At World Vision, we believe ending extreme poverty is possible

But it won’t happen as long as half the population is held back. Women and girls in extreme poverty face unique obstacles in every stage of their lives that hold them back from living positive and prosperous lives.

World Vision intentionally focuses on women and girls in every aspect of our work, because we know that when women and girls are empowered, everyone wins.

By joining World Vision’s Strong Women Strong World movement, you can help every woman and girl reach her full potential.

Help us reach and empower more women and girls.

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Women and girls in poverty face more obstacles simply because they were born female

Every minute, 22 girls under the age of 18 are married

12 million girls a year, a number that will only increase further with COVID-19.

Every day, women and girls spend 200 million hours collecting water

Hours they can’t spend on education, learning a skill, or earning an income.

Today 130 million girls aged 6-17 are out of school

Millions more are struggling to remain where they belong: in the classroom.

The end of poverty begins with her

Gender equality is key to effective development and creating a peaceful and stable world. When women and girls enjoy equal rights, freedoms, access and opportunities – children are better cared for, families are stronger, communities are more prosperous, and progress is accelerated.

That is why we've been a global leader in gender equality for decades. It's integrated into everything we do, at each stage of a woman’s life.

How we empower women and girls

We work with children and youth, men and women, community and faith leaders to create environments that enable women and girls to overcome the unique obstacles and barriers they face.

We reach and empower the world’s most vulnerable women and girls by providing them with access to healthcare, water, education, protection and economic empowerment, so that she, her family and her community can thrive.

Swipe to read more about how we work below:

Water

We bring clean water close to home which frees up the precious hours girls and women spend daily on collecting water. World Vision is the leading non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world, reaching one new person every 10 seconds and three more schools every day with clean water.

Education

We help girls stay in school and receive quality education, by training teachers, parents and peers in literacy and numeracy methods, and by providing schools with clean water, latrines and private sanitary rooms, so that when her period comes, she can manage her menstrual hygiene.

Rohingya refugee girl goes to a World Vision child friendly space to play and learn

Child Protection

We work to protect girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) and to empower and equip families with realistic alternatives to the bride-price economy. Our programmes engage children, youth, parents, community and faith leaders to address harmful practices and challenge gender norms and the status-quo together.

Mother and Child Health

We train community health workers who in return equip mothers with vital information and support during pregnancy and the child’s early years. Together, mothers in the community learn how to spot signs of malnutrition, to cook nutritious meals and take care of their children.

Shabitri used her World Vision training and startup money to establish a bamboo weaving business and a small grocery shop.

Economic Empowerment

We equip and empower women by increasing their knowledge, business and farming skills, financial literacy, leadership opportunities, access to financial services, and incomes, so that she can take care of her family, provide her children with nutritious meals, and send them to school. Every 60 seconds we empower a family with the tools to overcome poverty.

How to get involved

Help us empower women and girls

World Vision’s Strong Women Strong World is a movement of people who believe gender equality is key to effective development and creating a peaceful and stable world. Who stand for equal rights, freedoms, access and opportunities for women and girls – so that families are better cared for, communities are more prosperous, and progress is accelerated.

Together with our UK partners, we aim to empower over 6 million women and girls to live safer, healthier and more prosperous lives by 2024, through our programmes in the areas of Water, Education, Child Protection, Mother and Child Health, and Economic Empowerment.

SIGN UP to join the movement and mobilise your network, influence and resources to help vulnerable women and girls around the world reach their full potential.

DONATE to the Strong Women Strong World fund and help us reach and empower women and girls in the areas of Health, Water, Education, Child Protection and Economic Empowerment.

Download our Vision Statement