GiveBig2020

1 R Special Advertising Section | SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2020 15 Kali’s story is representative of Mona Foun- dation’s work and impact: since 1999, pro- viding access to education, empowering girls with voice and choice, and enabling them to transform their own communities. Kali was born in a tribal household in the vil- lage of Alirajpur, India. She contracted polio as a child and lost the use of one leg. Born a girl, poor and now disabled, she had three strikes against her before she was 12. With- out education and empowerment, her future would have been bleak. But her life changed when she was intro- duced to the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Indore, a program fully supported by Mona Foundation for the past 10 years. Kali enrolled in Barli’s six-month residential training program on a $350 scholarship (covering tuition, room and board, health care, and graduation gifts of a sewing machine and a portable solar cooker). There she learned to read and write, studied organic farming, solar cooking, and personal and community development, and earned a tailoring certificate. By training young women to generate their own income, Barli empowers them to find their voice and the choice to contribute as equals in the development of their families and communities. Now, Kali reads and writes, owns a tailoring shop, and not only supports herself but also pays for the education of all the children in her extended family. She has, on her own initiative, formed a “microfinancing self- help group” to help 12 other women grow their own businesses. She also purchased a specially fitted red scooter to can get around more easily. Empowering girls with voice and choice PROVIDED BY MONA FOUNDATION Access to education is at the core of Mona Foundation’s mission because Education Changes Everything. It is key to fighting poverty, hunger, inequality and most other global crises of our time, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. To support the foundation’s efforts, visit monafoundation.org. Kali is now the proud owner of her own sewing shop. She has two employees, is the first woman in her village to own a red fitted scooter (her walking cane is in the background), and the first female landowner in her village. monafoundation.org Educated girls invest 90% of their income back into their families and communities. Give Big to educate children and empower girls. In 2019 Mona Foundation supported the education and empowerment of 429,901 students through 19 partner organizations in 12 countries including the U.S.