International Women's Day 2011

Today is International Women's Day. International Women's day is a day to celebrate the strength, power and beauty of women throughout the world. Women for Women International is an organization set up to help women who are affected by war.

Changing the World One Woman At A Time

Our Mission: Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies We're changing the world one woman at a time.

Statistics:

According to Women for Women International

(WfWI) survey data, out of every 100 women in

Eastern DRC:

• 40 are internally displaced persons (IDPs),

refugees, or returnees

• 76 do not own mattresses

• 42 never attended school

• 52 eat only one meal a day

• 77 earn $1 or less per day

• 77 think about upsetting events

• 66 think about hurting themselves

• 80 are from villages that have been attacked

• 75 think their current village will be attacked

• 50 have spouses that have left because of war

• 49 are afraid to work outside of their home

• 65 are unhappy with their lives today

Who will be the voice for these women, who will stand when they can not stand for themselves, who will help when they can not help themselves.

I remember the emotions I felt as I heard Mariama Kallon

so elegantly tell her story at "Time Out for Women", were you there? Do you remember her story? These are women just like her. I will stand today and let my voice be heard, I will stand and say women around the world deserve to live in peace and to live without fear. I will let my voice be heard today.

Our Vision

Women for Women International envisions a world where no one is abused, poor, illiterate or marginalized; where members of communities have full and equal participation in the processes that ensure their health, well-being and economic independence; and where everyone has the freedom to define the scope of their life, their future and strive to achieve their full potential.

Visit this site!

In the upcoming month I plan on holding a book group that will read this, Between Two Worlds

Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam, we will discuss and share our thoughts, and help to raise money and awareness for these women. If you would like to join in please let me know.