International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. Do what you can to support women in places where discrimination, poverty and war, rule the lives of women, thus affecting their families, and their societies.

Some things to think about:

* The ongoing brutality and rape of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
* The Taliban forcing the Pakistani government and NGOs to close schools for girls due to real threats of violence against students, their families and teachers.
* Extreme hunger and famine currently in Zimbabwe.
* Continued discrimination against women in many societies leading to lack of education, inability to work to sustain themselves and their children, and accepted subservience of women in all facets of life.
* Poor, uneducated women exist in the US too!

We, as Americans, well educated, extremely prosperous by world standards, with freedoms and possibilities that many others can't imagine, can lead by example, with our voices and with our dollars. Education of all, including and especially, women and girls is the key to a better future for all of us, in my opinion. This is why I give money to Women for Women International, Room to Read, and Central Asia Institute (links down at the right of this page). I find their missions extremely important. I can't imagine where I would be, or who I would be if I had been denied an education and the ability to use it to pursue opportunities. I hope to impart the importance of that to my daughters as well.

Here is an exerpt from a letter I received from my "sister" in DRC: "As for me I am doing a bit well so far, but only God knows about tomorrow". She has 6 children, ranging in age from 3 to 11, and her husband is jobless. She is receiving training and will hopefully be able to work once her program with Women for Women is complete.

Think about what matters to you, and how you can help. A little help from each of us, can mean a lot of help for women around the world.

Ok, now back to Thursday.