Help lift women, girls out of poverty

As Illinois residents we are often shielded from global poverty-related issues and the suffering they bring. However, a few days ago, I participated in a conference call with Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation and Melanne Verveer - the first U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women's issues. Both leaders spoke about investments focused on the health and education of women and girls in the developing world, discussing the challenges and tremendous opportunities.

Investing in women and girls has consistently proven to be among the most cost-effective assistance in the developing world. Addressing women's issues translates to greater success for all; women are more likely to save and to invest in children and their education. Additionally, economic empowerment, especially through microloans, has been extremely effective in lifting millions of women out of poverty and giving them the respect they deserve in their communities.

But there is still much to be done, especially in the area of child and maternal health. According to ONE (one.org) - a leading nonprofit in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease - every year, more than half a million mothers die from complications during childbirth and 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday.

As a male in Illinois, I am far removed from the issue discussed above, but I chose not to ignore it. Please join me and support the highly effective investments in women in the developing world.

Tzviatko Chiderov

Glenview