Women have made strides in the business world, but take in these facts:
- Women do two-thirds of the world's work, but earn only 10 percent of the world's income.
- 70% of all those living in extreme poverty are female.
- Women are often excluded from education and the workplace, from owning property, and from equal participation in politics.
For the upcoming Mother's Day, Opportunity International is launching a "Banking on
Mothers" campaign to celebrate women-owned businesses in developing countries.
The main product of the campaign is the "Banking on Mothers" gift card (available in increments as low as $10). All proceeds from the purchase of a card go towards funding microloans to mothers in 20 different countries.
So, to help women-owned businesses thrive: go here, buy a gift card, and fund a loan to a mother profiled on the site whose business they'd like to invest in; the site offers goods from female entrepreneurs around the world. The buyer will get subsequent updates on the business.
Your mother, sister, partner, friend will thank you.