One Dollar

In Nigeria, it's enough for a mother to buy one loaf of bread for her children...
In Nicaragua, it's enough for a woman to buy a bus ticket to get to work...
In India, it's enough for a girl to buy one notepad for school...

Most Americans can't imagine trying to feed their families, send their kids to school, or take care of relatives on only a dollar a day. But millions of mothers around the world are forced to do exactly that. Women produce the majority of the world's food and are more likely to spend their income on their families - creating a positive cycle of growth that lifts entire communities out of poverty. Yet, worldwide, they earn less, own less, and receive less education, credit, and training than men.  If women in developing countries were given equal economic opportunities, world poverty would end. 

Ritu Sharma with Margarita, a rural mother, in Tactic, Guatemala

Year round, Women Thrive Worldwide advocates for policies that empower women and mothers to escape poverty. On September 21, 2009 Ritu Sharma, Women Thrive's President and Co-founder, traveled to rural Guatemala, one of the poorest countries in Latin America (56% of the population lives in poverty, 16% in extreme poverty). Ritu spent time with local women and attempted to experience what they must do everyday - live on less than $1, or 8.3 Quetzales (Guatemala's currency).

READ RITU'S DIARY   Click Here	BROWSE RITU'S PHOTO ALBUM   Click Here	WATCH VIDEOS   Click Here

You can help millions of women and families escape poverty by joining the Dollar-a-Day Circle: committing to donate $1 a day for a year to Women Thrive's anti-poverty work. Click here to join the Dollar-a-Day Circle! As a special thank you, our Dollar-a-Day Circle members will receive a beautiful handwoven scarf produced by The Association of San Jose Craftswomen for Maya Botanika, a free trade collection made by women artisans in Guatemala! Click here to join the Dollar-a-Day Circle!