Whenever I come across an easy opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women around the world, Amplify is my first stop. The online blogging community represents a powerful force in the dissemination of awareness about global health concerns, and can play an equally significant role in the current of funding toward supporting people in developing countries, promoting universal health systems, and encouraging health programs.


Girl2Woman, a project of Pathfinder International, launched an initiative yesterday called 200 Thousand for 200 Million. According to their website, their goal is to achieve 200,000 video shares of the videos on their website by International Women’s Day (this coming Monday, March 8) “to raise critical awareness about the more than 200 million women around the world who lack access to modern contraceptives.” For each time the video is “shared,” a generous donor will contribute $1 to Pathfinder International programs.

Pathfinder International, a non-profit organization that seeks to  “ensure that people everywhere have the right and opportunity to live a healthy life,” has provided reproductive health care to men and women in over 120 countries worldwide. Its programs stem from the belief that women’s reproductive health care affects every aspect of their lives; the ability to make reproductive choices, the knowledge and resources to protect oneself against sexually transmitted infections, and the support to actively engage in family planning, lead to higher education levels, larger earning potentials, and a greater abundance of opportunities. On a larger scale, women’s empowerment and self-possession raise developing countries’ economic profiles, as women achieve more in the classroom and, eventually, in the workforce.

Pathfinder International develops local partnerships and engages with communities in developing countries to effect positive change for reproductive health care in its many forms: providing family planning services, birth control access, prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, AIDS response, maternal and newborn care, abortion services, delaying childbearing, and promoting safe sex. The long term benefits of ensuring universal reproductive rights and investing in sexual and reproductive health could alleviate poverty, empower women, and save lives.

As a college student, I often struggle to reconcile my desire to contribute to important efforts like Pathfinder International’s project, and my lack of a steady income. I frequently receive emails from the different organizations that I belong to asking me to contribute to their cause, and a feeling of heavy guilt settles over me as I press “delete” on my keyboard. The Girl2Woman project presents an ideal way to involve youth and educate others regarding the fundamental need for global reproductive health care access. Two hundred thousand views is a lot to accomplish in a week, but this video is well worth the effort. Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference from your computer screen, and not your credit card: please share this video as much as you can, and let’s push Girl2Woman to 200 Thousand for 200 Million!