I may have mentioned before that I'm currently sponsoring a woman in the Democratic Republic of Congo through the wonderful organization Women for Women International. If you have the means, I highly recommend donating or sponsoring a woman in a war-devastated country. In these countries, the toughest tasks of rebuilding life fall on the shoulders of the women. Additionally, they must worry about becoming victims of violence or rape. They need help.

Time magazine wrote an article about the founder of Women for Women, Zainab Salbi. She's an amazing lady. She was born in Iraq and forced to move to the U.S. for marriage when she was 20. Her husband was abusive, and thus she courageously left him to start a life alone in a foreign country.

In 1993, Salbi read about women in Bosnia's so-called rape camps--brutal military brothels--and was appalled by the slow response of the international community. "In wars, trust is lost," she says. "Betrayal leads to silence. Rape victims do not talk. Women disappear just when their families and their societies need them most--because you can't rebuild a strong economy without strong women." Raising funds through a church in the Washington area, Salbi founded Women for Women International later that year. The group has now served 153,000 women in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sudan.

Inspiring, isn't it? :)