Melinda Gates on the 'ingenuity' of women in the developing world
CBC Radio | Posted: May 10, 2016 12:03 PM | Last Updated: May 10, 2016
On May 9, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada is increasing its commitment to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, to $785 million over the next three years.
It's an announcement that Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, wanted to hear in person traveling from California to Ottawa. Gates has been using her position to call on governments like Canada to support women and girls in developing countries — a cause that she feels will have a profound impact on health and economic outcomes for communities.
Years ago, when the Gates children were younger, Melinda Gates had a long drive to her eldest daughter's pre-school.
She and her husband Bill talked about the frustrating commute and came up with a solution — he would drive their daughter two days a week.
She and her husband Bill talked about the frustrating commute and came up with a solution — he would drive their daughter two days a week.
It was a small compromise for two parents sharing the duties of raising a young family, but when the father also happens to be one of the wealthiest men in the world, people noticed.
Over the years, the philanthropic pair have used this story to highlight the problem of unpaid work for women and push for more equal sharing of household duties between parents.
This segment was produced by The Current's John Chipman.