I am often struck by the choices mothers have to make in other parts of the world, when compared to the dilemmas I faced raising my own children and what I dealt with as normal.

Choices such as should I send my child to school so they can have a better chance to escape the poverty we face, or keep her home in hopes of earning a few pennies more or harvesting a little more food to keep our entire family fed are far from the reality I faced. The normal these mothers face leaves my heart aching for these mothers. Often my sense of connection with them leaves an unmet yearning to help, and so often a feeling of helplessness to do so.

Do you, too, wish you could somehow offer solace, support and a hand up to your sisters in other parts of the world?

Every once in awhile I find people who are making a difference and are creating avenues for you and I to satisfy our yearning to help. One of my favorite businesses, Raven + Lily, understands that it does not help to make people in 1st world countries feel guilty for the plight of others without giving them sustainable ways to contribute to the betterment of the lives of these mothers in impoverished conditions.  Owner, Kirsten Dickerson, puts it this way, “People want to know how they’re being a part of the solution otherwise they feel paralyzed and overwhelmed by the problems.”

Donna Berber and Cynthia Kersey both run amazing organizations with the goal of empowering whole communities helping them lift themselves out of poverty in Africa. Their models look at education, health, and long-term income for the women, families and communities they help and there are many ways for you to get involved with their organizations–Glimmer of Hope and The Unstoppable Foundation.

Today, as the Syrian refugee crisis mounts we are faced with real time images of families suffering.  Mothers choosing between dodging bombs to get children to schools or facing incredible suffering to get their family hopefully to safety. Questions I never had to face and probably ones you never did either.

Fortunately, the growing technologies of social media and crowd funding are making your and my ability to contribute directly to causes we believe in very accessible. The U.N. Refugee Agency has a Kickstarter campaign where you can learn more about the refugee situation and contribute if you are called to do so, right there.

Whether it is down the street or across the world, the more women unite to create safety, security and opportunity for each other, the kinder our world will become. Together half of the population is a force to be reckoned. Find your way to join hands with other women, whether you support another woman who is creating change or you find your own passion for action.