AAUW supports CARE’s work to improve gender equality in basic education and reduce cultural and economic barriers to girls' education in countries around the world.  To demonstrate this support, AAUW members from across the US and beyond participated in the CARE-AAUW “Education is Powerful” essay contest, to share stories about how they were empowered by education or inspired by a role model to pursue education.  The winning essay was contributed by Arlene Mandell, and a member of the Santa Rosa, California branch of AAUW.  Arlene is a retired English professor with 10 years' experience at an international public relations agency in New York and was formerly a newspaper reporter and a writer at Good Houskeeping magazine. Congratulations to Arlene, who has won the opportunity to travel abroad to see CARE’s work firsthand!  Read her winning essay here.

Here are several more ways for members to join the global women’s empowerment movement against poverty and unequal access to education!

• Watch “The Girl Effect” - CARE’s experience shows that educating girls provides perhaps the single highest return on investment in the fight against global poverty.  Visit www.care.org and watch “The Girl Effect”, a video that spells out how girls can be empowered to change their lives and their communities — starting with education.
• Take Action to Support Access to Basic Education for Girls -Around the world, 72 million children of primary school age — more than half of whom are girls — are out of school. Providing basic education to girls has far-reaching positive effects in areas like public health and economic growth. Over the years, the benefits reach families, communities and countries as a whole. The United States can take an important step toward getting children in the world's poorest countries into school by passing the Education for All Act, bi-partisan legislation that would make achieving universal primary education a U.S. foreign assistance priority. Send a message to your legislators asking them to co-sponsor the Education for All Act today.
• Partner with CARE for International Women’s Day 2009 - In recognition of International Women's Day, in March 2009 CARE will be releasing A Powerful Noise.  This documentary follows three extraordinary women – in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mali and Vietnam – as they overcome gender barriers to spark change in their societies and achieve significant victories over poverty, oppression and ethnic strife. AAUW members and branches across the country can partner with CARE in the release of the documentary to promote education and advocacy efforts in your communities. Visit www.apowerfulnoise.org to view the film trailer and stay tuned for more details.

We encourage you to learn more about CARE’s work with women and girls by visiting www.care.org.  Branches may also request informational materials or ask for CARE representatives to speak at your local meetings by emailing groups@care.org.