Click to Help Fight Poverty

Did you know Malawi is among the world's least developed and most densely-populated countries? Because of the extreme poverty in the region, Malawi has a low life expectancy (44 years of age) and high infant mortality (89 deaths per 1,000 births, the 14th highest in the world).

I recently learned, through MyBlogSpark, about a unique commitment between General Mills and CARE: Join My Village, an innovative online community that is fighting poverty in Malawi through the empowerment of women and girls.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Visit Join My Village and join one of ten village teams to benefit approximately 75 villages in Malawi
• As a village team member, you will get to know the women and families in Malawi through frequent updates, photos and stories
• You can also track how dollars are creating change and improving lives in Malawi
• Through simple online activities -- answering a quiz question, telling a friend about Join My Village, or joining a village team -- $1 will be unlocked by General Mills and will go to CARE's poverty fighting programs in the Malawi villages (limit of 3 activities per person per day, and $15,000 per online village team - or $150,000 in total)
• Additionally, General Mills will match personal contributions dollar-for-dollar for up to $50 per donor, $15,000 per village team or $150,000 in total
• CARE will distribute all funds raised directly to Malawi to provide economic opportunities for women and increase access to quality education for girls.

I joined Village Team Tembwe. I invite you to join my team or choose another village if you'd like to participate in this opportunity to help General Mills and CARE help the people of Malawi.