Liya Kebede

When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage.

If nothing else, I want women to understand that they are powerful. If you look back at history, in almost every big moment, in every leap forward, you find ordinary women at the core. We have more ability to make changes in the world than we can imagine if we have the courage to try.

I don't listen to people who say my dreams are impossible; I just work to prove them wrong.

I actually started modeling in Ethiopia, because that's where I grew up, and I started out by just doing little fashion shows for school, and I liked it so much that I started pursuing it.

I want to do action, romantic comedy, and I love drama.

Midwives and doctors play a crucial role preventing unnecessary maternal deaths. They educate women about nutrition, health and family planning. And they step in when complications arise.

When countries commit to protecting vulnerable lives, they should receive support from those who can provide it in order to make their programs a success.

We should work to guarantee that there is a midwife or health worker by every woman's side during childbirth.

Doing designs on a loom takes a lot of talent and experience, and, trust me, I won't be able to do that.

In 1967, the world health community launched a global effort to eradicate smallpox. It took a coordinated, worldwide effort, required the commitment of every government, and cost $130 million dollars. By 1977, smallpox had disappeared.

Miriam Were has made outstanding contributions to public health in the developing world. She brings basic medical services to women and children in East Africa.

Children with healthy mothers are much more likely to survive childhood, attend school and live healthy, productive lives.