Women & Girls

“There is only one chance in a million like that,” says Zhaniya, age 16. She is talking about a recent opportunity she had to launch a satellite into the stratosphere – something she couldn’t have imagined doing just a few months earlier. Zhaniya was one of the lucky girls who got to take part in UniSat, a UNICEF programme to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills to girls in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The UniSat programme was launched in 2020, but only 20 girls were able to take part at first. More recently, thanks to supporters of the global Gender Equality Thematic Fund, UNICEF has been able to greatly expand the UniSat programme, giving more girls like Zhaniya the chance to build their interest in STEM, space exploration and aerospace engineering. Thanks to the investment from Gender Equality Thematic Funds, the second phase of UniSat was able to…

In the heart of Malawi, where dreams grapple with harsh realities, the wish for a stable and secure home resonates deeply, particularly with children of incarcerated parents. The stark reality is that a significant number of The Child’s Journey beneficiaries reside in homes so dilapidated that it’s hard to imagine how they withstand the relentless challenges posed by their environment. Housing assistance is not just a means to provide shelter but is a crucial foundation for a child’s overall well-being and development. The Child’s Journey is dedicated to ensuring that children don’t just live, but thrive in safe and stable homes. Filesi, Rehema and Kenneth are three children whose lives have been positively transformed through the program’s housing support initiative. After a meticulous assessment by dedicated caseworkers, it was clear that the family desperately needed a safer living environment. Embracing a spirit of empowerment and collaboration, the family was encouraged…

“Migration: a word that runs through my life,” Wenddy says. “I am from Caracas, Venezuela, and in 2017 I migrated to Ecuador. I never imagined that this process would enable me to get to know myself in depth and recognize the hidden potential I have. “Plan International came into my life and got me out of the depression I was going through. The organization was working on some projects in my community and I joined some of their programs. I was happy because many people had discriminated against us for being from a misunderstood country.” “[With] Plan International, I met people who accepted me for who I am,” Wenddy says. “I managed to make my first group of friends in the country. I took part in my first journalistic project as part of a network of community reporters, where I learned how to record and edit videos to generate content,…

In the heart of Gurage, Ethiopia, Fikir, 28, a dedicated biology teacher and loving mother of two boys, shares her journey battling the devastating effects of trachoma. Trachoma, an easily preventable bacterial eye infection, remains a significant cause of blindness in rural Ethiopia. Fikir’s experience with trachoma began at a young age, but it wasn’t until university that a friend noticed she had trachomatous trichiasis (TT), a condition where eyelashes turn inward as a result of repeat trachoma infections, causing excruciating pain and, if untreated, irreversible vision loss or blindness. Fikir’s story is one of resilience and hope as she underwent surgery for her TT at the Worsherbe Health Center, thanks to the intervention of Orbis-trained health workers. Reflecting on her journey, Fikir shares poignant insights into the challenges she faced and her determination to overcome them. “I have had repeated infections from trachoma since I was very young,” Fikir…

Ayesha Siddiqa’s life has been shaped by substantial trauma. Ayesha’s parents arranged her marriage at a young age, and from the beginning, she endured mental and physical abuse at the hands of her husband. The abuse escalated after the birth of their daughter. As her situation became more dire, Ayesha reached out for help from her father to attain a formal divorce — something she could not do by herself due to Bangladeshi law. Once separated from her husband, Ayesha struggled as a single mother to meet her daughter’s basic needs. Without an education, she was limited to work at someone else’s land or home. Ayesha discovered her path out of poverty when she joined the Amra Shadhin Cooperative Society. The co-op taught her how to grow vegetables, rear livestock and build a business so she could make her own money. She received funds to purchase seeds, as well as…

FINCA International operate in over 40 countries worldwide with a mission to provide economic opportunities and security for women. In 2022, FINCA distributed business loans to over 243,000 women. In Latin America, 73% of FINCA’s clients are women, and many are owners of small businesses. These women generate just enough income to sustain a modest livelihood for themselves and their families. Most of these women are the primary breadwinner in their households. In Nicaragua and Honduras, about half are single parents who carry the full burden of their family’s well-being. Whatever their family situation, so many of these women in Latin America are running their own enterprises. To help these hardworking women, FINCA must provide capital to extend new loans with flexible repayment terms. These investments in women entrepreneurs can create jobs for so many people and help communities thrive. Lily America Saldaña Yela lives in Mexico City and is…