Dear John,

Across the world, many women never have the opportunity to receive an education. Unfortunately, certain cultures don't always see the value in educating girls. Some families can't afford to send their daughters to school, and many families send them to work to help the family make ends meet.

At Heifer, we're committed to breaking this cycle. We know that when you value and invest in women, they reinvest in their families and communities. Your gifts help women get access to education, as well as training to build a strong foundation to support their families and build stronger communities. This is how ensuring girls receive an education contributes to breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty.

At age 17, Panchu Devi was married and sent to live with her new husband in a concrete, two-bedroom home. Although she dreamed of studying at school, Panchu never had the opportunity as a child. Because of that, she had never been able to read or write. In Rajasthan, India, less than half of the village's women have ever set foot in a school.

Through the Women's Empowerment and Livelihood program, the door to equality and literacy was opened for the whole family. Since joining, Panchu and her husband Shrawan have seen a drastic transformation in their lives, especially because of the gender and justice training. Their daughters, at first told they would never study, are well on their way to graduating from school. The best part? They were able to help their mom, who at the time was in her thirties, to achieve her biggest dream — learning how to write the names of all her family members. Because of Heifer, the cycle of illiteracy has been broken in Panchu Devi's family.

Women have the power to transform their communities. Heifer, together with our donors, is committed to giving women the tools and education they need to be equal decision-makers and successful farmers so their whole communities can escape hunger and poverty. It's stories like Panchu's that keep us striving to do more. And it's people like you who make it possible.

With gratitude,

Kimberly Perrow
Heifer International