Women are changing the world...

Dear readers,

Even though this isn’t about fashion, I wanted to post this anyway. A good friend of mine here in New York is deeply involved in a new approach to fighting global poverty called “Join My Village”. The vision of Join My Village is to empower women in Africa to realize sustainable change that nourishes their families and communities.

During the first year, Join My Village will work in approximately 75 villages in Malawi. The goal within these villages is to increase economic and educational opportunities in order to create long-term solutions to poverty. These programs will provide a foundation on which the communities can build for years to come.

Why Malawi? Because it’s one of the earth’s most desperate areas with a life expectancy that ranks Malawi 164th out of 177 countries worldwide (source: UN Human Development index). However, it is also one of the most promising. Already, the work of CARE has enabled communities to learn new farming techniques to improve crop yield and storage, and gain training on new businesses that complement their agricultural skills infrastructure. Join My Village seeks to build on the existing momentum in Malawi by introducing programs that empower women to build a better future for their families. Lessons learned here can be applied in other parts of Malawi – and beyond.

I encourage each of you to take a moment and go to Join My Village today and sign up to join me as part of the “Katenje” village team. By signing up, you will unlock one of up to $150,000 dollars that has been provided by General Mills. Answer a quiz question and you’ll unlock one more dollar. Invite a friend to join, and you’ll unlock even more. You can unlock up to three dollars per person each and every day, so be sure to go back.

Together, we will help establish at least 150 village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) impacting 2,400 members and their families, support School Management Committees (SMCs), provide at least 150 four-year scholarships for top female students to attend secondary school, construct at least three school sanitation blocks that include separate facilities for boys and girls, and build at least 15 houses for female teachers.

Join now by clicking HERE.

Read the Join My Village press release.