CARE Learning Tour Brings Senior U.S. Representatives to Africa

The Learning Tour delegation includes:

• Representative Jim McDermott (WA-7) and his Legislative Director, Toby Whitney
• Representative Steve Cohen (TN-9), and his District Director, Randy Wade
• Representative Donald Payne (NJ-10), and his brother William Payne (former New Jersey Assemblyman)
• Carla Koppell – Senior Coordinator, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, USAID
• Michael Gerson – Columnist, Washington Post
• Hannah Kaye – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

During the trip, CARE will coordinate activities such as visiting district hospitals, meeting with medical staff at clinics, and speaking with volunteers and local leaders about how they are mobilizing their communities to secure access to the quality care women and families need. The delegation will visit local and national government initiatives, programs supported by NGO partners in-country.

The insights gained from this trip will help participants and CARE continue to advocate for continued support and funding of these initiatives throughout the developing world. As an organization that fights poverty with a focus on empowering women and girls, CARE has made reducing maternal mortality one of its top priorities. Maternal mortality represents one of the greatest disparities in health globally, with 99 percent of maternal deaths occurring in the developing world.

By building on experience and relationships with communities, promoting maternal, newborn and child health, and working with a coalition of public and private partners, CARE is focusing global efforts to tackle this problem. For more information on CARE's Learning Tours, visit www.care.org/learningtours.

About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. In nearly 70 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, help vulnerable people adapt to climate change, and provide lifesaving assistance during emergencies. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. To learn more, visit www.care.org.