Developing an ecological coffee industry in Laos

Today, 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In these emergency situations, access to menstrual products becomes extremely difficult, with direct consequences for the health, safety, and dignity of women and adolescent girls. In Lebanon, approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced since the start of the year, including about 620,000 women and girls, representing nearly a quarter of the country’s female population. In Gaza and Lebanon, the distribution of dignity kits, which include menstrual products, addresses essential needs that are often overlooked in emergency situations. Displaced women in Lebanon report spending sometimes more than 24 hours on the road, without access to toilets or clean water. Beyond emergency aid, CARE—drawing on 80 years of expertise in the fight against poverty and inequality—supports local initiatives to address period poverty sustainably. In Lebanon, CARE supports the feminist organization Wing Woman, which employs 12 women who produce 2,880 reusable sanitary pads for the most vulnerable women and adolescent girls. This project aims to strengthen women’s economic independence, reduce menstrual taboos, and improve access to safe, reusable menstrual products.

The scene is surprising: at a major cultural venue in Paris, singer Lune, known for her viral parody of Michel Sardou’s “Être femme,” takes the mic by surprise to sing an original, never-before-heard parody of Johnny Hallyday’s “Que je t’aime” in front of an intrigued audience. Within minutes, the chorus, transformed into “Que je saigne, que je saigne, que je saigne!” (“Let me bleed, let me bleed, let me bleed!”), is sung at the top of their lungs by the audience. CARE France, along with the media outlets Loopsider and Period, recorded everything, including a street interview revealing the state of mind of the French public. The #RespectezNosRègles campaign ran from May 26 to June 1, because a single global awareness day is not enough to dismantle millennia of false beliefs and discrimination. In 2026, the taboo surrounding menstruation remains one of the most widespread forms of gender discrimination in the world, and one of the least documented. The street interview conducted by CARE France is a telling illustration of this. In France, as around the world, no woman is spared. A taboo so powerful that it breeds ignorance—even among those who suffer from it: according to UNICEF, 2 out of 3 girls in Bangladesh under the age of 13 did not know what menstruation was before they experienced it.

A few weeks ago, at the invitation of Réseau Action Climat, CARE France, WECF France and Impactrices - members and partners of Women 7 - a number of climate experts from the Global South gathered in Paris to deliver a clear message: the global climate response can no longer ignore gender issues. According to UN Women, nearly 160 million women and girls could tip into extreme poverty by 2050 if climate disruption goes unchecked. Yet those who are already suffering the most direct consequences of climate change remain largely absent from major international negotiations. Coming from Senegal, Madagascar, Ecuador, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo, five women - farmers, jurists, researchers and field workers - shared their realities, their struggles and their solutions. They are all experiencing on a daily basis the impacts of a climate crisis for which they are not responsible. But they are also on the front line when it comes to taking action: managing natural resources, food security, adapting communities, passing on knowledge... Their expertise is indispensable. In the run-up to the G7 Environment Ministers' meeting on April 23 and 24, in preparation for the Evian summit, their coming had one objective: to remind us of the urgent need to fully integrate gender into international climate policies. Because there will be no climate justice without gender justice.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, civilian populations are increasingly directly affected by the violence. Strikes are intensifying, essential infrastructure is being damaged, and living conditions are rapidly deteriorating for millions of people. In this alarming context, the NGO CARE is sounding the alarm: humanitarian aid is now at its lowest level since the war began in 2022. Yet this setback comes at a critical time, when needs are steadily increasing. Millions of Ukrainians still depend on support to access essential services such as food, water, healthcare or safe shelter. The most vulnerable populations, especially women, children and the elderly, are on the front line. Many live in areas close to the fighting, or in regions where infrastructure has been badly damaged. Access to aid there is often limited, making their situation even more precarious. Faced with this emergency, CARE calls on the international community to mobilize urgently. Increased humanitarian funding is essential to meet growing needs and protect civilians trapped in the conflict. More than two years after the start of the war, the crisis remains major. Without a reinforced commitment, millions of people risk seeing their living conditions deteriorate further in the months to come.

Imagine ... You have your period, but no menstrual protection. So you have to stay at home. You're thirsty, but have limited access to drinking water. You want to wash, but the only shower available is communal, with no privacy, and you're afraid of being assaulted. 𝐄𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐞𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐜'𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬. In Mayotte, for example, extreme precariousness and public service failures turn every everyday gesture - drinking, washing, going to the toilet - into an obstacle course. For women and girls, these difficulties are accompanied by major risks to their health, safety and dignity, deepening inequalities and weakening their rights. On World Water Day, CARE France and SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL recall their support for women who fight every day to be the driving force behind change in the water sector. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐥'𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢 𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐬

Dear difteur-ses, The year 2024 was marked by immense challenges around the world, but also - thanks to you - by concrete actions, bringing hope and lasting change. Today, we're delighted to share our 2024 annual report, charting the projects you've made possible. Your generosity has had a direct impact on the lives of millions of people in over 100 countries. In this report, you'll discover: - The big key figures of our 2024 year - inspiring stories of women and communities transformed 👉Read our 2024 annual report Once again, thank you for committing to us. None of this would be possible without you!

Dear Difteur-ses, THANK YOU 💛 Thanks to you, CARE has been able to support 54 million people around the world. Here are just a few of the results made possible by your generosity: 🚨 Response to emergencies: Lebanon, Gaza, Mayotte... Thousands of families received vital aid: drinking water, hygiene kits, medical care, shelter, food and psychological support. 🙅‍♀️ Fighting against sexist and sexual violence: 4.7 million people have taken part in our prevention and support programs. 💰 Women's entrepreneurship: Millions of women have gained financial autonomy thanks to our model of village savings and credit associations, deployed in 37 countries. 🌱 Climate and food security: 24.3 million people have benefited from our agroecology and climate change adaptation programs. A huge thank you for your commitment to us. Together, we are reducing inequalities, day after day. Shall we continue in 2025?

Dear difteurs, Chandy is a 42-year-old farmer living in the village of Dak Yoi. Before becoming involved in the project run by CARE, she grew coffee on a very small scale and her income was at the mercy of the traders and the price they set. When Chandy discovered the project, she decided to join the group of coffee growers in her village with 10 other families. She learns coffee-growing techniques, farm maintenance and the coffee-processing process. She also takes part in a study trip to learn about more profitable and sustainable quality coffee production. As a result, her farm now produces better quality coffee in greater quantities, enabling her to sell it at a higher price. This increase in income has considerably improved her family's life. She has been able to buy two motorbikesfor her and her husband, as well as a small motorized vehicle for transporting the coffee. She now has enough money tosend her children to school and has funds left over to cover other expenses for the rest of the family. Our project doesn't just improve the coffee sector in Laos; it lays the foundations for sustainable change, empowering women to shape a more prosperous and equitable future for themselves and their communities. A big thank you for your support and generosity ✨