Little by Little One Walks Far*

UNFPA is the United Nations agency that deals with providing much needed family planning and reproductive health services in the developing world.  In 2002, the American government decided not to give a promised 34 million dollars to UNFPA.

In different parts of the country and without ever having met, two ordinary American women, Jane Roberts and Lois Abraham, asked the women of America to send $1 dollar each to UNFPA.

Nobody – not even UNFPA – thought it would work. But it did.  Soon a deluge of envelopes with single dollar bills began arriving at the UNFPA offices from women – and men – all over the United States.

From this an organisation called 34 Million Friends of UNFPA (www.34millionfriends.org) was formed and millions of dollars were raised to help families all over the world.

In 2009, the U.S. administration restored the funding to UNFPA but 34 Million Friends still continues to work to support this vital service.

And all from the efforts of two ordinary women – a social action butterfly effect if ever there was one.

(*Peruvian Proverb)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS_rgmUzyzE&w=560&h=315]

20 Comments

  1. In the place where I was born,
    in those times of fears,
    a law was passed so,
    people live like breeders,
    so did the commies
    treated us…
    millions of souls, with one’s soulless minded
    LUNACY,
    We all belonged to him,
    he wanted all our lives,
    the breed for him,
    regardless of REASONS:

    There were no contraceptives,
    there were no prophylactics,
    There was no way to end the sick game he played.
    Direct result of such were famine and the orphans,
    jail prospect for the doctor, and for the victims…jail.

    That law can be adopted with ease,
    by other despots, who wrongfully are thinking
    they have the right to ownership of others.

  2. Wonderful inspiration these two women have provided to all of us working for social justice, equity, and peace in the world. Let us march every onward.

  3. Wonderful inspiration these two women have provided to all of us working for social justice, equity, and peace in the world. Let us march every onward.

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