Girls and Poverty

Did you know that girls in impoverished countries are less likely to receive adequate medical care or food, compared to boys? Here are some grim statistics I recently received from World Vision:

- Seven out of ten of the world's hungry are women.
- Nearly half of all girls born in the 50 least developed countries will never attend school, sentencing them to a life of poverty and disease.
- Due to poverty, illiteracy, and the denial of decision-making power, women are becoming infected with HIV faster than men in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
- Every six seconds a girl under five dies of preventable causes.
- Of the 800 million who lack basic work skills to rise out of poverty, two-thirds are female.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Another little girl has died. It's almost overwhelming to comprehend.

I sponsor a little girl through World Vision. They are looking for more sponsors for little girls. I'm sure Compassion International is, too. I also support Shared Hope International to rescue female victims of sex trafficking (a result of poverty as well as sin) and Covenant Mercies for AIDS orphans (you can sponsor a child through Covenant Mercies, too). None of these agencies will meet their budgets on my modest donations. But I'd like to use the platform the Lord has given me through this blog to encourage you all to give, too. Out of the thousands who visit each week, perhaps we could add sponsors for several hundred more girls around the world? What a joy that would be!

I'd like to make a special plea to the single women reading this blog who want children. There are little girls around the world who could benefit from your nurturing side right now. If you are not doing so already, may I encourage you to sow what God has given you into the life of a little girl in an impoverished nation? If you decide to do so, please send in a comment. I'm opening the comments for this post.

(The photo above is of Angela. She is two years old and lives in El Salvador. She is also looking for a sponsor.).

UPDATE: On Saturday, I received a quick note from Tom Emmons at Compassion. He wrote: "Thank you for your post about girls and poverty. Also, thank you for your link to Compassion’s web site. Your article and link to our site has already resulted in activity on our site and at least one newly sponsored child!" That's wonderful! I am praying for many more sponsors. In fact, I asked the Lord for a specific number--a big number--of new sponsors. So please do let me know if you decide to sponsor a child from any of these organizations. I would truly rejoice to hear from you!

Comments

[Stacy]

I sponser a girl my age (17) in Ethiopia, through Compassion International. I was wondering, is there a "better" organization to donate to, in you opinion? World Vision or Compassion? I know they are both great, though! :-)

[Melissa Hastings]

I thought I might tell you I adopted a little girl through World Vision named Melissa in Peru. We're going on about 5 years now at least. I have received letters from her mother and was told they pray for me. I just sent her a birthday card through World Vision. I get reports on how well she is doing and what kind of stuff she is learning. It is encouraging to read. They send you pictures too. If somebody is thinking about doing this, go for it! If you buy a home, part of your donation can be reimbursed at tax time.

[Christy]

You can also support children (girls and boys) through Gospel For Asia's Bridge of Hope program. 100% of what you give goes to the child! www.gfa.org

[Kimberly]

This is a new perspective for me. I have been in and around international adoption for years. In the adoption arena, girls have it made. (Something like 6 to 8 girls are adopted for every boy.) I never thought about the girls like your post has led me to, maybe a little willful ignorance on my part. I have some thinking to do. Thank you.

[Stacy]

Just wanted to say that I received my fisrt letter from the girl I sponser in Ethiopia, and it totally made my day! I thank the Lord that he led me to Compassion, to sponser a child (17 yrs.).

[Katrina]

When I was a child, I sponsored a little girl in India, then later one in Haiti. Since then, my giving had been to organizations rather than individuals...until I read to your post this morning. God kept bringing this to my mind all day and has blessed me financially recently. All this to say that I will now be sponsoring a little girl from Uganda through Compassion International. Thanks so much for letting God use you to lay this on my heart!

[abi]

Thank you for your post! God used it to remind me of my desire to sponsor a child once I could afford to commit to do so. As soon as I read your blog, I actually did go and sponsor a child through Compassion International - a little girl who has the same birthday I do - that way I will always remember her special day and be thankful for the fact that I can celebrate with her and help in a small way. Thanks for your faithfulness in posting what God has on your heart and doing what you can to raise awareness for this and other good ministries and causes.

[Rachel]

Thanks, Carolyn. I have had this on my heart for a while now, but have neglected to be intentional. Thank you for reminding me. I am making a goal to sponsor a child within the next month and will ask my care group tonight to hold me accountable. If I can spend $30 or more a month on my hair, I can certainly help a child. I was just reading from Randy Alcorn that if you want your heart to belong somewhere, pour your time and finances into that area (Matt. 6:21). I say I have a heart for missions and children.....I'm going to put more money where I want my heart to grow,

[Colette]

Thanks for reminding me that the pangs of longing for children can be subsided by giving to others. I just sponsored Dina from Zimbabwe. ;o)