March 8 is International Women's Day. The 2019 theme for the day is Balance for Better, challenging the world to imagine the benefits of a more gender-balanced world. Through your support of and partnership with Lutheran World Relief, you are helping to ensure that women and girls are empowered to fully engage in their households and communities.
Here are just a few stories of the impact you've had in the lives of women around the world.
You help women advocate for big changes.
Recently a group of women from Bihar — India's poorest state — made their voices heard to secure a right that will allow them to better support their families, so their households can stay together.
Beatriz Margarita Villatoro displays the chocolate bon bons she makes and sells. (Photo by Oscar Leiva Marinero for LWR)
You prepare women to be successful entrepreneurs.
Beatriz Margarita Villatoro, 28, is one of more than 100 young people who graduated in June 2018 from a diploma program designed to prepare young farmers to be the next generation of entrepreneurs in El Salvador’s burgeoning cocoa industry.
Before entering the program, she was considering migrating to the U.S. because she couldn't find work. She's now a small business owner with dreams of improving her community.
Aminatou Salifou (right, in the blue pattern) meets with her women's savings and loan group. (Photo by Jake Lyell for LWR)
You help women support each other.
Aminatou Salifou is a member of a savings and loan group in her community in Niger. The group consists wholly of women. They pool their contributions in a shared savings account to support each other when they need a loan for medical care, school fees or — in Aminatou’s case — a business investment.
Invest in women with Lutheran World Relief
In celebration of International Women's Day, we invite you to invest in women through the long-term, sustainable work of Lutheran World Relief.
Around the world, your gifts provide agricultural training, business and leadership training and advancement opportunities to rural women living in poverty. With that support, women are feeding and supporting their families, sending their children to school and building better futures.
Your gift today will do a world of good for women and families in need.