Top 5 Events Worldwide:

“Women have plans for themselves, for their children, about their home, the meals. They have a Vision.” –Professor Muhammad Yunus

March 8, 2012 commemorated the 101^st anniversary of International Women’s Day. Women and supporters all around the world gathered at hundreds of events to celebrate the achievements and inspire women.  At the heart of microfinance lies female empowerment. Grameen America is proud to support women entrepreneurs in the United States who are working hard to create a better tomorrow for themselves, their families and their communities. Listed below are our top 5 International Women’s Day events which inspire us to think globally and act locally.

                                                                                                                                                     [Source Getty]

Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton attend the annual 2012 International Women of Courage Awards that recognizes risk-taking women around the world who have led the way advocating for women's rights.

Indian car designer Sudhakar Yadav designed vehicles made in the shape of a purse, stilletto, tube of lipstick, and makeup compact for International Women's Day.

Nepalese women chant during a walkathon to end violence against women for International Women's Day in Kathmandu.

Gaggle Choir member posed at the Millennium Bridge in London, for Join Me on the Bridge 2012; the world's largest women's rights campaign on International Women's Day.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg opens trading at the London Stock Exchange along with 50 high profile business women including Alek Wek , Kelly Hoppen and Karen Brady to mark International Women's Day, in London.

“Women Are Not The Exception”

As a Microfinance Institution, Grameen America has a natural tendency to focus on women. Grameen America serves America’s poorest of the poor: Individuals earning ~$11,000 per year or ~$22,000 for a family of four. With a maximum first time loan of $1,500, Grameen America seeded businesses are truly micro. Gail is spot on, people associate microfinance with women but entrepreneur with men. Yet, after 4 years of micro-loans, many of our women have moved from door-to-door sales, to street carts, to storefronts. A $7,500 loan, our largest loan to date, is empowering a true entrepreneur. Newly created businesses grow to micro and expand to small are not exceptions!  As Gail claims, we as a society “aim low and think small when it comes to women.” But, we “must move beyond micro hopes and micro ambitions for women.” If female run businesses will create ~5MM jobs by 2018, female entrepreneurship is fundamentally linked to global growth and global employment!