Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Tribute to Third World Women

I received the Kiva newsletter which announced the 100th International Women's Day. Of course, Kiva has celebrated the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future since its formation in 2005.

"Over 80% of Kiva's borrowers are women: women who are feeding their families and communities, starting businesses and providing jobs. Women who are mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers. Women whom we are proud to support.

Since the beginning, Kiva has worked hard to help women improve their lives in places where any advocacy for women is rare.

Women perform 66% of the world’s work, produce 50% of the food, but earn just 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. At Kiva we celebrate them."

In honour of the day Kiva's website features three women; there's Merlys who fled rebels in Colombia and started her own bakery, Francoise who became the family breadwinner after a Kiva loan enabled her to buy a cow, or Lun who supports three children selling mangos and meatballs (what a combination!).

Click on their revamped website to see how you can make a $25 donation to one of the many hopeful third world entrepreneurs.