Real World Wednesday

Continuing with Inspirational Women.

Let's take a brief look at women around the world who should inspire us all.

Betty Makoni, of Zimbabwe received support from the Global Fund for Women for her Girl-Child Network. Ms. Makoni's organization creates girls' clubs throughout the towns and villages in Zimbabwe. These clubs provide a place for girls to gather, learn and become empowered against pervasive sexual and domestic abuse in their nation. Because of the Girl-Child Network, more than 15,000 girls have gone to school and 65% of the participants who have been abused or who are otherwise disabled received a score of "excellent" on their 7th grade exam. Ms. Makoni recognized a strong need in her community and sought to actively address the need.

Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her work with The Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement, based in Kenya, works to plant trees and improve the environment for everyone living today and tomorrow. With a 30-year-old organization as one of her accomplishments, Dr. Maathai is proof that women can inspire and foster long-lasting change.

Joanne Sandler is the Ad Interim Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). While I don't know much about Ms. Sandler on a personal level, UNIFEM is a program that should encourage all of us to get involved in global women's issues. UNIFEM provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Peppered throughout UNIFEM's site are resources that activitists can use to research and act on the issues in their own communities. Most recently, UNIFEM wrapped up the 2008 Commission on the Status of Women. A global organization acting in the interest of all women...take a look.