[Above: a beautiful, compelling, arresting video “The Girl Effect.” Not a word is spoken, but it speaks volumes.]
I believe that empowering marginalized women and girls will unleash the greatest good the world has ever seen.
I believe that women and girls represent the greatest hope for the future of humanity.
And, I believe that our generation — this one, right here — has all of the tools we need to lift women up and move humanity forward in quantum leaps.
Consider these statistics:
- Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, it is estimated that nearly 70% are women.
- Between 75 and 80% of the world’s 27 million refugees are women and children.
- Of the 185 highest-ranking diplomats to the United Nations, seven are women.
- Of the world’s nearly one billion illiterate adults, two-thirds are women.
- Two-thirds of the 130 million children worldwide who are not in school are girls.
- An estimated 20 million unsafe abortions are performed worldwide every year, resulting in the deaths of 70,000 women.
- Approximately 585,000 women die every year, over 1,600 every day, from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 13 women will die from pregnancy or childbirth related causes, compared to 1 in 3,300 women in the United States.
- Worldwide, 20 to 50 per cent of women experience some degree of domestic violence during marriage.
- The primary victims of today’s wars are civilian women and their children, not soldiers.
- The use of rape as a weapon of war has become more evident. In Rwanda from April 1994 to April 1995, estimates of the number of women and girls raped range from 15,700 to over 250,000.
Ok, that’s the bad news. Here’s the good news…the really good news: we can do this. If “she has the power to change her world, we have the power to help her do it.” We can unleash the greatest natural resource in this world — the power of women — if we each do our part.
Taking action is easier than you think.
To learn more, please visit CARE.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Everyone should watch his simple, yet powerful video clip. It will make you stop and think how important it is to those less fortunate. Thank you Eric for your dedication and passion in helping those in need.
Great reminder Eric and the stats blow me away. Let me know what I can do to help.
Andy
Hey Andy! Thanks for this. You are a good man. I guess the best way to help is to do good for your body as you do good in our world!
Pick an event to train for (at http://www.active.com) and raise funds for the charity most dear to your heart (www.firstgiving.com). All the BEST! E.
First off, I would like to give Kudos to whoever created that YouTube video because it was amazing. No voices, just words speaking for itself. It was very inspirational. Those statistics were mind-blogging! I am somewhat aware of the women issues in developing countries but this really opened my eyes. Starting with just one girl, we can help her make a difference in a large community. Thank you for sharing that piece!
Hey Keila–You are absolutely right: empowering one girl can light up an entire community–and our world. Women are so marginalized in developing countries, that the slightest amount of support and help can move communities forward in quantum leaps. Please stay engaged on this. You can do so much to help. Learn more at: http://www.care.org. There is no finer organization with which to work on this issue. All the BEST! -Eric
Eric,
I’ve come back to watch this each day since you tweeted about it this weekend. WOW! Such a powerful message and one that all of us must take action on. I love what you do for the world and your diligent work to bring the atrocities (that we can help to eradicate) inflicted on women and girls in developing countries to light. Thanks for sharing!
My brother! We need more good men like you in the world! Keep rocking in, DB! E.