Women Empowered

CARE and Documentary Photographer Phil Borges Launch the Women Empowered Project

Phil Borges, the acclaimed documentary photographer, and CARE, the humanitarian organization that fights global poverty by empowering women and girls, recently launched the Women Empowered Project. The Project spotlights some of the issues that women and girls in the developing world face while demonstrating practical, proven solutions to fighting global poverty.

The new website, includes three mini-documentary films: Learning to Lead portrays the transformative power of education and leadership for girls and women; Vigilantes de la Vida shows how childbirth can lead to heartbreak rather than happiness when adequate maternal health care is not available, and Strength in Numbers illustrates how African women can turn tiny amounts of money into sustaining capital through village savings and loan programs. These three issue areas – maternal health, education and financial services – are signature examples of CARE's work to combat poverty.

"Through this new endeavor, we hope to continue the momentum we have gained through our partnership and continue to raise awareness about the unique position women hold," said Valenda Campbell, CARE's senior photo editor. "Despite the inequity women face, they unite their families and communities and when they are able to make the most of three key windows of opportunity in their lives, they can create lasting change for themselves and everyone their lives touch. These are stories that people must hear and understand."

Women's Trek for Peace and Development

I am pleased to announce that our article on the Women's Trek for Peace and Development has been published in the latest issue of Geo Plein Air. The trek, organized by the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) in March 2008 in Nepal, provided Canadian and Nepalese women a unique opportunity to understand the issues of the local women in the fields of healthcare, leadership and indigenous livelihoods. Merci Karine and Marie for your well written article on our trek and the situation of the Nepalese Women. And ofcourse a big thanks to CECI for inviting us on this life-changing adventure!