Breakthrough: The Women, Faith and Development
Summit to End Global Poverty

Sunday, April 13, 2008

On Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 2 pm, Washington National Cathedral presented Breakthrough: The Women, Faith and Development Summit to End Global Poverty, a forum for international leaders from faith communities, governments, donors and NGOs to convene and announce new commitments to engender global poverty alleviation efforts. The Hon. Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, gave the keynote. The Summit also officially launched the Women, Faith, and Development Alliance (WFDA). Events were free and open to the public, and were webcast live.

Photo 5: Countless partipants and attendees of diverse backgrounds gathered at the Cathedral in support of the causes of the Breakthrough Summit. They listened to commitments from the most influential individuals and organizations in the women’s, faith, and development communities, as well as youth leaders, community activists, and international corporations.

Breakthrough co-chairs included the Honorable Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state; the Right Honorable Kim Campbell, former prime minister, Canada; Sheikh Shaban Mubaje, Religions for Peace African Council of Religious Leaders and Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council; the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, general secretary, Lutheran World Federation; and Her Excellency Mary Robinson, former president, Republic of Ireland.

Breakthrough honorary co-chairs included Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder, Grameen Bank; Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, chair, King Hussein Foundation; His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Anglican archbishop emeritus, South Africa; and Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president, Republic of Liberia.