ferrera talks to the women about their work, and how they are making a difference despite the odds.

In addition to these stories, the film also highlights the work of organizations such as the Global Fund for Women, which provides funding and support to women's groups around the world, and the World Food Programme, which runs a program that provides food and education to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Throughout Night 2 of Half the Sky, the viewer is exposed to the realities of women's lives in various parts of the world, and the challenges that they face. However, the documentary also provides a glimmer of hope, through the stories of women who are fighting back and making a difference. The film urges viewers to take action and support these women, and to see them not as victims, but as agents of change.

Overall, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - Night 2 is a powerful and inspiring documentary that sheds light on important issues facing women around the world. Through its engaging stories and insightful commentary, the film encourages viewers to take action and make a difference in the lives of women everywhere.