March 8 is International Women’s Day. Heifer International celebrates
women the world over who work to feed their families, become small business
owners, and educate their children among many other tasks they perform for
their families.
They grow 60-80 percent of the food in developing countries
yet own less than 1 percent of the Earth's land. Despite making up half the
world's population, women have been marginalized in most societies throughout
human history. Heifer International invests in women small holder farmers to
relieve malnutrition and help create business owners that generate a
sustainable income for their families.
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Women also spent much time collecting fuel to cook for their families. This effort to chop, collect and carry biomass for miles can take hours, cutting into the time they need for other chores like fetching water, caring for children, working the fields and herding animals. Cooking with open fires is also a huge health risk. Smoke inhalation contributes to millions of deaths every year. World Ark contributor, Erik Hoffner interviews author Gautam Yadama on his book Fires, Fuel & the Fate of 3 Billion: The State of the Energy Impoverished, a new book that takes a close look at this global problem.