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PINIMAGEDear Wellness Seekers,
Witnessing Global Economic Boost Can Come From Women in the developing world first hand, helps me see this is indeed a real weapon to fight poverty. Offering equal opportunities to women could give the economy a powerful boost, said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde at a recent W-20 conference. In addition to the moral case for equality, gender equity can also “boost growth, raise overall per capita income, tackle poverty, and reduce income inequality for people all over the world,” she said.
The IMF Chief said a forthcoming fund paper “suggests that a boost to education and employment chances for women could lead to improvements in income equality of a magnitude that historically took decades to achieve.”
In a WSJournal article, ‘Gender Equality An “Economic No-Brainer’ says IMF Chief’, she also said ‘narrowing the gender labor-force gap could help lift millions out of poverty. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, giving women the same access to farming resources as men could increase agricultural output in developing countries by up to 4% and lift over 100 million people out of hunger.’
One can read about it but nothing stirs the soul like experiencing it first hand.
Spanista is moved by this declaration by Ms. Lagarde. Here is why. After spending just a few days in various areas of Ghana, Africa I witnessed the strong desire of local
PINIMAGE women to make a better living for their children and themselves. They are victims in so many ways to their culture in deep-rooted tribal traditions. Life in poverty is so harsh. They try to send their children to school but if they cannot afford to, they keep them home to putting them to work to help earn a way. The cycle needs to be broken with commitment from those who care to help – education, training, shelter, resources, simple business models, trade – the tools of creative commerce. Yet I saw the special light in these women’s eyes – the desire to reach higher. Even the local Tribal Chief told me, “The best results in developing business opportunities and work is with the women. They are the most responsible.” There you have it.
Ms. Lagarde aims to keep the G-20′s from turning the aspiration into an empty promise: “Words are not enough…what matters is what is actually delivered.”
I agree. That is why I humbly devote my time as Executive Director of AbodShelters to expand its footprint as a viable solution to democratize housing in the developing world. For women, having a home to call your own offers not only physical shelter, it offers dignity and security they need to take their lives to the next level.
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Spanista respects Ms. Lagarde for taking a public stand, but I pray that results do come through action. I have been involved in many high level NGO conversations where the main aim is to conduct research, write reports, talk about white papers and build awareness but it stops their. They address the issues at arm’s length not on the ground where real results take hold. Doing the hard work takes humanitarian minded people who are willing to deliver results in real ways. Let’s not talk. Let’s do it. It is a true act of self care.
At AbodShelters Foundation we are devoted to direct delivery of homes
PINIMAGE onsite in Africa to help women. You can buy an Abod to build an Abod for someone. It is that simple. A $7000 investment can buy a family a small sustainable home for a lifetime to replace the leaky makeshift shacks or worse yet corner of red dirt.
How can you make a real difference? Check out AbodShelters.com or simply connect with me at [email protected]. Or vet out NGO’s that are really delivering on the ground. And reach out to them – offer to help them.
It will change your life. To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,
Ginny
P.S. Fact: In 18 developing countries women have to get permission from their husbands to work outside the home.
