Women Make a Difference

The Global Fund for Women works for a just, compassionate, and democratic world in which women and men participate equally in all aspects of society. The group funds projects run by women that support this vision. The groups doing 'women's work' highlighted here are all supported by the Global Fund (1375 Sutter St., Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94109; 415/202-7640); www.globalfundforwomen.org.

Women's reality
Every minute, a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth -- that's more than 500,000 deaths every year worldwide -- and 99 percent of these deaths are in the developing world, according to the World Health Organization.

Women's work
Asesoria Capacitacion y Asistencia en Salud (Health Training and Support Association) in Chiapas, Mexico, addresses domestic violence, poverty, and other social causes of maternal mortality.

Women's reality
Of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poor (those living on less than $1 a day), 70 percent are women.

Women's work
SIN-DO, a women's organization in Benin, helps poor women achieve economic independence by providing business training and small loans for income-generating projects.

Women's reality
A 100-country study found that advancing equality and educating girls promotes democracy.

Women's work
As Guatemala makes a transition from 36 years of armed conflict, the Union Nacional de Mujeres Guatemaltecas (National Union of Guatemalan Women) promotes equal rights, social justice, and respect for ethnic and cultural diversity by mobilizing women to advocate for legislative and social change.