Day 27. 3 Things You Can Do to Empower Women.

One of the things that I like about Nicholas Kristof is that, while I don't think that he is a Christian, he appreciates all people's efforts, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack there of, in the fight against poverty and injustice. In his book, Half the Sky, he recognizes the great work of International Justice Mission in their efforts to bring an end to slavery around the world. He also highlights many other organizations that are not religious but are doing some amazing work in the area of social justice. He believes that if both Christian and secular organizations work together to combat global injustice great things can happen. I agree. I have seen and read about awesome things that Christian organizations do to help the poor and oppressed, and I have seen and read equally great things done by organizations that have no religious affiliations. Arguments and disagreements about what is motivating your actions toward social justice are not important and will not help bring an end to injustice. Let's work together to bring an end to the evil of human trafficking. 

"In their new book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (Knopf), husband-and-wife Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn argue that the key to economic progress in the world lies in unleashing women's potential. Their suggestions 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."

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/money/3-Things-You-Can-Do-to-Empower-Women#ixzz1naKAtt8V