NEAR EAST FOUNDATION WORKS FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS

Countries that promote women’s rights and increase their access to resources and schooling have lower poverty rates, faster economic growth and less corruption than countries that do not. Education, health, productivity, credit and governance—all work better when women are involved. Infant and child mortality falls, nutrition improves, fertility rates and AIDS prevalence lower….

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Gender inequality hurts not just women and girls—but all members of society. That’s why the Near East Foundation is promoting women’s issues everywhere we work.

Using innovative theater techniques in rural Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains to convey Morocco’s revolutionary new family law. the new rules. Over 70 villages in southern Morocco are involved in Near East Foundation programs. In literacy alone, 92 percent of women participants say they have learned to read; 72 percent can now add/subtract and use these new skills regularly; 50,000 people—women in particular—are gaining confidence, education, income.

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In Egypt with its uniquely chronic shortage of nurses, we promote that profession important to national health, educate and place nursing school graduates; in Sudan our issues are women-owned businesses, female genital mutilation and AIDS education; in Ethiopia, education of girls and maternal-child health; Jordan, small loans to enterprising women with a business angle; Mali, cooperative vegetable gardens and marketing..