In honor of International Women’s Day, the United Nations Association of Saint Louis is partnering with Partners in Sustainable Development International (PSDI), to celebrate those making a difference from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 9th, at the International Institute (3401 Arsenal) in St. Louis. We seek to build community with organizations and individuals in the St. Louis area through highlighting the experiences of women on a local and global scale. We will feature booths selling products from around the world, showcase the international work of local nonprofits, and hear from people who are making a real difference.

Speakers, listed below, begin at 2:00.

Carlos Suarez, representing the United Nations Association of St. Louis, will speak about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 with goals to be reached by 2030.  The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

Dr. Proscovia Nabunya is a Research Assistant Professor at the Brown School of Social Work and the Assistant Director of the Africa Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis. The Africa Initiative works to create a framework to support and strengthen Washington University’s impact and programmatic efforts in over 36 countries in Africa. Dr. Nabunya will talk about her work focused on family-based economic empowerment programs and women’s role in addressing HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Riaheen Farzana is a doctoral student at SIU Carbondale and is doing her thesis on women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.  She received her undergraduate degree in Bangladesh and taught at a University there prior to coming to the U.S. to obtain a Masters and  PhD.  Riaheen will talk about life in Bangladesh and share what she has learned about women entrepreneurs in her homeland.

Mardi Manary cofounded Project Peanut Butter with her husband, Dr. Mark Manary.   Project Peanut Butter advances the treatment of severe malnutrition, the single largest cause of child death in the world today, using effective, locally produced read-to-use therapeutic foods.  She will talk about how they serve children and pregnant women suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Sub-Sharan Africa and beyond. Although not the main focus of the work, Project Peanut Butter found that their work provided means for women to feel empowered as mothers, breadwinners, and advocates for women and children in their villages and homes.

There is no charge for the event! Tea and desserts will be offered for a donation.

Event info by PSDI.