UN – United Nations

Passionate. Powerful. Inspiring. These were the words that came to mind when I first heard about Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai. Her only crime was advocating for the right of girls to receive an education.  Since healed, Malala is more devoted to her cause than ever. On July 12, her 16th birthday, the United Nations honored Malala for her bravery. Malala and 500 youth delegates from 85 countries (the enthusiastic party guests) celebrated Malala’s sweet […]

Every July 18, the world celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day – a day to recognize Mandela’s contributions to freedom, equality, and human rights and to follow his example of service to build a better world. To get inspired, here is a list of 12 amazing quotes from Madiba.  While there are so many words of wisdom to choose from, these are some of my favorites. 1.      “What counts in life is not the mere fact

  Living on about $120 per month in the slums of Dhaka, Nasima, 27, and her husband, a factory worker, struggled to find additional resources to better care for their newborn child. Their plight is all too common in Dhaka, a city where poverty and illiteracy are prevalent, especially among women and girls. Despite her living conditions and limited resources, Nasima’s story is one of inspiration because she signed up with MAMA in Bangladesh to

  This week I was able to participate in a dialogue with a unique group of Russian leaders to share perspectives related to ongoing dialogue around the post-2015 development agenda.  This session was scheduled as part of the Annual Meeting of the United Nations Foundation Board, hosted this year in Russia by Board Member Igor Ivanov.  The Board met with a group of distinguished leaders to discuss how the international development agenda is evolving, and

A few years ago, I traveled to Nigeria with Nothing But Nets. I visited communities that had already received anti-malaria bed nets from Nothing But Nets campaign supporters like you. But I also met families that are still in need. The difference was like night and day. In the communities blanketed by bed nets, malaria is dramatically on the decline. There, I met happy, proud mothers and smiling, energetic children. But in the other communities,

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series.  Check back tomorrow for five solutions to advance clean cookstoves. Did you know that cooking is a major global development issue?  Around the world, 3 billion people burn solid fuels such as wood and charcoal for their daily cooking needs.  The resulting smoke leads to a range of negative consequences for human health and the environment, and the act of collecting fuel can put women

Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series.  Click here to read yesterday’s post on the risks of cooking with inefficient cookstoves and fuels. Here’s a fact you may not know: 4 million people lose their lives each year from the simple act of cooking a meal. That’s because 3 billion people burn solid fuels such as wood and charcoal for their daily cooking needs. The resulting smoke causes a range of respiratory,