What can possibly make someone put their great job, future marriage, and secure life on hold to help women they’ve never met thousands of miles away? For Lisa Shannon, watching an inspirational Oprah show on how women were being killed, starved, raped and tortured in Congo inspired her to start sponsoring Congolese women victims of one of the most brutal wars on the face of the earth.  Later,  Shannon created the organization ‘Run for Congo Women,’ the first national grassroots effort to raise awareness and funds for Congolese women. Starting with a solo 30 mile run on Portland, Oregon’s Wildwood Trail, Shannon managed to raise more than $28,000 for Zaineb Salbi’s organization Women for Women International which sponsors war-affected Congolese women.

Nobody knows exactly how many rapes are committed in Congo’s North and South Kivu provinces because many women stay silent for fear of being treated as untouchables never able to marry. However, it has been estimated that tens of thousands of women, possibly hundreds of thousands, have been victims in only a few years time. The horrific mass raping has been described as a “weapon of war” used to punish communities for their political loyalties or as a form of ethnic cleansing. While numerous assaults and attacks on women continue to occur, the silence is being broken as there has been more media coverage and awareness of the issues thanks to organizations such as ‘Run for Congo Women.’  After Shannon traveled alone to Eastern Congo’s South Kivu province for five and half weeks in January- February 2007, and again in May 2008, her organization has grown rapidly sponsoring over a thousand women. Shanon has become an ambassador for Women to Women International and continues to work full time for the cause at no salary.

In her first book ‘A Thousand Sisters,’ she shares her experiences and tells about the the world’s deadliest war through the eyes of women she befriended and sponsored.   All of you in NYC, if you can, I encourage you to go hear Shannon speak this Wednesday April 14th at  7pm, at the Barnes & Noble located 2289 Broadway and 82nd Street. You might also choose to check out the site of Women for Women International and sponsor a Congolese woman.  This is a tragedy that has for too long been ignored and is hardly discussed in the United States. One story inspired Shannon; I hope her story will inspire you as it did me.

Check Time’s online interview with Shannon or  watch a video interview with journalist and human rights activist Nicolas D. Kristof to learn more about her work.

While the sport of long-distance running has seen many successful Ethiopian competitors, Derartu Tulu’s story is a unique one. Growing up on a farm in Ethiopia, Tulu belongs to the Oromo people who are known for giving the world many outstanding athletes. Winner of 35 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals, she became the first woman from Africa to win a Gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Her combination of speed, endurance, and will power has made her an icon of the Olympic movement and earned her the unofficial title of best runner in the world. In this brief interview with Worldfocus blogger Tesfaye Negussie, Tulu discusses her training and how a serious health scare almost forced her to stop running competitively. Instead of giving up at an age where many athletes retire, Tulu went on to win the NYC Marathon in 2009.

World Focus: Ethiopian marathon runner fueled by homeland

“Eighteen is old — like real old — in chess. So my childhood career is over… The other thing is that the strongest American-born female player is only about 100 points in front of me. I hope to surpass that — and raise the level of American chess. There are all these 10-year-old girls out there who are really, really good — ridiculously good — and it would be really cool to show them how far they could go.

Since many of my recommended interviews have featured women over forty, I decided it’s about time that I highlight an amazing young woman in her teens. Abby Marshall, reigning chess champion seemed like the perfect girl for the job. As the first woman to win the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, which serves as the nation’s high school championship, Marshall is not only witty but also makes the game of chess more relatable. I remember growing up watching older men in the park play chess and teach young boys the master moves.  Therefore it is beyond refreshing to watch a female soar above the male dominated chess competition while maintaining a humble and honest perspective about the game.

Click Here For the Interview

As the Winter Vancouver Olympics approach this Friday, Lindsey Van, reigning world champion should be busy training and preparing for the event. However this eight time Continental Cup winner has recently been making headlines for much more than her expert ski jumping skills. Lindsay talks about the lawsuit she just lost against the Vancouver Olympic Committee for excluding women ski jumpers from the 2010 Winter Olympics and the controversy that surrounded the case. She also shares what is in store for her future now that her career was put on halt.

Age? 25

Places you have lived? Detroit Michigan, Park City Utah, Lake Placid New York

Places you would like to live? In the mountains.

What do you do? Professional women’s ski jumper who won gold in the inaugural women’s ski jumping event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 2009.

As the reigning world champion in women’s ski jumping, winning eight Continental Cup victories during your career, do you think that these honors are as valued as the awards/achievements that men get in the same category?

I feel that my accomplishments are valued highly among the Ski Jumping community, but not among the whole sports community.  I think this is because women’s ski jumping is not in the Olympics, therefore not held to the same standards.

Because ski jumping has been around for almost a century, how does this affect the mindset of the people who run the program? Does their mindset tend to be much more traditional in comparison to other sports?

Ski Jumping is one of the most traditional sports in the Olympics.  This does create somewhat of a barrier for us.  People running the sport want to keep it traditional, thus keeping the women out.  Adding women to the Olympics, and other high profile events would change the face of the sport and I don’t think they are ready for that.

When you and the fourteen other female ski jumpers lost the case against the Vancouver Olympic Committee for only allowing male ski jumpers to compete in the 2010 Olympics, you were quoted calling the Canadian legal system as “weak” and saying that the International Olympic Committee was “like the Taliban of the Olympics.” Do you still stand by these comments and do you believe this is solely an act of sexism or is there more to the story than that?

Of course there is always more to the story.  (more…)