When a girl is born into poverty, the odds for her survival are stacked against her. World Vision not only works to help individual girls overcome those odds -- World Vision works to change the odds!*

World Vision has identified thirteen countries where it is most difficult to be a girl, places where a girl's basic physical needs are neglected and her human rights are denied. If she survives childhood, she is married too early, she suffers and dies in childbirth, she is not allowed to own property.

World Vision is pleased to launch Strong Women, Strong World in response to this unacceptable situation. Focusing on sustainable, community-driven, long-term solutions, this movement empowers, protects, educates, and nurtures girls and women. Strong Women, Strong World supports World Vision projects that address maternal and child health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; education and leadership development; entrepreneurship; and education and advocacy around justice, rights, and protection.

Strong Women, Strong World enables women in the United States to join together and make a lasting difference for women and girls living in some of the most challenging places in the world. Over the next five years, this initiative aims to raise $15 million.

Columbia-Willamette Women of Vision is supporting the Bangladesh piece of this campaign. We invite you to join us in changing the odds!

Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness;

Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. -- Matthew 25:40

* Editor's note: "Changing the odds" comes from Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone.