I first heard about Women for Women International, an organization that helps women of war, a couple of years ago on Oprah. The stories of women who had gone through horrible tragedy, like rape and losing loved ones, were stuck in my head. The thought of helping one of these women was constantly on my mind. I kept thinking about signing up to sponsor a sister, but life got busy.

Finally, I made a promise that I would just do it and help change a woman’s life.  I promised to make a small sacrifice in my own life to help somebody with no hope.  And I strongly believe that if you educate a woman and help her learn a trade, you can feed a family.  You can help a woman feed and educate her own children and become a self sufficient business woman who will effect her entire community.

Last year,  right before Christmas, I did it. {How You too can Help a woman provide food, shelter and security for her family via my donation page}

Last fall, a friend of mine adopted a little boy from Ethiopia.  After hearing her story about meeting her adopted son’s birth mother, who gave up her 6th child (my friend’s son) because she couldn’t feed him after her husband died from Malaria, I thought Wow…what can I do?  We are not in a place in our lives to adopt a child BUT maybe by helping a woman in need I could help her feed her children AND possibly there may be one less child in an orphanage or on the streets hungry.  And the thought of helping a woman take care of her own children…

So, I signed up to sponsor a sister via Women for Women International.  In a couple of months, I was matched with a woman in Rwanda named Eurelie, who is my sister across the globe.

I honestly do not know too much about her- her past, her present or her future. I know she is a survivor of war. I know her name is Eurelie and she is a single mother, widow, of 3 children- 2 girls and a boy (just like me)

But only her 1 daughter attends school.

Eurelie has completed primary school and she can read and write more than her name.  She lives in a house with no electricity, but does have running water on her property. Their main source of lighting is Kerosene.  She works, but I don’t know what she does to support her family.  She reports that the health of her family is just “fair.”  She is currently enrolled in a training program.  I send $30/month (the cost of about 5 or 6 trips to Starbucks or 1/2 pair of new shoes) and write to her every month or so.

I was excited that on November 2nd, 2011- I received my first letter from her.  It may be the only letter I will get. I’m not sure? But I write to her often- just to let her know that I am thinking about her and pulling for her in her training program.  The letter I received was in her own handwriting AND on homemade stationary.  Then, a translator wrote on the right hand side of the card.

It says,”Dear Sponsor, let me send you greetings. I am happy to have been selected to be fit for your sponsorship. This opportunity will be wisely used to get out of poverty. Thank You.”

That’s it.  I wished she told me all about what she was learning in her program or about her three kids. What are their names? How old are they?  I am so curious to learn more about her past and here dreams.  I hope she writes again.  But, I was just thrilled to get a letter from my Sister across the world in her own handwriting.

Through January 15th, I will be donating 100% of all advertising fees on www.DivaDietitian.com to one of three charities.  Women for Woman International is on the list and I hope to sponsor another sister this year.  For more information on my Holiday Giving campaign- CLICK HERE and ADVERTISE with HEART.

Or think about making a donation in any amount through my PERSONAL DONATION PAGE.

Feed a family. Give a woman the chance to provide her family with an education and healthy nutrition. Help them eat right, learn a trade and provide solid nutrition for their children.

 Diva Dietitian (Registered and Licensed Dietitian) blogs in Full Disclosure. Please see: http://divadietitian.com/about/disclosure. All Opinions are my own. I will ONLY write about things I love, believe in or that truly inspire me.

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