Gendered Barriers: How Episcopal Relief & Development's Savings with Education groups helped a mother access medical care for her daughter.

Gendered barriers to women's integration into the workplace combine with barriers to women's financial inclusion in accessing banking services and exacerbate the feminization of poverty. Data show that when women have more financial earning power and the ability to manage finances, they bring positive economic change to their children, families and communities.

Episcopal Relief & Development's programs encourage women to participate in financial decisions and earn an income so they can provide food and health care for their families and educate their children. Through our strategic partnerships, women participate in Savings with Education (SwE) groups, which offer critical financial and business training and provide small-business loans to individuals and groups. SwE groups develop micro-insurance products, village banks and cooperatives for people without access to traditional financial markets and institutions.

SwE groups are life-changing for women like Sandra, a single mother to a 3-year-old daughter suffering from Microcephaly disease. Sandra belongs to the "Blessing of God" savings group in Guatemala. She and her daughter began participating in the food relief program through the group. Because they received food through the program, Sandra could reallocate her finances to her daughter's medical care.

"I have been able to do other medical exams for my daughter since the help of groceries. That money that I used for groceries, I use for medical exams."