Women Empowering Women

From Tragedy to Triumph

Save our Sisters has selected three (of the many) tragedies

of women in our world. Highlighting just three provides clear focus and more quantifiable results.

1) Slavery and Sex Trafficking

2) Rape as a Weapon

3) Death and Childbirth

Did you know there are 12.3 Million Slaves in the World TODAY (According the United Nations)

Some estimates are as high as 27 Million

Slavery in the United States In 1861 at the height of the Transatlantic Slave Trade there were 3.8 Million Slaves

Existed for over 100 years

In 1865 13t Amendment ended slavery

Took another hundred years until Dr. King launched the civil rights movement (grass roots effort)

Sex Trafficking will soon be larger than Drug Trafficking◦ Overwhelming majority are young girls, women, children◦ Trafficking leads to slavery

Two million children are forced into prostitution every YEAR

How Does it Happen? Girl is stolen by a slave hunter and trafficked

Girl is sold by her parents

To feed other children (boys)

Because parent are told girls will get education

Girl goes willingly

Thinking they will work as maids in another country

Thinking they will be able to send money to family

What happens to them? Beaten and Tortured into submission Addicted to Drugs so they will be still When they’re too old they are killed, left to starve, fed to the

Hyenas

Sexual Slavery is a Death Sentence! AIDS rate is as high as 26% in some countries Young Girls are preferred, they have less chance of AIDS Men don’t use condoms (education thing) Girls are more likely to contract aids because of tears in skin Virgins are thought to cure Aids

Reading: Half the Sky pages 3 – 5 and 10

Biggest Killer of Women – Male Violence Of total population of women in the world ages 15 – 44

you are more likely to be maimed or die from male violence than from cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and wars combined.

60% of Women experience Violence or Rape World Health Organization reports: most countries

between 30%-60% of women had experienced physical or sexual violence by a husband or boyfriend

A third of all women world wide face beatings in the home.

Rapes around the Globe◦ Ghana - 21% of women report first time was rape◦ Nigeria - 17% have been raped by age 19◦ South Africa - 21% have reported being raped by age 15

Aren’t there Laws?◦ Even if there are laws against rape, they are rarely

observed outside the capital◦ Police forces if they exist are often corrupt at worst or at

best too few.

Reading: Half the Sky page 63 and Page 84

One women dies in childbirth every minute◦ But not in the United States..not any more

During WW1 (1914 - 1918), more women died in childbirth than American men died in the war. ◦ While men went to war women worked the factories ◦ Work equals value◦ Value equals vote (in 1919 got the right to vote)◦ Vote equals politicians aware of your problems◦ Infant mortality rate dropped dramatically after 1919

Lifetime risk of an American woman dying due to pregnancy or childbirth is just 1 in 2800◦ For a woman living in Sub-Saharan Africa the risk is 1 in 16.

(Source: World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNFPA 2000)

A poor women’s problem

Caused by childbirth or sexual violence

Over 100,000 new fistula cases each year

UNFPA (UN Population Fund) reports fund to treat 6.500

Fistula is a hole is torn between the vagina and the bladder or the vagina and the rectum, leaving a women unable to control either urine or feces.

Fistula Hospitals

Eradicated in western countries at the end of the 19th century

Manhattan The Waldorf Astoria Hotel used to be a fistula hospital

◦ Reading: Half the Sky page 93

No Education◦ Reading and Writing gets them access to the world◦ Education about hygiene, disease prevention, childbirth, healthcare, government and

human rights.◦ Higher education leads to decreased birth rate which leaves women to better care for

the children they have (education and healthcare).

No Value (Monetary or Political)◦ If they don’t have a birth certificate, they literally “don’t count”. They can’t vote, own

property and no one knows if they disappear.◦ No vote equals no value to politicians which means no laws to protect you◦ Education about legal rights and Job Skills allows women to bring money into the

house they become an asset◦ Assets are usually protected

No Access to Life◦ No internet, cell phone, television, radio, phones, books or magazines◦ No Electricity – Energy Poverty ¼ of the world has no electricity◦ No Water or Sewage Control◦ No transportation◦ No access to latest inventions, cures, etc.

The health and welfare of our women is a global problem, much like the health of our environment it will take all 195 countries of the world working together (and

many already are). The problems we outline are not limited to one country, not limited to one continent. We just happen to have been born in a very lucky place.

Significant social change must address governmental POLICY and those policies must be monitored and enforced. If there is no law against it, it won’t be stopped.

Policy must be supported with GRASS ROOTS movements (like Save Our Sisters) that support ON THE GROUND charities (like our partner organizations). Each of the countries addressing the specific needs of that region.

What is the United States Doing? Currently fund 140 Anti Trafficking Programs in 70 countries

US State Department “Trafficking in Persons Report” led by Hillary Clinton

International Violence Against Women Bill

$175M annually to prevent honor killings, genital cutting, bride burnings, mass rapes, domestic violence

Through awareness, inspiration and compassion

SOS - Save Our Sisters

promotes urgent social change for women all over the world.

SOS - Save Our Sisters is a non-profit organization that promotes urgent social change for extremely disadvantaged

women all over the world. Through activation of small, women-to-women groups, we empower US women with an awareness of

vast global injustices to women and girls all over the world.

We inspire SOS members to action, and show them how, by impacting small and seamless changes in their own lives, they have the power to significantly change the lives of these other women. And by exemplifying the nature of the human spirit, members can better cultivate compassion within their own

children.

1. Join Save Our Sisters

2. Save One Woman

3. Give a Mirco-Loan

4. Upgrade Your Gifts

5. Speak Through Activism

6. Read and Share Books

7. Volunteer for a Vacation

8. Host an in-home SOS Event

There is no charge to join Save Our Sisters. SOS does not collect money, rather we generate interest that we strategically direct to well established organizations around the world to ensure we are making the biggest splash with our collective efforts.

As demonstrated in the The Three Tragedies of women, there are vast social injustices that impact women and their families around the world. SOS seeks to unite women from the United States with less fortunate women around the world thereby bridging a connection that elevates the life of the women being helped as much as it uplifts the life othe women doing the helping.

It's EASY and FREE to Join Save Our Sisters:

1. Enter your information in the form below. You will receive regular updates about SOS projects and initiatives.

2. Review The Eight Triumphs outlined on the How We Do It section, and begin implementing the ones that are within your ability.

3. Host an SOS Awareness Party to spread the message of compassion among your circle of influence.

4. Very Important! Visit our website and post on our message boards to keep us posted on your tactics. This gives new members ideas and keeps current members motivated.

www.sos-saveoursisters.com

Women for Women International believes that when women are well, sustain an income, are decision-makers, and have strong social networks and safety-nets, they are in a much stronger position to advocate for their rights. This philosophy and our commitment to local leadership builds change and capacity at the grassroots level.

Matches One US Women with a Sponsor Woman in a War Torn Country◦ Interactive Giving - Exchange Letters and Photos◦ We want to GO THERE

Your Sponsorship of $.89 per day or $27 per Month (one year term)◦ Women who have lost everything and who had little to begin with◦ Multi-phase process of recovery and rehabilitation◦ Teaches education and job skills◦ Helps to improve the rights, freedoms and status of women in her country.

Works in 8 War Torn Countries the WFWI works with◦ Africa - Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Nigeria and Rwanda◦ Europe – Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo◦ Middle East(ish) – Iraq, Afghanistan

www.womenforwomen.org

Microfinance connects investors (like you) with real life entrepreneurs around the world

98% of loans are paid back

Earn 5% rate of return on your money

Loans that change lives

Some people are a few dollars away from changing their lives

Basket weaving business in Ghana or a grocery store in Paraguay

View a list of Projects (with pictures) that need funding

Interactive Giving

Follow Progress with online updates

Join SOS – Kiva Team

You can select and fund your own projects

SOS hopes to raise $5,000 in 2010

Visit www.kiva.org Go to "My Portfolio Page" and create a free KIVA account. Under "My Teams" search for team "SOS-Save Our Sisters" and join the team. Please be sure you join the SOS team before you donate, when you check out (My Basket) you will see SOS-Save Our Sisters on your receipt.

www.kiva.org

Average US woman spends $2,200 a year on gifts

Shop Global Girlfriend for Unique Gifts◦ Jewelry, purses, scarves, clothing, beauty items◦ Unique and inexpensive ◦ Cheap Shipping

Hand made items made from women around the world ◦ Women working through cooperative organizations to raise money to

support their families

Interactive giving◦ Each item has a bio and picture of the women who hand-crafted your gift.

Gift the Keeps Giving◦ When you give these gifts include the bio and picture◦ Your friend will consider shopping Global Girlfriend

www.globalgirlfriend.com

SOS connects members with its partner humanitarian communities who are actively monitoring the state of social and economic affairs for women around the globe.

Easy ways to join existing humanitarian campaigns

◦ Letter writing, emails and petitions

Mobilization of public awareness to help shape policies that support women’s rights

Visit Take Action site of partner sites. 15 Minutes a week can help

Visit www.sos-saveoursisters.com for a list of FL congressmen

www.sos-saveoursisters.com

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. They place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. www.care.org

Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. www.equalitynow.org

Somaly Mam Foundation gives victims and survivors a voice in their lives, liberate victims, end slavery, and empower survivors as they create and sustain lives of dignity from slavery. They imagine a world where women and children are safe from slavery. www.somaly.org

Women Thrive develops, shapes, and advocates for US policies that foster economic opportunity for women living in poverty. Women are the key to ending global poverty, and empowering them is not only right, it’s also the most effective long-term solution to world poverty. www.womenthrive.org

1. Purchase the book ”Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize Winning Man and Wife Team Nicholas Kristof and Cheryl Wudunn

2. Read it in 14 days,

3. Sign and date the back cover

4. Pass it on to a friend with the same instruction

If you start a read and share, be sure to include SOS website inside the front cover (www.sos-saveoursisters.com).

Half the Sky Movement (www.halftheskymovement.org)

◦ Acknowledgment of what is evil and wrong with humanity and in the same moment delivers recognition of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

◦ Allows the reader to feel that it is well within your immediate power to greatly impact the lives of the very women you read about.

www.halftheskymovement.org

Volunteer Vacation to Central African Country in late 2011 8 Day Trip cost is estimated at $2,200 (air, accommodations, some food)

Meet our Women for Women International sponsored women as well as Volunteer Assistance

We will be working for a well accredited international volunteer organization (the ones who plan mission trips for churches) ◦ Ensure that we are well prepared and remain safe at all times

Tips for Trips Jar◦ In your home or work◦ Glass Jar decorated to represent your trio◦ Analyze optional spending habits◦ Encourage your children to do the same◦ Passing on take out pizza one night and putting the money in the Trip Jar.

Sponsorship Package provided one year in advance of the trip

www.sos-saveoursisters.com

Through informal, in-home, women-to-women events SOS members carry the SOS message to their families and friends, sharing with them their new found awareness, inspiration and compassion. Our engaging and interactive event has a primary theme : Women Empowering Women

US WWII women ran the country (plus took care of their families)Women tasted the empowerment of employment were left with an emotional and social void to fill

◦ Direct Marketing Strategy emerged capitalizing on women's influence over women◦ It is with this message of empowering women that our SOS Party concept was created

Hostess provides a warm place, light refreshments and a group of 5 – 15 women (over the age of eighteen)

It’s easy! Your SOS Event Planner will do most of the work.

We arrive early to set up our presentation which includes music, video, reading, games, hand outs and gifts.

Visit SOS website to download an SOS Party Planning Kit

Schedule your date with a presenter, now