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Dear ,
This International Women’s Day, we’re putting the spotlight on resilient and inspiring women who are working to overcome gender inequality.
Women are disproportionately affected by poverty in every country we work in. All too often, they face violence, exclusion, stigma, and lack of opportunity. But, with your support, women are overcoming these barriers to educate themselves, run their businesses, raise their voices, and lead their communities.
I hope you enjoy reading some of these amazing stories of change.
Yours sincerely,
Brayden Howie
CEO Action on Poverty
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Micro-loans Empower Women's Business Ms. My used to sell soursop to middlemen in Soc Trang, Vietnam, but struggled to earn a living for her family. With a small loan from AOP’s Program for Microfinance (APM), she launched her own soursop tea business and has drastically increased her income to $350 per month.
"The joy of my family now is not only in the positive material changes but also in the spirit,” said Ms. My. Meanwhile, Mrs. Cuc took out a small loan to expand her vegetable stall at the local market. Her produce is always the first to be sold and she has used her profits to upgrade her house.
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Benedetta's Victory Garden
Benedetta from Phalombe District in Malawi is using her victory garden to feed her three-year-old son nutritious meals, save for his future, and invest in a new business of her own.
Benedetta’s garden is one of 16,000 gardens created in the last year with assistance from The Face-to-Face Project. By diligently saving the money she earns selling her produce at market, Benedetta has purchased a bicycle, bought maize for family meals, paid for child care, and started a donut-making business from home to boost her income even further.
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Elevating Women's Voices
Women from Ghairavu Province in the Solomon Islands recently presented their Village Action Plans at local forums as part of the Bridging the Gap project. This project helps marginalised communities raise their voices and connect with local authorities so they can have greater say in their villages’ development.
The women identified health care, water supply, and sanitation as among their top priorities at the forum, which was attended by local leaders, government representatives, service providers, and other NGOs. Women have also formed savings groups and started small businesses to increase their incomes and self-sufficiency. |
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