Women Lead the Way: Stories of Strength and Hope on International Women’s Day
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (March 7, 2025) – For Silvia in Guatemala, progress means seeing young women in her community break barriers that once seemed impossible.
In Honduras, Lorenza remembers when opportunities for women like her felt out of reach. Today, thanks to support from Food For The Poor (FFTP) donors and programs, she’s not only providing for her family – she’s thriving.
Silvia and Lorenza are just one of the many women who are changing their own futures with support from FFTP and its dedicated donors.
Their voices are at the heart of the charity’s International Women’s Day celebration, which this year carries the theme “Invest in Girls Today to Empower the Women of Tomorrow.”
“Before, women could only study to third grade. Now, we have women who are teachers, family educators, and even university graduates,” Silvia said. “I want to congratulate all the women of the world. We are loving, enterprising women who can get ahead. Don’t let anyone take the paintbrush, color your own future.”
“I’m not the same day laborer as before,” Lorenza said. “Now, I have my own plot of land and harvested more than 100 quintals (about 22,046 pounds) of coffee grapes this year. Before, I had none. The tools, food, and support we’ve received have helped us work hard and build something lasting – especially as women who are often overlooked.”
FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said Silvia’s and Lorenza’s stories are proof of what’s possible when women have access to the tools, training, and support they deserve.
“When women lead, communities thrive. Investing in women and girls is one of the most powerful ways we can create lasting, meaningful change across generations,” Raine said.
Through sustainable programs focused on education, health care, micro-enterprise development, and agriculture, FFTP works alongside women to help them overcome challenges and build brighter futures.
In Guatemala, indigenous women are blending traditional weaving skills with business training through a partnership with Mercado Global, lifting their families out of poverty. In Honduras, women farmers are gaining the knowledge and tools they need to produce high-quality crops and connect directly with markets.
Food For The Poor is also amplifying women’s voices through its Beyond the Plate podcast.
Today, listeners can hear women share how their lives and work are accelerating progress for girls and women. The episode, which features Lisa Lee Arnaud, TV/radio broadcaster and Founder of LA/PR Firm, along with FFTP leaders Vivian Borja and Michelle Gollapalli, premieres at 9 a.m. at foodforthepoor.org/podcast.
To support Food For The Poor’s efforts to empower women and girls this International Women’s Day, visit foodforthepoor.org/womensday.
About Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
