“The best way to fight poverty and extremism is to educate and empower women and girls“
As part of the Teaching ministry’s efforts to draw attention to Justice and Witness issues, we invite you to learn more about the three major abuses perpetrated against the world’s women:
- sex trafficking and forced prostitution
- gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape
- maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute
Read the book, educate yourself, then join us for a discussion of Nicholas Kristoff and Cheryl Wudunn’s “Half the Sky” this fall (Date TBD).
Get involved
The list of aid groups below is taken from the Half the Sky website and includes groups the book’s authors have seen in action. It’s not an exhaustive list, and the groups are not screened for operational efficiency of financial viability. They offer a starting point – a glimpse into the breadth of ways we might help.
Two useful websites to consult for more information about aid groups, including some financial information, are charitynavigator.org and givewell.org.
Education
Afghan Institute of Learning
Afghan Institute of Learning operates schools and other programs for women and girls in Afghanistan and in the border areas of Pakistan. afghaninstituteoflearning.org
American Assistance for Cambodia
American Assistance for Cambodia has fought trafficking and now has a program to subsidize poor girls so they remain in school. cambodiaschools.com
Campaign for Female Education
Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) supports schooling for girls in Africa. camfed.org
Developments in Literacy
An American organization building schools to educate girls in Pakistan. DIL.org
Girls Helping Girls
Girls Helping Girls was founded in 2007 by Sejal Hathi, a 15-year-old California girl,. It builds relationships among girls across continents and supports education and health programs in 15 countries. empoweragirl.org and sisters4peace.net
Girls Learn International
Girls Learn International pairs American middle and high school-based chapters with international partner schools in countries where girls have traditionally been denied access to education. girlslearn.org
Heifer International
Heifer International aims to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance and sustainability. heifer.org
Pennies for Peace
Pennies for Peace is a service learning program helping kids broaden their cultural horizons and learn about their capacities as philanthropists. penniesforpeace.org
CARE
CARE a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty, places special focus on working alongside poor women. care.org
Tostan
Tostan is one of the most successful organizations in overcoming female genital cuttings in Africa. It accepts interns. tostan.org
Center for Developmental and Population Activities
Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) works on issues related to women and development. cedpa.org
Violence Against Women & Sex Trafficking
Apne Aap
Apne Aap battles sex slavery in India, including in remote areas in Bihar that get little attention. Apne Aap welcomes America volunteers. www.apneaap.org
ECPAT
ECPAT is a network of groups fighting child prostitution, particularly in Southeast Asia. ecpat.net
Equality Now
Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world. equalitynow.org
International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. ijm.org
New Light
New Light is Urmi Basu’s organization to help prostitutes and their children in Kolkata, India. It welcomes volunteers. newlightindia.org
Shared Hope International
Shared Hope International fights sex trafficking around the world. sharedhope.org
Somaly Mam Foundation
Somaly Mam Foundation. led by a woman who as a child was trafficked herself, fights sex slavery in Cambodia. somaly.org
Vital Voices
Vital Voices Global Partnership supports women’s rights in many countries and has been particularly active in fighting trafficking. vitalvoices.org
Heal Africa
Heal Africa runs a hospital in Goma, Congo that repairs fistulas and tends to rape victims. It welcomes volunteers. healafrica.org
Maternal Health & Reproductive Rights
Americans for UNFPA
Americans for UNFPA supports the work of the UN Population Fund. americansforunfpa.org It is similar to 34 Million Friends of UNFPA, 34millionfriends.org
Averting Maternal Death and Disability
Averting Maternal Death and Disability is a leading organization focused on maternal health. amddprogram.org
Center for Reproductive Rights
Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, focuses on reproductive health worldwide. reproductiverights.org
Edna Adan Maternity Hospital
Edna Adan Maternity Hospital provides maternity care in Somaliland. It welcomes volunteers. ednahospital.org
EngenderHealth
EngenderHealth focuses on reproductive health issues in the developing world. engenderhealth.org
Family Care International
Family Care International is dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safer around the world. familycareintl.org
The Fistula Foundation
The Fistula Foundation raises awareness and funding for fistula treatment, prevention and education programs worldwide. fistulafoundation.org
The Girl Fund
Run by the UN Foundation, the Girl Fund partners with the UN, other non-governmental organizations and private groups to help deliver better education, health care and protection against violence, child marriage and female genital cutting to adolescent girls in the developing world. www.thegirlfund.org
International Women’s Health Coalition
International Women’s Health Coalition based in New York, has been a leader in the struggle for reproductive health rights around the globe. iwhc.org
Marie Stopes International
Marie Stopes International is an international organization that provides sexual and reproductive healthcare services in 42 countries. mariestopes.org
One By One
One by One contributes to the elimination of obstetric fistula worldwide by engaging the public and providing financial support to those who treat and prevent fistula in the developing world. fightfistula.org
Pathfinder International
Pathfinder International transforms women’s lives by providing access to reproductive health care. pathfind.org
Population Services International
Population Services International (PSI) is based in Washington, D.C., and works in partnership within the public and private sectors on reproductive health issues. psi.org
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood campaigns against maternal mortality around the world. whiteribbonalliance.org
Women’s Dignity Project
Women’s Dignity Project, cofounded by an American woman, facilitates the repair of obstetric fistulas in Tanzania. womensdignity.org
The Worldwide Fistula Fund
The Worldwide Fistula Fund works to improve maternal health and is building a fistula hospital in Niger. worldwidefistulafund.org
Economic Empowerment
Ashoka
Ashoka is a global association of social entrepreneurs, championing new social change ideas within an entrepreneurial infrastructure. ashoka.org
BRAC
BRAC is a terrific Bangladesh-based aid group that is now expanding in Africa and Asia. It has an office in New York City and accepts interns. brac.net
Global Giving
Global Giving connects people who have community and world-changing ideas with people who can support them. globalgiving.com
Global Grassroots
Global Grassroots is a young organization focused on women in poor countries, particularly Sudan. globalgrassroots.org
Grameen Bank
Grameen Bank pioneered microfinance in Bangladesh and has now branched into an array of development programs. grameen-info.org
Hunger Project
Hunger Project focuses on empowerment of women and girls to end hunger. thp.org
Plan USA
A child sponsorship program that focuses on improving healthcare, education and home environments for children, with an increasing emphasis on girls. planusa.org
Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer supports women in Latin America through microfinance and business training. promujer.org
Self Employed Women’s Association
Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is a huge union for poor, self-employed women in India. It accepts volunteers. sewa.org
Women for Women International
Women for Women International connects women sponsors with needy women in conflict or post-conflict countries. womenforwomen.org
Women’s Refugee Commission
Women’s Refugee Commission is linked to the International Rescue Committee and focuses on refuge women and children. womensrefugeecommission.org
Women Thrive Worldwide
Women Thrive Worldwide is an international advocacy group focused on the needs of women in poor countries. womenthrive.org
Women’s World Banking
Women’s World Banking supports microfinance institutions around the world that assist women. womensworldbanking.org
International Center for Research on Women
International Center for Research on Women emphasizes gender as the key to economic development. icrw.org
Women’s Rights & Gender Equality
Association for Women’s Rights in Development
Association for Women’s Rights in Development is a global organization focused on women’s rights. awid.org
Women’s Campaign International
Women’s Campaign International dedicates itself to increasing the participation of a diverse population of women in political and democratic processes worldwide. womenscampaigninternational.org
Global Fund for Women
Global Fund for Women operates like a venture capital fund for women’s groups in poor countries. globalfundforwomen.org
Women’s Learning Partnership
Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) emphasizes women’s leadership and empowerment in the developing world. learningpartnership.org
Humanitarian Relief & Efforts
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed. crs.org
International Rescue Committee
International Rescue Committee provides emergency relief, relocating refugees, and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. theirc.org
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps focuses on disaster response, sustainable economic development, health services, and emergency and natural disaster relief. mercycorps.org Mercy Corps is providing a tool kit for book clubs that want to discuss Half the Sky.
Save the Children
Save the Children champions the well-being of children with a special focus on their families and communities. savethechildren.org
UNICEF
UNICEF works for the survival, protection, and development of all children worldwide through education, advocacy, and fundraising. unicefusa.org