Inspired by Pulitzer Prize authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's new book, Half the Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, the media has recently been covering more stories related to the world-wide oppression of women and girls. One undeniable fact echoed throughout the stories is that if you educate a girl, you make the whole world a better and safer place. This lesson applies not just to far off regions of the world but in our own backyard as well, and women just like you and me can take action right here in our own homes.
Kristof and WuDunn argue in their Oprah.com article that "the key to economic progress in the world lies in unleashing women's potential."
Here are 3 quick tips for how you can help:
Make girls smarter. Many pregnant women living in poverty don't get enough iodine, so their fetuses' brains do not develop properly. Their children routinely lose ten to 15 IQ points—particularly the girls, for reasons not fully understood. The solution: Iodize salt, at the cost of a couple of pennies per person per year. To contribute, go to Helen Keller International (HKI.org).
Support a woman's business. With a microloan of $50, a woman can start a business, producing income she can use to feed her children and send them to school. To make a loan, go to Mercy Corps (MercyCorps.org) or BRAC (BRACUSA.org), two groups helping women around the world.
Keep a girl in school. A girl who gets an education will have fewer children, earn more money, and be able to help her younger siblings. One excellent support program operates in Cambodia, where uneducated girls are at great risk of being trafficked into brothels. For $10 a month, you can keep a girl in school through American Assistance for Cambodia (CambodiaSchools.com), or for $13,000, you can build an entire school that will revolutionize life in a village forever.
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