After working as a reporter in Asia for many years, I was looking for a non-profit that focuses on the empowerment of girls and women. Lotus Outreach is a perfect example of an effective grassroots organization with an amazing track record. Only a very small percentage of donations go towards admin and fundraising - they don't drive big Landrovers and they go into the poorest and most remote areas that are often overlooked by the bigger organizations. They work long-term, establish trust and involve the entire community in issues such as education and sex slavery. Highly recommended!