A Critical Period for Global Health and Education Programs
By Susan Wright, Co-Chair of the Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS
The Together Women Rise Advocacy Group with RESULTS is working to defend foreign assistance funding. As they review the Administration’s mega bill for the coming year, both the House and Senate proposals currently call for slashed funding and/or outright closure of almost all US foreign assistance.
In our webinar on June 17, we heard remarkable and moving stories from our guest speaker, Laurel Fain, gleaned from her 24 years as a USAID health officer in countries in Africa and Asia. Laurel discussed how local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government workers are trying to continue their efforts after the abrupt halt of USAID programs. A continued supply of medicines, nutritional supplements, and other goods, such as bed nets to ward off malaria, is what these workers need most urgently.
Reflecting on my recent Together Women Rise trip to Rwanda, these are the images that stick in my mind: row after row of brilliant, green hills extending to the horizon; brightly-colored birds flitting about and calling from dawn until dusk – even in downtown Kigali; and the huge, warm smiles of every single Rwandan we met. The consequences of the horrific 1994 genocide continue to influence their lives, but Rwandans have chosen to reconcile in order to heal and to unify their country. There is a true sense of community and of people looking out for one another. For example, 
to extend and strengthen land rights for women experiencing poverty. Stronger rights to land have the power to reduce poverty and conflict, increase economic activity, empower women, strengthen food security, and improve environmental stewardship.
