When it comes to the issue of poverty, people from all races, creeds and religions can be affected. However, one group is affected a disproportionate amount. The number of women in poverty is much greater than that of men. According to the U.N., the number of men in extreme poverty in 2022 was around 372 million, while the number of women in poverty was about 388 million.

According to the U.N., the poverty rate of women in developing nations is on track to increase significantly in the next seven years. Their numbers will increase from 388 million to almost 450 million by 2030. That is also nearly 20 million more than the projected number of men in poverty by 2030.

There may seem to be little hope in curbing this increase in women’s poverty. However, organizations are working to address this exact issue. One organization, in particular, would be The Constellation Coalition. The Constellation Coalition is based out of Ohio in the United States. Founder Ashley Johnson was inspired to create this organization after the birth of her son and after considering what an impoverished mother could do if she had difficulty providing food for her newborn. In 2020, The Constellation Coalition launched but was quickly forced to scale back operations due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Do They Do?

The goals of The Constellation Coalition are to connect and empower women. They do this by sponsoring a female entrepreneur in a developing nation and giving her what she needs to “lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty,” according to their website. Providing sponsors is not the only strategy that they employ. The organization has smaller goals that tie into entrepreneurship as a whole. 

Vocational Skills

One strategy the organization uses in addition to entrepreneurship is teaching women vocational skills. One of the essential aspects of entrepreneurship is having specific skills that a person can use in a business setting. The Constellation Coalition teaches women in developing nations proper vocational skills based on their desired fields. They can design their own business and help lift their communities out of poverty. For example, being adept at fixing electronics would serve someone who wants to start their own technology repair business.

Building Relationships 

The crux of what The Constellation Coalition stands for is building relationships. They believe that building relationships among women can help change the world. Whether through entrepreneurship or any other venue, they know that the key to fighting poverty in developing nations is to work together to achieve goals.

The Effect of the Organization and Women’s Entrepreneurship on Poverty

Women who pursue opportunities in entrepreneurship have an unquestionably positive effect on poverty as a whole. Studies from the U.S. State Department show that having economically successful women in an area translates to protecting natural resources and increasing the quality of health and education. That is what The Constellation Coalition is aiming to do. In 2021, they provided over 15 entrepreneurs in developing nations with the sponsorship they needed to help alleviate the effects of poverty on their communities while also collecting over $10,000 in sponsorship funds. In total, they raised close to $20,000 for various costs. In 2022, The Constellation Coalition provided scholarships to 15 women from Guatemala for an entrepreneurship class.

It is no secret that women are affected by poverty at a higher rate than men are. The numbers show that. The Constellation Coalition aims to curb that trend and give women opportunities through business to thrive and support their communities. Their impact may not necessarily be as far-reaching as that of other organizations, but that does not mean they are not making a difference.

– Calder Miller
Photo: Flickr