As we all know, March was a crazy month. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic sending us all home, we had little time to appreciate Women’s History Month. There are so many amazing female empowerment organizations out there, serving both women in the United States as well as women internationally. Such organizations are critical to championing for the progression of equality and ensuring that women all over the world are given a voice. Below are just some of my favorite organizations that I love to learn more about and support.
- The Myna Mahila Foundation
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The Myna Mahila Foundation is based in Mumbai, India. They serve the women in their surrounding slum. The foundation’s mission is to “empower women to speak about the issues they are most afraid to discuss aloud.” They do this through their three pillars which include employment of women, the improvement of menstrual hygiene, and building women’s networks. Myna tackles the arguments against women entering the work force and provides them with a flexible that helps them gain respect from their husbands. They also raise awareness about menstruation in the slum and manufacture low-cost sanitary products which are sold door to door, making products accessible to women who wouldn’t normally have access. Myna is my personal favorite organization to support.
- Women Global Empowerment Fund
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The Women Global Empowerment Fund works in Uganda to provide “women in northern Uganda access to microcredit loans, business and leadership development training, literacy, health initiatives.” By investing in women, it helps them build up their individual livelihoods and secure a better future for their children. Through microfinancing, women in Uganda, who are very often marginalized, are provided with the needed tools to help bring them out of poverty and empower women in these communities.
- The Desai Foundation
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The Desai Foundation serves Boston, New York City, and south Gujarat, India. Their mission is to “empower women and children through community programs to elevate health and livelihood in India and the U.S.” The Desai Foundation runs many programs such as a sanitary napkin program and various vocational programs like sewing and computer classes to help educate women and children. They also opened a Science and Math Secondary School in Gujarat to support the children in the region.
- Center for Reproductive Rights
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The Center for Reproductive Rights is an organization that works all over the world to use “the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights.” They are the only global legal advocacy organization focused on reproductive rights. They address issues such as abortion, maternal health, contraception, and any other issues that may affect a female’s ability to have control over their own life. The Center also specially focuses on the rights of vulnerable young women as they’re the demographic that’s most susceptible to discrimination and abuse. This organization works with Pro Bono lawyers across the world to achieve their mission, meaning that most work that they do is done for free and for the pure betterment of reproductive rights for women around the globe.
It’s critical for us to be aware of female empowerment organizations that are championing for the safety and rights of women around the globe. In places where women are often abused or don’t have access to proper medical care or education, it’s these organizations that’ll make a difference. However, this is only possible if we spread awareness about them. In the wake of Women’s History Month and while many of us are stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s try to support our favorite organizations in any way that we can, whether through donations or simply spreading awareness!