Theme: Economic Empowerment

We stepped off the dusty street in Asaka, Uzbekistan, through a simple steel door into another world. Gulirano met us in the open, sunlit courtyard of the nursery school she had founded. Trees filled the central garden. Colorful balloons and paper flowers decorated the walkways that ran around the perimeter.…

Casing Cuff: A Bracelet of Transformation and Hope In the heart of Africa, where the echoes of conflict once reverberated through the land, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Amidst the remnants of war, a group of artisans has discovered a way to turn symbols of destruction into emblems of…

When our friends at FUNAX, a Juarez-based non-profit organization bringing technology training to vulnerable communities, told us they wanted to bring Banco de Alimentos de Ciudad Juarez, a food bank in Juárez, ten tons of food to celebrate their ten-year anniversary, we couldn’t wait to get involved. Thanks to your…

In a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Iraq, many parents struggle to meet their children’s basic needs. When emergency situations become long-term displacement, relief aid funding dries up, and people have to fend for themselves. We met Khernof, a widow with four children, in an IDP camp…

Alfonso stands in front of his truck, filled with wooden boxes for a woodworking workshop. Photo by Manuel Trillo. Alfonso and his family have been in carpentry for over 30 years. Three years ago, right in the middle of the pandemic, their office was destroyed by a fire. Instead of…

Your Investment in Entrepreneurs Puts People First in Venezuela Our cohort of female entrepreneurs have had their small businesses open for 6 months. Collage by Kara Schectman from photos by our local partner. “Feeling that you are useful is really good,” Edgardelis says, an impish grin spreading across her face.…

As a parent, there are so many things you imagine yourself doing. Waking up a dozen times a night to make sure the baby is still breathing. Dealing with massive diaper blow-outs. Stroller walks and play dates at the park. Then there are the moments no one prepared you for,…

“I would feel really peaceful and happy if I had some food for every day, for several weeks.” It was something of a dream for Hermilda, to have access to a few weeks worth of food, to be free from the worry of starving. “I ask God to send me his…

Nadima’s vision was so clear, she could imagine every element. She dreamed of opening a glamorous salon for women. The interior would be spacious and clean; painted a chic charcoal grey with mirrors and trim details picked out in gold. It would be a comfortable space for women to get…

Raindrops plunked down on the zinc metal roof, sounding like a thousand tiny feet, dancing. Inside her house, Yajaira held out her outstretched palm and laughed. “I’m not getting wet anymore!” Yajaira laughed again, remembering how it had also rained as she rebuilt her roof, making the process all the…