Sincere thanks to the France Program Selection Committee

Sincere thanks to the France Program Selection Committee! The France Program, MMEG’s fifth and newest program, was launched in 2023 to award grants to French-speaking women from developing countries studying in tertiary education institutions in France. The Selection Committee brilliantly fulfilled the task of shepherding the program through its third year, while ensuring a rigorous screening process that maintains MMEG’s standards for excellence. The Committee was made up of seven skilled and committed volunteers from five different countries. They brought to the selection their individual life experiences and expertise in a wide range of fields including international development, linguistics, health and pharmacology, communications, international relations, risk analysis, and human resources, as well as their collective commitment to advancing women’s education.

The Committee selected three exceptional women studying in the areas of finance, plant science and engineering, and intelligent communications systems, to receive MMEG grants.

We thank the France Program Selection Committee for its diligence and excellent selection, and for furthering MMEG’s mission to improve the lives of women and children by supporting the higher education of exceptional women.

Sincères remerciements au Comité de Sélection du France Program ! Le France Program, le cinquième et plus récent programme de bourses MMEG, a été lancé en 2023 pour accorder des bourses à des femmes francophones, provenant de pays en développement, qui étudient dans des établissements d'enseignement supérieur en France. Le Comité de Sélection a brillamment rempli la tâche de guider le programme à travers sa troisième année, tout en garantissant un processus de sélection rigoureux qui maintient les normes d'excellence de MMEG. Le comité était composé de sept bénévoles douées et engagées, originaires de cinq pays différents. Elles ont apporté à la sélection leurs expériences de vie individuelles et leur expertise dans un large éventail de domaines, notamment le développement international, la linguistique, la santé et la pharmacologie, la communication, les relations internationales, l'analyse des risques et les ressources humaines, ainsi que leur engagement collectif à faire progresser l'éducation des femmes.

Le comité a sélectionné, pour recevoir des bourses MMEG, trois femmes exceptionnelles étudiant dans les domaines de la finance, de la génétique et science des plantes, et des systèmes de communication intelligents.

How Women Leaders Are Tackling Poverty — One Layer at a Time

Insights from the latest MMEG Talks at the World Bank

By Lindsey Chang

“We cannot be serious about poverty reduction if we are not serious about inclusion. And when we think about inclusion, the key group to fully include in economic activities is female participation.”
 — Jorge Familiar, Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank

According to the World Development Report on Gender, “Gender equality is not only the right thing to do from a moral point of view, but it also makes absolute sense from an economic point of view.”

At the latest MMEG Talks, held at the World Bank, this guiding principle set the tone for an inspiring conversation on Grassroots Poverty Reduction: The Impact of Women Leaders on the Ground.

Two remarkable MMEG grantees—Anamika Priyadarshini (India) and Monica Brenda Longwe (Malawi)—shared powerful reflections on the barriers women face and the unique strengths women leaders bring to the fight against poverty.

Unpaid, Invisible, and Undervalued — Yet Driving Change

For Anamika Priyadarshini, who works with Passing Gifts, a subsidiary of Heifer International, one of the most pervasive challenges is the non-recognition of women’s economic contributions.

“If you deny women’s economic contributions, you are denying their very existence,” Anamika stated.

Across Asia, women perform 70% of agricultural work, yet they are still rarely recognized as farmers. Add to this the burden of unpaid domestic and care work—women in India spend far more time on this than men—and it becomes clear how these invisible contributions limit women’s opportunities for education, training, and paid employment. Social norms also restrict women’s access to resources and keep them trapped in cycles of poverty.

Anamika’s commitment to dignity, respect, and non-judgmental approaches was shaped early on by her mother’s example as a community social worker. Later, her MMEG grant allowed her to return to India to conduct archival research on 19th-century home-based women workers in Bihar for her PhD, deepening her understanding of the historical roots of gendered labor.

“MMEG enabled me to stay true to my passion, to gather the insights I needed, and to turn my research into actionable change.”

The Missing Link: Mental Health and Poverty

For Monica Brenda Longwe, now a social and behavior change communication specialist with South Africa’s National Department of Health TB Control Program, a significant missing link in poverty frameworks is mental health.

“Poverty and mental health are two sides of the same coin. One begets the other.” Monica stated.

Monica spoke candidly about her personal journey. During her master’s studies, a donor withdrew funding, and her life was further upended by an abusive marriage. Later diagnosed with depression and anxiety, she was hospitalized. These experiences revealed to her just how deeply mental health struggles and poverty reinforce each other, especially for women.

Out of this journey, she co-founded The Fight Club Initiative (FCI), a women-led empowerment collective in South Africa and Malawi that supports survivors of gender-based violence and emotional abuse, with a focus on mental well-being, economic independence, and legal protection.

Building Better Models for Poverty Reduction

Both panelists stressed the need to move beyond data and design policies that truly work for women.

“We have tons of policies. But are they effective? Are they scalable? Are they centered on women’s realities?” Anamika said.

She also emphasized the importance of investing in social capital, and in care and child care support to make work accessible to women.

Monica called for specific interventions for women in Malawi, ones that acknowledge the unique burdens and challenges women face.

“From girlhood, women should know what love looks like—and what it does not.”

Leadership at Every Level

Marion Subah, MMEG’s very first grantee, reminded the audience that leadership is needed both at the grassroots and in ministries and institutions to make poverty reduction strategies more inclusive and effective.

What’s Next? Join the Conversation

The MMEG Talks made one thing clear: poverty reduction must be gender-aware, inclusive, and holistic. Mental health, recognition of unpaid work, social capital, and policy accountability are essential to unlocking the leadership potential of women on the ground.

Watch the MMEG TALKS here:

Thank you to the MMEG Latin America and Caribbean Selection Team 2025

Thank you to the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Selection Committee for completing the daunting task of selecting 10 grantees from a long list of exceptional applicants. The value of your selfless commitment cannot be overstated. 

LAC Program Selection Committee members drew on their valuable experience and exceptional qualifications to select women who faced enormous challenges: poverty, gender-based violence, conflict, unequal access to employment and education, and limited economic participation and representation in political and corporate leadership.

The women they selected to receive a MMEG grant stand at the intersection of women’s rights, environmental justice, and respect for indigenous cultures, while endeavoring to improve the current development work supporting women. They are fighting to build a future where women not only have access to resources and support but can also exercise their leadership on making decisions that affect their lives and environment. And they are paving the way for so many other women, both present and future, to feel seen, recognized, and appreciated. 

MMEG is an important part of that journey, supporting higher education for women who inspire others as they shape a better future for not only women and girls but for all—because increasing gender equality leads to fairer, less corrupt societies and improvements in economic growth and environmental sustainability. 

Thanks again to the Committee members for choosing to be a beacon of hope by being part of the MMEG selection process!

Gracias al Comité de Selección de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (LAC) por completar la abrumadora tarea de seleccionar a 10 becarias de una larga lista de aplicantes excepcionales. No se puede exagerar el valor de su compromiso desinteresado.

Los miembros del Comité de Selección del Programa de LAC se basaron en su valiosa experiencia y calificaciones excepcionales para seleccionar a mujeres que enfrentan enormes desafíos: pobreza, violencia de género, conflictos, acceso desigual al empleo y la educación, y participación económica y representación limitadas en el liderazgo político y empresarial.

Las mujeres que seleccionaron para recibir una beca de MMEG se encuentran en la intersección de los derechos de las mujeres, la justicia ambiental y el respeto por las culturas indígenas, al tiempo que se esfuerzan por mejorar el trabajo para el desarrollo que apoya a las mujeres en la actualidad.  Luchan por construir un futuro en el que las mujeres no solo tengan acceso a recursos y apoyo, sino que también puedan ejercer su liderazgo en la toma de decisiones que afectan sus vidas y al medio ambiente. Y están preparando el camino para que muchas otras mujeres, tanto presentes como futuras, se sientan vistas, reconocidas y apreciadas. 

MMEG es una parte importante de ese viaje, ya que apoya la educación superior para las mujeres que inspiran a otras a medida que dan forma a un futuro mejor, no solo para las mujeres y las niñas, sino para todos, porque el incremento en la igualdad de género conduce a sociedades más justas y menos corruptas, y a mejoras en el crecimiento económico y la sostenibilidad ambiental.

Gracias de nuevo a los miembros del Comité por elegir ser un faro de esperanza al ser parte del proceso de selección de MMEG!

Thank you to the MMEG Trinity Washington University Selection Team 2025

Many thanks to Trinity Washington University Program 2025 Selection Committee

MMEG’s Board of Directors is very grateful to members of the Trinity Washington University Program Selection Committee for their dedication and commitment to ensuring the success of the program. The Trinity Program is unique among MMEG’s programs in that its grants are open to all Trinity's women students, irrespective of nationality and immigration status. The program was established in 2016 to acknowledge MMEG’s location in Washington DC and it is hoped that MMEG recipients will continue to contribute to the local community. 

The Selection Committee is made up of nine members, from six different countries, with varied backgrounds and a range of experience: international development, human development, economics, nursing, sociology, food security, education, business management, and financial markets. Their collective expertise has been invaluable in overseeing the selection process. 

MMEG awarded three grants to Trinity students this year; the new grantees are studying in the fields of public health, early childhood education, and nursing. Through their statements and professional achievements, these exceptional women demonstrate ambition, vision, and perseverance in the face of adversity. They represent the values that MMEG strives to support and will doubtless be able to improve the lives of people in their communities in Washington, DC. 

The Selection Committee’s diligence ensured the success of the selection process, presenting three exceptional candidates to the MMEG Board. We congratulate the volunteers on the positive results of their hard work, and we look forward to future selection cycles. 

Thank you to the MMEG US-Canada Selection Team 2025

Thank you to MMEG’s US-Canada Program 2025 Selection Committee 
On April 10, 2025, MMEG’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the awarding of grants to the ten exceptional women put forth by the US-Canada Selection Committee. The Board of Directors is grateful to the US-Canada Selection Committee members for their diligence and rigor in reviewing applications, interviewing finalists, and applying MMEG’s guidelines, resulting in another successful selection process. The US-Canada Selection Committee is composed of 17 volunteers, with 12 different nationalities and varied professional backgrounds.

This year’s US-Canada grantees are citizens of seven different countries and are currently pursing PhD or master’s degrees in the fields of audiology, engineering, public health, mathematics, medicine/nursing, and social work. These exceptional women demonstrated their commitment to MMEG’s mission of improving the lives of women and children in their communities. MMEG is truly impressed by their desire to improve the conditions of those in need through such diverse fields of study. It affirms the notion that women are great promoters of positive change in the world.

Congratulations to all! 

MMEG TALKS: THE RISE OF AI: CAN WE USE IT WISELY TO FURTHER SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

You can watch the recording of this event on our YouTube channel.

Once in the realm of science fiction, today Artificial Intelligence can help its users gain insight on what drives economic development. In a quest for poverty reduction, AI can analyze vast amounts of data and help model more accurate forecasts to identify what drives and sustains economic growth and sustainability.

The three panelists of the upcoming MMEG Talks, experts in the use of this bourgeoning science, will discuss:

- How AI advances the progress of development in their fields;

- What advances AI holds for the future;

- Where AI has most successfully improved plans and projects;

- Who can study AI; and,

- How they can learn it in developing countries.

MMEG and Our Partners: Together We Do Great Things!

Our grantees regularly tell us they couldn’t have completed their education without the MMEG grant—whether they used it to pay tuition, conduct research, or cover daycare bills. MMEG offers one of the few education grants that has no restrictions on how the funds are used, nor an upper age limit.

 We value our partnership with our grantees, but MMEG could not award all the grants we do were it not for a number of important partnerships with other organizations.

 MMEG’s first partnership ever, since our formation in 1981 and continuing to this day, was with what is now called World Bank Family Network. WBFN is our physical and administrative home within the World Bank. World Bank families and staff were the first donors to MMEG and remain our primary source of individual donations—and volunteers—as well as supporting our annual fundraiser, the MMEG International Arts & Crafts Market.

 Almost as long-lived is our partnership with the BankFund Credit Union. MMEG’s funds were deposited with BankFund early on, and to this day the credit union serves us not only in a professional capacity, facilitating all our transactions with MMEG grantees, but also in a very personal way via its dedicated staff volunteers and by collecting and exchanging foreign currency donations for MMEG. For many years, BankFund has also provided a generous donation towards one grant each in MMEG’s US-Canada and Trinity Washington University programs.

We were thrilled to receive a generous donation last month from the international consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY), which describes its purpose as “building a better working world.”  The donation from EY will be allocated to fund one grant in our US-Canada program and two grants in our Trinity Washington University program

For the past several years, MMEG has benefited from agreements with South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, and University of Pretoria. Recognizing MMEG’s rigorous selection process, these universities have agreed to contribute 50% of the cost of grants issued to selected grantees from their schools.

 Most recently, MMEG has signed an agreement with 1% for the Planet, which certifies nonprofits that contribute to vital strategies for our planet and future generations. 1% for the Planet has designated MMEG as an organization to which businesses can donate 1 percent of their revenue in support of a more sustainable future.

On March 6, MMEG will participate in the International Women's Day Agora, an event hosted by Yas Media featuring international female vendors and inspirational stories. We welcome this opportunity to talk about the exceptional women MMEG has supported.

We celebrate the women we support, and we are grateful to our partners who help us do so.

MMEG Talks: Is the legal system fair to all?/ ¿El sistema jurídico es justo para todos?

MMEG Talks: Is the legal system fair to all?

By Lindsey Chang

A fair legal system is crucial for social justice and safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable sectors. However, in Latin America (as well as in many countries worldwide), significant challenges persist in implementing regulatory frameworks that ensure true equality, especially for women and children.

 At a recent MMEG Talk, three legal experts and MMEG grantees—Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (Peru), María de Lourdes Velasco Dominguez (Mexico), and Beatriz Ramírez (Peru)—discussed the main challenges and strategies for making justice accessible to all.

 Three key voices

These experts play a key role in creating fair legal systems. They discussed the challenges of ensuring justice for all, drawing on their experiences in advocating for legislative change, conducting research, and engaging in activism to transform conditions for women and children in Latin America.

Key Problems with Unjust Laws in Latin America 

The most critical challenges of unequal legislation in Latin America include indirect discrimination, where laws that seem fair harm specific groups. Although there has been some progress in gender equality, the implementation of statutes remains weak and fragmented. One example is the lack of comprehensive care policies, which significantly affect women, perpetuating economic and social inequalities. In addition, the rise of governments with anti-rights stances has led to institutional setbacks, such as the elimination of ministries dedicated to gender equality and the prohibition of inclusive language in countries like Argentina and El Salvador. These changes directly hinder gender equality and the protection of women's and children's rights.

Consequences of Setbacks on Justice, Gender Equity, and Children’s Rights 

In many countries, weakened institutions and a lack of judicial independence block efforts for gender equality. Corruption and the power of illegal economies push these issues lower on the public agenda. For instance, eliminating programs like childcare and full-time schools in Mexico has made it difficult for working women to find jobs, threatening their families' financial stability. Such setbacks have also allowed damaging laws, like those permitting child marriage, to continue in some places until they were finally overturned.

 Keys to Meaningful Reforms

From their perspective, civil society plays a key role in defending rights and building more equitable policies. The panelists also mentioned that successful experiences include articulating adequate diagnoses to address structural problems, such as fighting against harassment in universities and workplaces. Rather than judicializing all conflicts, grantees emphasized the importance of internal disciplinary mechanisms in educational institutions, companies, and political parties. In addition, strategic alliances between academia, bureaucracy, and social movements have been key to promoting significant reforms, such as the National Care Law in Uruguay. And citizen participation in creating norms has been strengthened through forums and working groups, guaranteeing the inclusion of diverse voices in formulating public policies.

 The work of these MMEG grantees demonstrates that change toward more equitable legal systems is possible when research, activism, and legislative advocacy are combined with an unwavering commitment to social justice. They have identified the barriers perpetuating inequality in the region and pushed for concrete solutions to transform the reality for women and children in Latin America. Their work reminds us that advancing rights and equity needs strong voices and collective action. This drives MMEG to continue supporting women's education and empowering them to build a better world.

MMEG board member Priscilla Linn organizes the MMEG Talks and welcomes suggestions for future topics.

MMEG Talks: ¿El sistema jurídico es justo para todos?

By Lindsey Chang

La equidad en los sistemas jurídicos es fundamental para garantizar la justicia social y la protección de los derechos de los sectores más vulnerables. Sin embargo, en América Latina (así como en muchos países del mundo) persisten desafíos significativos en la implementación de marcos normativos que aseguren una verdadera igualdad, especialmente para mujeres y niños.

 El passado 15 de enero de 2025, en la reciente MMEG Talk, tres expertas en derecho y becarias de MMEG —Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista (Perú), María de Lourdes Velasco Dominguez (México), and Beatriz Ramírez (Perú)—discutieron sobre los principales retos y estrategias para hacer que la justicia sea accesible para todos.

Tres voces

Estas expertas desempeñan un papel clave en la creación de sistemas jurídicos justos. Ellas debatieron sobre los retos que plantea garantizar la justicia para todos, basándose en sus experiencias en la defensa de cambios legislativos, la investigación y el activismo para transformar las condiciones de las mujeres y los niños en América Latina.

Principales problemas de las leyes injustas en América Latina

Los problemas más críticos de la legislación desigual en América Latina incluyen la discriminación indirecta, en la que leyes que parecen justas perjudican a grupos específicos. Aunque ha habido algunos avances en la igualdad de género, la aplicación de las leyes sigue siendo débil y fragmentada. Un ejemplo es la falta de políticas integrales de cuidados, que afectan significativamente a las mujeres, perpetuando las desigualdades económicas y sociales. Además, el ascenso de gobiernos con posturas contrarias a los derechos ha provocado retrocesos institucionales, como la eliminación de ministerios dedicados a la igualdad de género y la prohibición del lenguaje inclusivo en países como Argentina y El Salvador. Estos cambios obstaculizan directamente la igualdad de género y la protección de los derechos de las mujeres y los niños.

Consecuencias de los retrocesos en materia de justicia, igualdad de género y derechos del niño

En muchos países, el debilitamiento de las instituciones y la falta de independencia judicial bloquean los esfuerzos en favor de la igualdad de género. La corrupción y el poder de las economías ilegales restan importancia a estas cuestiones en la agenda pública. Por ejemplo, la eliminación de programas como las guarderías y las escuelas de jornada completa en México ha dificultado que las mujeres trabajadoras encuentren empleo, poniendo en peligro la estabilidad económica de sus familias. Estos contratiempos también han permitido que leyes perjudiciales, como las que permiten el matrimonio infantil, sigan vigentes en algunos lugares hasta que finalmente fueron derogadas.

Claves para reformas significativas

Desde su perpectiva, la sociedad civil desempeña un papel clave en la defensa de los derechos y la construcción de políticas más equitativas. Las panelistas también mencionaron las experiencias exitosas incluyen la articulación de diagnósticos adecuados para abordar problemas estructurales, como la lucha contra el acoso en universidades y lugares de trabajo. En lugar de judicializar todos los conflictos, los beneficiarios destacaron la importancia de los mecanismos disciplinarios internos en las instituciones educativas, las empresas y los partidos políticos. Además, las alianzas estratégicas entre el mundo académico, la burocracia y los movimientos sociales han sido clave para promover reformas significativas, como la Ley Nacional de Cuidados en Uruguay. Y la participación ciudadana en la creación de normas se ha fortalecido a través de foros y grupos de trabajo, garantizando la inclusión de diversas voces en la formulación de políticas públicas.

El trabajo de nuestras becarias demuestra que el cambio hacia sistemas jurídicos más equitativos es posible cuando la investigación, el activismo y la incidencia legislativa se combinan con un compromiso inquebrantable por la justicia social. Ellas no solo han identificado barreras que perpetúan la desigualdad en la región, sino que también han impulsado soluciones concretas para transformar la realidad de mujeres y niños en América Latina. La labor de estas líderes nos recuerda que el progreso en derechos y equidad necesita voces decididas y acción conjunta. Esto motiva a MMEG a continuar apoyando la educación de las mujeres y empoderándolas para construir un mundo mejor.

En su rol de miembro del consejo de MMEG, Priscilla Linn se encarga de organizar las charlas y acepta propuestas para futuros temas.

Watch the recording / Vea la grabación de la mesa redonda aquí

Heartfelt thanks to MMEG’S South Africa Program Selection Committee!

The South Africa Selection Committee had another very successful cycle in 2025. Two hundred and five applicants entered Round 1 of the review process and 12 of the 13 applicants recommended to the Board were awarded grants. Grantees ranged from 25 to 54 years old, studying in a variety of disciplines, including gender studies, medicine, immunology, health, neuroscience, linguistics, television studies, medical anthropology, engineering, nutrition, and law.

 The South Africa Program Selection Committee’s commitment to enhancing and supporting the success of women studying at South African universities is truly remarkable. The diversity of skills, experience, and expertise of Selection Committee members is paralleled in the diversity of disciplines among grantees. The time, rigor, and meticulous attention to detail and to the guidance provided by the Program Advisory Committee is deeply appreciated. That members of the selection committee have lived and work across the globe, in a variety of professions, has enriched the selection process and committee members’ ability to identify exceptional women from developing countries who are studying while working to improve the lives of women and children.

We thank these exceptional volunteers, whose dedication to MMEG promotes a better world through our exceptional grantees.