Meet Lila Igram

Women and girls around the world face formidable challenges. They suffer disproportionately from poverty, conflict, and oppression. I wanted to do something to help. At the time, I was devouring articles in Fast Company magazine that featured social entrepreneurs who were having a positive impact on people’s lives. I thought I could find a way to make those kinds of effective investments in projects that support women and girls.

When I launched Connecther in 2011, I knew that I couldn’t possibly find the solutions to so many problems as one small organization. What better idea, then, than to support the work of local grassroots leaders who were already having an impact? I started by identifying some of these leaders, most of them women. Because they live in the communities where they work, they actually understand the culture and the religion—and they have a vested interest in making sure a project thrives.

Connecther’s user-friendly platform makes it easy for donors to find projects to support. The results have been inspiring. Our community of donors has helped Afghan girls go to school. They support livelihood and empowerment training for women in Pakistan. They have trained nurse-midwives who are saving lives in Somaliland.

Our communications platform raises awareness about issues affecting women and girls around the globe. In 2012 Connecther launched the Girls Impact the World Film Festival to focus attention on critical issues facing women and girls globally. We’re thrilled with how the film festival is turning students into filmmakers—and filmmakers into activists. Read more below.

We hope this inspires you to join our work. Support grassroots projects that elevate women and girls. Or make a film that shines a light on their challenges and proposes a solution. I am excited about what we can achieve with your involvement.
With gratitude,

Click here to learn more about Connecther.