On May 11^th and 12^th I served as a delegate at CARE’s national conference in Washington D.C. CARE (www.care.org ) is a 60 year old humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice. Because of CARE’s special emphasis on investing in and empowering women and children, Dining for Women (a giving circle founded in Greenville, South Carolina by Marsha Wallace www.diningforwomen.org ) has become an affiliate organization. The philosophy behind CARE’s projects in 72 countries is simple; advance education, improve health, increase economic opportunity and meet emergency needs after disasters.

I joined Dining for Women because of my interest in ending global poverty by investing in women and their children. I began to believe that there were practical solutions to the problems of poverty and social injustice after reading Greg Mortenson’s book, Three Cups of Tea.  Mortenson’s work to promote peace by building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan was a powerful testimony to the ripple effect educating women has on communities. My belief in the success of female focused international aid programs was further strengthened by reading  Half the Sky  by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky served as a launch pad for my entry into activism to further the cause of women’s rights. One of the courageous and inspiring women featured in Half the Sky was a guest at the CARE conference. I was absolutely thrilled to meet Goretti Nyabenda, a resident of Burundi, after she was given the “I Am Powerful” award by CARE. Goretti describes her life before joining an empowerment program run by CARE as “wretched”. Goretti took out a $2 microloan to buy fertilizer, repaid the loan and began a small business as a farmer, goat breeder and banana-beer brewer. Today Goretti’s husband no longer beats her and she is allowed to come and go freely instead of being confined to her home. Goretti’s children are able to go to school and life is good for the family. All of this good fortune came about because of Goretti’s original $2 loan.

More than 800 people attended the 2010 CARE Conference 264 delegates from all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii.  7 years ago at CARE’s first national conference just 20 people attended. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the opening speaker. Secretary Clinton was an early proponent of women’s rights; her key question for national leaders is “How do you treat your women?” Secretary Clinton believes that when women are treated as property and second class citizens it’s not only a violation of human rights; it impedes the economic prosperity of the country because 50% of the populace isn’t being utilized in the work force.

Meeting all of these people from across the country united in their belief that it is possible to change the world and end poverty was a spiritual experience.  At times it felt like being in church, a communion of souls if you will. I felt proud to be part of it and happy to be doing something positive to affect change.

The chief purpose of the conference was to learn more about CARE and its programs but also to unite behind some legislative and policy goals CARE has defined. On the final day of the conference the delegates fanned out to Capitol Hill and made 300 congressional visits to lobby for passage of three pieces of pending legislation; the Global Food Security Act, the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act and the Global MOMS Act. Because one-sixth of the world’s population suffers from chronic hunger and the vast majority of them are women and children, there is a need to establish a comprehensive food strategy which is outlined in the Global Food Security Act.

The issue of preventing child marriage is pretty straight forward and a matter of basic human rights. It’s estimated that 60 million girls ages 17 and younger in developing countries are married. Child marriage increases the risk of maternal mortality, HIV infection and domestic abuse and decreases educational opportunities for girls. The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act has bipartisan support with 116 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and the House.

Protecting mothers and children from senseless deaths is the focus of the Global Moms Act. One woman dies nearly every minute of every day during pregnancy and childbirth, millions more are left with life altering disabilities and the vast majority of these deaths are preventable. The Global MOMS Act was introduced by Rep. Lois Capps last week and seeks to expand existing maternal health programs and increase access to pre-natal care. Healthy mothers create healthy societies.

The pending legislation isn’t a cure all but it’s a start. It’s important for the United States to take a leadership role in efforts to build a healthy, stable and secure world. In many ways global poverty is a national security threat. It seems pretty basic that when people are healthy and well fed they are less likely to turn to terrorism or join radical sects because they aren’t filled with hunger and hate.

One imperative to affecting change on these issues is political will; our elected officials need to know that we care about women and children in developing nations. We must make it known that we think it’s important to be a leader in the global community. If you believe the United States has a moral imperative to help make the world a better place than get involved. For a fundamental understanding of how empowering women can entire communities read the book Half the Sky, go online and learn more about CARE www.care.org or join Dining for Women www.diningforwomen.org.

One of the legislative aides that our delegation met with told us that until that day, he had never heard from any constituents in South Carolina with regard to global poverty, child marriage or maternal health. He seemed impressed that we traveled to Washington D.C. to represent 500 members of Dining for Women and more than 1,000 supporters of CARE in South Carolina. You can be a part of this movement; I hope you’ll join us.