During the WFN conference, the Latin American funds also had the opportunity to have a quick chat with Michelle Bachelet, Secretary General of UN Women. The conversation highlighted the challenges faced by the organizations and their work to promote women's human rights.

Between April 7 and 9, the annual conference of the Women's Funding Network (WFN) was held in New York (USA). The event is a benchmark for the exchange of experiences between funds and for anticipating trends and opportunities. This year, the meeting highlighted the power of global networks with a special focus on new technologies and the use of social media.

A group of six women living in Cidade de Deus has inaugurated the "Bolhas Coloridas" soap and handmade soap factory in the community. The initiative, made possible through a partnership between Chevron Brasil Petróleo and ELAS Fundo de Investimento Social, is the second venture in the "Elas em Movimento" program.

Continuing the celebrations for International Women's Month, the Commission for the Defense of Women's Rights of the Rio Legislative Assembly (Alerj) handed out ten Woman-Citizen Leolinda de Figueiredo Daltro diplomas, awarded annually by the commission to activists from various areas involved in the feminist cause. Among the honorees were ELAS' general coordinator, Madalena Guilhon, and council members Rita Andrea and Schuma Shumaher.

On March 29th, at 10am, the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro will hold a formal session to award the Leolinda de Figueiredo Daltro Woman-Citizen Diploma in celebration of International Women's Day. Among the honorees are ELAS councillors and the general coordinator.

No próximo dia 31 de março, às 10h, será realizado o lançamento do Bolhas Coloridas, empreendimento de fabricação de sabão, criado e desenvolvido por mulheres da Cidade de Deus (RJ) a partir do programa Elas em movimento. O grande diferencial da pequena fábrica é recolher o óleo de cozinha na própria comunidade para confecção do produto.

Nike was responsible for producing and donating the new sports uniform for the ELAS team. The aim is for the organization's operational members to be identified at the Fund's stand during sporting events to raise funds for groups of young and adult women who use sport as a tool for social transformation.

A campaign developed by the government of Ecuador draws attention to machismo as a form of violence against women. The videos bring everyday situations and promote reflection on this form of abuse against them. To learn more visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTxUWQ2IE6s

The National Meeting of the Articulation of Brazilian Women (ENAMB) will take place between March 31 and April 3 at the University of Brasilia (DF). The event will bring together almost a thousand representatives of women's organizations from all over Brazil. On the agenda will be exchanges and debates on the feminist struggle for justice, freedom and equality, as well as discussions that will inform public policy advocacy in the new budget cycle. For registration and more information, visit www.articulacaodemulheres.org.br.

At the beginning of February, the Ponto Final Campaign launched innovative videos to combat violence against girls and women. The material has opted for a reflective approach with reference to everyday life. The initiative seeks to change attitudes and social beliefs related to discrimination, inequality and gender inequality that sustain and promote violence against women.

On January 26 in Rio de Janeiro, the winners of the 2010 Giving for change Awards were presented. The event brought together businesspeople, donors, grantees for the Fund and other guests at FIRJAN's headquarters. In the Corporate category, the night's winner was Lojas Renner. For Foundations and Institutes, the prize went to the Consulado da Mulher Institute. And Tânia de Almeida, a donor to the Casa da Mulher Trabalhadora, was the winner in the individual donor category.

Luiza Helena de Bairros has taken up the post of Chief Minister of the Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality (SEPPIR). The sociologist is an Honorary Councillor of ELAS. In her first speech, she gave special thanks to the black movement. She then pointed out that this part of organized civil society has always demanded the creation of policies to combat and eliminate racism, a factor that still excludes the black population from access to rights and opportunities.

The end of 2010 brought several new developments for the "Elas em movimento" program, a Chevron project run by ELAS. The women's group from Borel, for example, has finished training in women's human rights, conflict resolution, administration, finance, entrepreneurship, communication and marketing. The members have also decided to rent equipment for children's parties as a business and to name it Celebrando Festas e Cia.

No dia 14 de novembro, no primeiro encontro “Mulheres apoiando Mulheres” foram lançadas as atividades do ELAS em Bruxelas, na Bélgica. Estiveram presentes 18 mulheres, a maioria brasileira, que responderam ao chamado de discutir formas de apoiar o Fundo e também se organizar para ser referência para as brasileiras imigrantes. A atividade teve o apoio da ONG Art’Nativa Brasil, que é uma associação para a promoção da cultura brasileira formada por mulheres e que desde o início abraçou a idéia do ELAS.

The organization black women Maria Mulher was nominated to receive the Deputado Carlos Santos trophy in the category of Affirmative Policies Directed at black women, awarded by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The trophy is awarded to personalities who have worked or are working on behalf of the black community.