Worldwide almost one in six people live on less than $1 a day; more than half live on less than $2 a day; 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean water; over 31,000 children die each day from diarrhea and other preventable diseases; 115 million school-aged children, two-thirds of them girls, have no schools to attend; women and girls are disproportionally represented in these figures. CARE is working hard to improve the lives of those desperately in need around the world.

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. They place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.

CARE began in 1946 as a program to distribute surplus military rations to war-torn Europe. LCI joined the CARE program and immediately became one of its largest supporters. In 1951 MD19 affiliated with the CARE program by providing support through LCI’s efforts. In 1958 MD19 entered into an agreement with the Northwest CARE office to provide direct support of CARE projects chosen by the group. For several years this relationship was unique among Lions Clubs and attracted attention because of its success. Over the years MD19 Lions, Lionesses and Leos have provided over $1.2 million in support of CARE projects around the world.

Our current project is an effort to stem the practice of child labor in the mines of Bolivia.  CARE takes a unique approach in developing educational plans for project areas by specifically targeting the women of the area.  These women are at best treated as second-class citizens.  They have little or no education, few if any rights, and are often relegated to cooking, cleaning, and raising children.  CARE teaches women skills they can use at home to earn additional money that can support their families.  We’re not talking about a lot of money, but it may be just enough to keep her children out of a Bolivian mine. CARE believes that a woman can change a family, that a small group of women can affect change in a village, and that more women can help improve lives in an entire region.

The children of the region are not forgotten.  The program has established an education center which offers preschool education to young children and tutoring, extracurricular activities and meals for primary school students.  The idea is to get the children out of the mines and equip them with the skills that will keep them out.

CARE’s approach to development and this project is best captured by the old proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”

For more information visit the CARE website or the MD19 CARE web page.