In many developing countries, women suffer from domestic violence and unequal rights. In most cases, women are considered second class citizens compared to their male counterparts. Traditionally, women are still expected to submit to their husbands and run the household while men bring food to the table and support the family. Although a number of women have already been empowered greatly, many are still silenced and hence, organizations have seen the need to address this issue. Behind women who are silenced are organizations who support them and have had the initiative to open up grants specifically to aid them. Here are some of the organizations who have been empowering women all over the globe.
1. Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is seeking for applications for their grants for the Women in Sport Encouragement Program (WISE). The main goal of this grant is for Canadian girls to remain active and to realize that physical activities are not limited to men. Through sports, women will also develop self-discipline and eventually leadership skills which will help them in their respective organizations.
Applicants can either be individuals who are coaches or instructors of girls or organizations who represent a team in Canada. 10 applicants who will be successful in their application will receive a grant worth USD 1,000 which is to be optimized for sport activities for women.
2. Women’s Global Empowerment Fund
Given the number of women in Uganda who don’t have access to proper training in the workforce, many depend on their husbands. This can cause women to be silenced in times of abuse due to the income they are unable to have. The Women’s Global Empowerment Fund seeks to train Ugandan women on how to run a business. Since then, this organization has produced many successful leaders, those currently in political office included.
3. Center for Reproductive Rights
Abortion has been a long-time debate in many parts of the world. Whether it should be permitted or legalized at current is a question which circulates many opposing views. In line with this, the Center for Reproductive Rights believes that a woman should be in charge of deciding. So far this organization has been successful in participating to improve reproductive health laws in Asia, Africa, and the United States. Apart from that, the organization is also involved in trying to abolish the abortion ban in El Salvador. The center thinks it is unjust to jail women for deciding for themselves and is continually working on abolishing this policy.
4. National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women appreciates that women are now more active in the workforce as compared to a decade ago, but still believe that the role of women in the society still has a long way to go. Several issues they fight for are the unequal pay for men and women in the workforce, discrimination in and out of the workplace, and the body image society states women should have, among others.
5. UN Women
One of the most pressing issues for UN Women is the fact that some women would like to work and pursue careers but are pressured to raise a family by staying at home. UN Women aims to break that idea and instill in each of us that men and women are partners. They also recognize many achievements women and girls have made over the years, and plan to continue recognizing their importance.
6. Oxfam International
Oxfam International has been concerned that women are most often the victims of poverty. This is because many are still reliant on men to survive day-to-day activities. Oxfam International aims to promote independence in women and girls, as reliance on men can possibly lead to abuse.
7. International Planned Parenthood
Forced marriage in children is still practiced in many parts of the world today. This leads to early pregnancies which not only risk life and health of girls but also the unpreparedness of raising a family at a young age. International Planned Parenthood wants women and girls to be able to make decisions for themselves and to realize they are not objects to be told who and when to marry. The organization plans to end this form of discrimination and educate people on family planning methods.
8. Friendship Bridge
Friendship Bridge provides international grant funding for the underdeveloped parts of Guatemala. In many underdeveloped places, women are unable to fight poverty as they spend most of their time watching over their household. Through Friendship Bridge, women are able to borrow money through loans after they have successfully completed training to start up their businesses. Through training and loans, women are able to live a higher standard of living and support their families. This way, women are able to leave their abusive husbands without fear of being unable to survive.
9. Every Mother Counts
Every Mother Counts is an activist group who sees the need for medical resources for medical resources in many developing countries. This organization has been providing international grants for NGOsin Tanzania, Haiti, and India. Their aim is to provide training for those in the medical field, supply hospitals with the necessary equipment to operate more productively and to improve the means of transportation as time can be a crucial part in saving lives. Through their grants, Every Mother Counts hopes to decrease the number of women who die in childbirth or those who incur complications.
10. Dress for Success
Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization which encourages women to join the workforce specifically in the corporate world. They believe in the saying that first impressions last and would like women to be prepared for the jobs they apply in. A problem most women face is that clothing can be expensive and is not seen as a priority for most. Because of that, this nonprofit helps women by providing attires appropriate for interviews with women who don’t have the means to invest in clothing. Their clothes come from donations which they then allocate to different parts of the world where this could be a problem.
A number of women have already been empowered and are now breaking the stigma that a woman’s only purpose is to give birth and raise a family. Thus, the issues on gender still have a long way to go. Above are 10 organizations which aim to address many issues one by one until eventually, men and women enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
