Imagine that you are a young woman who is pregnant, lives in a remote location far from a hospital, and you have a husband and mother-in law who think giving birth at home with an untrained attendant will suffice. Read more >>
Tag archives for Women and Girls
Empowering Communities to Help Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation
Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C). Worldwide, 100 to 145 million women have been subjected to this practice, which can range from nicking the skin to a total removal of the external female genitalia. Every day, 6,000 girls are at risk. Zero Tolerance Day is an [...]
This Week at USAID – September 12, 2011
Administrator Raj Shah participates in a panel discussion about “Leveraging Malaria Platforms to Improve Family Health” during the The Summit to Save Lives, which is presented by the George W. Bush Institute. Later in the week, Administrator Shah heads to Haiti to meet with USAID Mission staff and to visit an agricultural training center. The [...]
Observing the Brave in Vilnius
by Sarah Mendelson, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance We’re Together, Even When We Are Not The Arab Spring has left many activists at the Community of Democracies hopeful—perhaps none more so than Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma. She wasn’t physically in attendance but virtually and spiritually, her presence was [...]
Inspired and Humbled by Nepal’s Female Health Workers in the Rural Villages of Salyan
By: Margy Bailey, Director for USAID International Communications, Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs After a one-hour prop plane ride from Kathmandu, followed by an 11-hour rocky drive through the stunning hills and valleys of Mid-Western Nepal’s upper hilly region, our team reached Salyan District’s remote and rural villages. We were there to video the [...]
From the Field
In Nepal, we supported a women’s football tournament in mid-western Nepal. The eight-day young women’s football league tournament in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur was attended by as many as 10,000 people. The competition was designed to build the confidence, leadership, team building and networking skills of local, rural women. The sports activity is part of the youth [...]
The Ability to Plan Your Family Is a Game Changer
By: Ryan Cherlin Having seven children would be a challenge for any woman. In a developing nation like Mali, where the average number of children per woman is 6.6, calling it a challenge may be an understatement. Because they fall pregnant at an early age, young mothers don’t have the opportunity to finish their education, [...]
The Story Behind the Statistics: Victims of Rape in Benin Find Justice
Submitted by Ryan Cherlin, USAID Bureau for Global Health The Statistics: In Benin, more than 75 percent of women are victims of violence, and 44 percent are sexually abused. The Story: Déborah and her husband Djobo live in the village of Guiguiso in northern Benin. On the night of September 9, 2009, three men assaulted [...]
Long-Term Investments to Bring Real-Life Improvements to People of Pakistan
During Dr. Raj Shah’s whirlwind two-day visit to Pakistan with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the ongoing Strategic Dialogue between the two countries, the U.S. announced more than $500 million in new development assistance for Pakistan. The new projects include the completion of two hydroelectric dams in South Waziristan and Gilgit-Baltistan that will supply more [...]
In Mozambique, Religious Leaders Unite Together Against Malaria
Left unchecked, disease imperils the stability and prosperity of all; therefore, improving global health outcomes is a shared responsibility. This means reaching out to community elders, leaders, and religious groups to ensure the quality and reach of health services and messages. Religious leaders, along with their well-established networks of volunteers and community groups, have the [...]
