This post is part of the Global Mom Relay. Every time you share this blog, $5 will go to women and girls around the world. Scroll to the bottom to find out more.
I believe in the power of one mother to change the world.
From the United States to Rwanda there is a global movement underway to empower and inspire moms. My own mother was one of the most powerful inspirations in my life; likewise, moms all across the world inspire and support their own children. Their leadership and passion to create a better world transcends borders and is common in women everywhere regardless of socio economic background. Women are motivated by a desire to create new opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Worldwide, more than 1.5 billion people live in extreme poverty, 70 percent of whom are women. In developing countries, women are disproportionately affected by the challenges of extreme poverty yet time and time again find the courage to provide a brighter future for their children. Research reveals that women are three times more likely to reinvest in their children and community.
This is the case for mothers like Ana Serrano. Ana, a grocer from the Philippines, survived the first 20 years of her life on a Manila garbage dump. With the help of a microloan Ana now runs a business, supports her family and helps poor street children in her community. One mother transforming life for herself, her family and the less fortunate in her community--that's the power of one mother.
Ann Serrano. Image courtesy of Opportunity International.
In Rwanda we see women like Eugenie Nyirabagenzi, a rice farmer who once struggled to maintain her land during planting and harvesting seasons. With a loan from Opportunity International, Eugenie now owns a three-acre farm, employs three neighbors, and is able to feed her children more nutritious meals.
Eugenie Nyirabagenzi. Image courtesy of Opportunity International.
I am proud to be a Global Ambassador for Opportunity International, a global organization helping to empower women like Eugenie and Ana through financial services and training. This sustainable model helps women become entrepreneurs and leaders within their families and communities. I have made a commitment to help unlock the potential of women everywhere; to invest in moms and their ability to change the world.
I believe in the power of one mother to change the world. Join the movement and honor mothers today.
Each time you share this Global Mom Relay piece on Facebook, Twitter via the sharing icons above, or through clicking on the above graphic, or donate $5 or more, a $5 donation (up to $500,000) will be donated by Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Health (MAMA). $5 provides a mother six months of mobile health messages to guide her throughout pregnancy and baby's first year. Join us by sharing it forward and unlock the potential for women and children around the globe. For more information, visitwww.unfoundation.org/globalmomrelay. The United Nations Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, BabyCenter, The Huffington Post, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation created the Global Mom Relay, a first-of-its-kind virtual relay with a goal of improving the lives of women and children around the globe.