What We Do
InternationalMarch 2, 2010
ProLiteracy Supports President's International Budget ProLiteracy's president and CEO, David C. Harvey, said today he is pleased with President Obama's proposed $52.8 billion international budget and its focus on programs for women. "We certainly approve of the $4.9 billion increase that the budget calls for, but what we are especially excited about is the administration's recognition that supporting women through this investment is critical," Harvey said. In her introduction to the State Department budget justification document, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote: "Putting women front and center is at the core of all of these efforts. Women are critical to advancing social, economic, and political progress. They are also a terrific return on investment: numerous studies have shown that when women receive schooling or the boost of a small loan, they flourish, their children flourish, and so does the greater community." "This is exactly what ProLiteracy has been saying for more than 70 years—that helping women helps everyone," Harvey said. "This approach is in keeping with our Women in Literacy and Literacy for Social Change initiatives." ProLiteracy partners with 83 nongovernmental organizations in 51 countries. These partnerships combine instruction in native language reading, writing, and math with community development activities, including micro-enterprise initiatives to help women start businesses, health education programs, and gender-equity programs. According to the budget justification, the State Department and USAID identified several high priorities for the two agencies from now through FY 2011. One is for countries receiving funding to better address the health needs of women and children, as measured by data to be collected by the U.S. and UNICEF. By 2015, this global health initiative will focus on reducing the mortality of mothers and children under five, family planning, preventing new HIV infection, and eliminating some tropical diseases. "ProLiteracy's ongoing initiatives with our nongovernment partners are in perfect unison with these priorities," Harvey noted.
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