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1998 Theme: Women and Development: A World of Opportunity

"When women can improve their social and economic well-being, the benefits spread to their families, communities and nations."
-Princess Zahra Aga Khan

The theme for the 1998 Partnership Walks, Women and Development: A World of Opportunity, drew attention to the struggles of women in Africa and Asia.  

In many parts of the developing world, women struggle in the face of inequalities such as lack of access to education, health care, food and economic resources. Despite these obstacles, they play critical roles in the economic life of their communities. They head households, support their families through small businesses or subsistence farming and care for children. Yet, compared to men, women tend to have less education, smaller incomes and fewer opportunities to improve their and their families' standard of living. Consider these global figures:

In rural communities, women's burdens and inequities are especially severe -- about 80 to 90 percent of their time is spent gathering the essentials of daily life: water for household use, firewood to prepare meals and food crops for family meals or sale at local markets. In addition to these essential chores, a rural woman must also take care of her children and home, creating a "double work day."

Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.'s programs all focus on elevating the status and role of women and girl children in society. In poor communities, women and girl children are indiscriminately offered opportunities to educate themselves, to access better healthcare, to voice their opinions and to organize with the purpose of creating a better future for themselves and their communities.