All over the world millions of women struggle to care for the families while mired in a cycle of poverty and suffering. Today, Episcopal Relief & Development commemorates Mother’s Day to call attention to the plight of women around the world.

By working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Episcopal Relief and Development is committed to empowering women. Our programs to alleviate hunger, create economic opportunities, promote health and fight disease and respond to disasters are implemented to improve the lives of women and their families while alleviating the suffering caused by poverty.

“Close to eighty percent of Episcopal Relief and Development’s program beneficiaries are women,” said Abagail Nelson, ERD’s Vice President for Programs. “We recognize that women are vital members of their communities, serving as breadwinners, caregivers, and teachers. Episcopal Relief and Development promotes their success in all of these endeavors.”

Episcopal Relief and Development’s worldwide programs to empower women provide health care, improve the food supply and help women to achieve economic stability. For example, in the Puno Region of southern Peru on Lake Titicaca where nearly 50% of the population lives on less than $1 per day, Episcopal Relief and Development is partnering with the Anglican Diocese of Peru and the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF) to transform the lives of vulnerable women there.

Elena, a mother of three, is the sole provider for her family. As head of the household, Elena has worked non-stop selling food to support her family in a region where earning a living is very challenging. In the island community where Elena lives, the only mode of transportation is by boat. In order to distribute her products, Elena had to rent a boat which limited her profit and mobility. The family could barely make ends meet and did not have extra money to send the children to school.

Elena learned about a micro-finance opportunity with the ECLOF and Episcopal Relief & Development. She identified a means to improve her business and life prospects. Along with several other borrowers from her community, Elena formed a community bank that makes small loans to people living in poverty. With her loan, Elena purchased a rowboat. Her profits increased immediately and Elena has been able to expand her business to include the sale of handicrafts and candy. Best of all, now her children attend school and the cycle of poverty has been broken.

With a little help, women in impoverished settings around the world are acting as agents of change and strengthening their communities today to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

As you honor and celebrate Mother’s Day, please pray for all those who have been affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Join us in remembering people around the world suffering today because of disasters, war, poverty, and disease—particularly women and children who are especially vulnerable.

To make a gift to those most impacted, please make a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development’s “Myanmar & Cyclone Relief” fund online at http://www.er-d.org/

To support other programs, please make a contribution online at http://www.er-d.org/ , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.