Melinda Gates World Quotations

It is still just unbelievable to us that diarrhea is one of the leading causes of child deaths in the world.

Government funding that's coming from the United States is making a huge difference on the ground in the developing world. It's really palpable - it's making a huge difference saving lives.

Poverty disproportionately affects women around the world.

If you can't travel to the developing world, look at helping to fund a woman with a small loan and follow her. Learn her story. Learn about the difference that you're making.

Our desire to bring every good thing to our children is a force for good throughout the world. It’s what propels societies forward.

Sanitation issues in the developing world affect women more than they affect men.

We start with an economic approach. We look at what are the greatest causes of death in the developing world, and what causes the largest amount of disability, which would prevent you from getting a job. A lot of those deaths start with diseases, diseases we don't get in such a great number in the United States.

Like in Africa, if somebody doesn't have fuel, they're still going and collecting firewood. If they get an oven, that's a huge difference. You can do things to reduce the inequities by making sure that they can get clean energy, safe energy. To make sure they're not having to collect water every day. That's huge for women in the developing world.

Philanthropy is not about the money. It's about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.