Communities across the Caribbean are facing a humanitarian crisis in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Give to our Hurricane Melissa Disaster Relief Fund to make a difference for those in need.
Nearly half of the world’s population still live without safely managed sanitation services. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives reach beyond clean drinking water and plumbing. It may surprise you to realize that something as simple as a properly maintained latrine or bathroom can significantly improve a community’s overall quality of life. Every Nov. 19, we observe World Toilet Day to bring awareness to this issue and reduce the amount of people that are living without access to safe toilets. As you’ll see in the stories below, clean toilets reduce disease, increase gender equality, and accelerate education. Meet the folks...
In some parts of Peru, girls are expected to marry and become mothers before they’ve had a chance to dream. Teenage pregnancy is widespread, and early marriage remains common —especially in rural and indigenous communities — putting girls’ futures in jeopardy. In a community where 7 in 10 women experience violence, Lisbeth has found her voice as a leader, determined to create a future where girls can learn, lead, decide and thrive. Through Plan International’s Deciding Without Violence program, supported by donors like you, Lisbeth gained the tools and leadership skills to stand up for her rights and those of her peers. As a peer educator, she now leads efforts to educate girls in her community on their rights, how to protect themselves from harm and how to challenge societal norms that hold girls back. Lisbeth is also actively working with local authorities to ensure that education, healthcare and equal...