Today I learned about Women in Extreme Poverty
Today, in recognition of Women's History Month, we had a speaker talk to use about gender in agriculture, and why it matters.
I learned that women in extreme poverty are the ones doing 43% of the farm labor. And when their husbands go elsewhere to look for work, the women are left behind to work their family's small farms.
I learned that families that HAVE farm land usually have less than a hectare of land to do it on- this isn't enough to even support one family, yet families will continue to subdivide land to give to their (usually male) children.
I learned that even when education is "free", the supplies, uniforms, and food are not, and so those resources tend to be limited and only go towards educating male children.
I learned that women in many places in the world aren't allowed to have property, aside from maybe sometimes chickens or even a goat. In many places, they aren't allowed to have credit.
I learned that when women are allowed to make financial decisions with the income earned they put that money back into their families in the form of nutrition and education. When men make the financial decisions it gets reinvested in their business or is used to repay loans. This is important because many women and children get stuck in a cycle that causes stunting from malnutrition, decreasing health and potential. A woman re-investing in her family and children can prevent that misery.
I learned that I can help - and even in the smallest ways, a little money goes a long way to help these women in poverty stricken countries.
That's why I chose to lend $25 to Susana in Nandi Hills, Kenya so that she can buy another dairy cow to keep up with demand for milk in her community, and continue to pay for her children's education.
And another $25 to Precious in Buhera, Zimbabwe, a 27 year old entrepreneur, so that she can buy more poultry and feed to boost her business and help pay for her children's school fees and clothes. This loan partner does not charge interest on her loan, so she will be paying a "social interest" by teaching other young women how to become financially literate and start their own businesses!
If you want to help women achieve their goals, check out Kiva and see if there is a woman whose story speaks to you. Heck, doesn't have to be a woman, it can be anyone in need of a small loan. Kiva helps connect people around the world to lenders who can provide micro loans. It's something tiny that can mean something huge to someone who has next to nothing.
I learned that women in extreme poverty are the ones doing 43% of the farm labor. And when their husbands go elsewhere to look for work, the women are left behind to work their family's small farms.
I learned that families that HAVE farm land usually have less than a hectare of land to do it on- this isn't enough to even support one family, yet families will continue to subdivide land to give to their (usually male) children.
I learned that even when education is "free", the supplies, uniforms, and food are not, and so those resources tend to be limited and only go towards educating male children.
I learned that women in many places in the world aren't allowed to have property, aside from maybe sometimes chickens or even a goat. In many places, they aren't allowed to have credit.
I learned that when women are allowed to make financial decisions with the income earned they put that money back into their families in the form of nutrition and education. When men make the financial decisions it gets reinvested in their business or is used to repay loans. This is important because many women and children get stuck in a cycle that causes stunting from malnutrition, decreasing health and potential. A woman re-investing in her family and children can prevent that misery.
I learned that I can help - and even in the smallest ways, a little money goes a long way to help these women in poverty stricken countries.
That's why I chose to lend $25 to Susana in Nandi Hills, Kenya so that she can buy another dairy cow to keep up with demand for milk in her community, and continue to pay for her children's education.
And another $25 to Precious in Buhera, Zimbabwe, a 27 year old entrepreneur, so that she can buy more poultry and feed to boost her business and help pay for her children's school fees and clothes. This loan partner does not charge interest on her loan, so she will be paying a "social interest" by teaching other young women how to become financially literate and start their own businesses!
If you want to help women achieve their goals, check out Kiva and see if there is a woman whose story speaks to you. Heck, doesn't have to be a woman, it can be anyone in need of a small loan. Kiva helps connect people around the world to lenders who can provide micro loans. It's something tiny that can mean something huge to someone who has next to nothing.