USAID Provides $3.7 Million in New Alliance with CARE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2008
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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a signing ceremony today to launch the Power to Lead Alliance between USAID and CARE USA, an international non-governmental organization. USAID Acting Deputy Administrator James R. Kunder and Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO, CARE USA both participated in the ceremony. USAID has awarded CARE approximately $3.7 million to implement the Power to Lead Alliance.
In addition to the $3.7 million in funding by USAID, CARE is also providing $3.7 million in leveraged funding to the program in partnership with Cargill, Oracle, and the Vodafone Foundation. The goal of the Power to Lead Alliance program is to promote girl leaders in vulnerable communities by: 1) cultivating opportunities for girls to practice their leadership skills; 2) creating public-private partnerships to promote leadership; and 3) enhancing global knowledge to implement and promote girls’ leadership programs. The countries participating in the program are Egypt, Honduras, India, Malawi, Tanzania, and Yemen.
The Power to Lead Alliance will focus on girls from 10 to 14 years old. This age is a critical period of transition and a time where girls’ life choices narrow as they often leave school to take on adult responsibilities such as marriage and motherhood. This period of great social, physical, cognitive, and emotional flux is a crucial moment to harness girls’ development in a positive way. The program aims to give them a chance to discover themselves, to explore and redefine their identities, and to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
This program will make an important contribution to the global education and development communities by enhancing the understanding of effective girls’ leadership development practices. It will also bring greater clarity to the varied roles that men/boys and women/girls play in creating leadership roles for girls.
For more information about USAID and its programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.