Dear (your elected representatives), As one of your constituents, I ask you to support an expanded government program offering microloans to women in developing countries. Studies of microlending show that women have superior repayment rates, invest more productively, and are more risk averse than their male counterparts. Furthermore, when a woman saves money, she is more likely to spend it on her family - and thriving families lead to thriving communities. Organizations like Kiva, World Concern, and FINCA International are already helping thousands of women to reach their potentials through microloans. But these organizations cannot do it alone. Our government already supports domestic microfunding with the Small Business Association. Expanding similar programs overseas would increase gender equality while decreasing extreme poverty across the globe. Women need our help: they work twice as much unpaid time as men while producing 55% of all food grown in developing countries and clocking in two-thirds of the world’s working hours. Yet they receive only 10% of the world’s income, and own less than 1% of the world’s property. Our government cannot allow this imbalance to continue. I speak not only as your constituent but as your fellow American and global citizen when I say that we have a moral obligation to right this wrong – and microloans are a very effective way to do it. We need to act now to end global poverty! This is very important to me and many others I am actively speaking with. I would like to tell everyone that you fully support this very important program. Please let me know, when and how you are actively supporting these programs. What specific legislation are you co-sponsoring and when will you bring it out of committee for a vote by the full Congress? We, the people, want to know: Will you work with us now to help create a much better world? Thank you. Sincerely,
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by Kerry Dagastino, Hearts & Minds volunteer |
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