Global Team of 200

Much has changed in the decades since my extensive travels, and in many places the quality of life for women around the world has improved. Women are generally marrying and having children later in life allowing them to stay in school longer, and have better economic opportunities in general. Increasing numbers of girls are receiving education, and increased access to vaccines has prevented millions of deaths from preventable diseases. There is still so far to go, the problems of violence and inequality for women remain. Countries around the world need to realize that they have the opportunity to tap into a large source of economic growth in the women, whoever figures that out has the potential to double their National output. (via International Women’s Day)

I Must have spent nearly a quarter of the past decade at playgrounds with my kids, so I am thrilled to write about the nonprofit organization,Kaboom! that believes in the power of play. The neighborhood playground was my office, my social interaction, my snack bar, changing station, and my sanity as a mother. It was the place we could always go when we needed to get out of the house, and we were there daily. (via Kaboom! Playgrounds)

My Charity Miles App is the inspiration to keep going on my run at this point because I set the personal goal not of distance, but to provide one child with a vaccine with my run. (via Charity Miles)

Clean water and sanitation are two issues that I am passionate about. They are such basic human needs, so simply attained by many around the world, and yet deadly to those who cannot access them. Too many people are living without these very basic needs when the solutions are often times simple. Water Aid was founded in 1981, to transform lives by helping the world’s poorest people gain access to safe water and sanitation. Together with local organizations, communities and individuals, WaterAid works to use affordable and locally appropriate solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to people in developing countries. (via Love & Water)

I am embarrassed to admit that prostitution was legal in Rhode Island until 2009, but still I remember my disbelief when I heard about the case of four young American women being held against their will as part of a human trafficking ring in Rhode Island last year. I was driving in my car as the news came over the radio and when they mentioned the age of the girls involved I remember looking in the rear view mirror at my two daughters in the back seat. They were not that far off from the ages mentioned, and looking at my own daughters’ young faces my chest clenched, these were children they were talking about. No child should ever end up in that situation. (via Human Trafficking)

The World Food Programme is globally poised to provide food to populations most in need, and to be there when emergencies hit. Emergencies such as the drought in Somalia, hurricane Sandy or armed conflicts in Syria, all of which have caused communities to suffer severe food shortages. Families around the world depend on the World Food Programme to be there when disaster strikes, and the donations we give provide life saving meals to those in need. Feeling blessed after the past weeks holiday festivities with family, contributing to The World Food Programme is one of the ways I look forward to giving back in the New Year. (via » Together With The World Food Programme We Can Make A Difference documama)

Giving birth should be a time of joy and hope for families, yet in Sub-Saharan Africa 1 in 39 risk dying in during childbirth. In developing nations around the world 800 mothers will die giving birth each day. These are areas without proper healthcare facilities or healthcare professionals within reach. No mother should die in childbirth, and many who do are only in the 15-20 year old age group. Other mother’s often leave behind older children who are then more likely to suffer from malnutrition, and a continued cycle of poverty. Most of these lives could be saved relatively easily for a small cost. This is where Maternity Worldwide comes in. (via » Still Looking For A Meaningful Gift? How About The Gift Of Life? documama)

Sometimes it is hard to find the perfect gift for someone who has every material thing they desire. Still you want to give something as a token of your appreciation to them and the below gifts are the perfect solution that everyone can feel good about. (via » Mindful Giving Guide: Gifts That Give Back documama)

(via » Giving Tuesday Helps To Balance Out Black Friday & Cyber Monday documama)

Giving Tuesdayprovides a way to harness all of the grateful energy amassed over Thanksgiving and transform it directly into the spirit of helping others.  Having lost both of my own parents before having my own children I know that nothing in life matters as much as your loved ones, and sitting around our Thanksgiving table I am always struck with deep gratitude for my family, our health, our safety and comfortable life.  These are not things that I take for granted.  Extensive travel through developing nations gave me an acute awareness of our good fortune to live in a place where food security, education and housing are the norm.