b'FOREWORDIn the following pages, you will be introduced to the projects of the Women, Water & Leadership Appeal (WWL),Through the Women, Water & Leadership 2017-2019. As the title suggests, theprojects described in the following advancement of women, safe and equalchapters, we create the conditions and access to water and sanitation, and theenvironment for women and girls to empowerment of women and girls inparticipate fully, and to develop sustainable, leadership, are the stand-out topics of mylong-term solutions. Women and their life. This Appeal responds to one of the topcommunities gain better access to clean five global risks indicated by the Worldwater and sanitation, and to improved Economic Forum: water scarcity, and isfood security. With the introduction of focused on delivering specific contributionsnew technologies, and improvements in towards Sustainable Development Goalinfrastructure, and with vocational skills (SDG) 4, Quality Education; SDG 5 Genderand training such as sustainable farming Equality, and SDG 6 Water for all, for alltechniqueswe see confidence and purposes. The projects, established incompetencies increase, and women are Kenya, Bulgaria, Indonesia, and Malaysia,empowered to break the cycle of poverty. seek to overcome long-held stereotypes of women as the victims and beneficiariesThe women are fully engaged in creating of the water and climate crisis, throughsustainable, affordable solutions to meet programmes which actively support accessmany of their greatest challenges. I am to water, whilst crucially, working withdelighted that we have implemented all women within their own communities, tothese superb projects with the involvement advance education, and to empower themof Soroptimists. Their enthusiasm, to take up positions in leadership, as thecommitment, and drive have made this innovators and decision-makers, and theSI Presidents Appeal the most wonderful key-providers and drivers of water, food andexperience, with an impact for all to see.economic solutions. We look forward to following the progress of all projects, as they continue to thrive and develop going forward. Mariet Verhoef-CohenSI President, 2017-2019soroptimistinternational.org 3'