Dr. Lotta was instrumental in planting another equally important seed in USC’s value set: our focus on women in all programs we support. As she put it in a public service announcement from the 1970s:

“Development often starts with a woman. Support
leadership programs for women through the USC,
56 Sparks Street, Ottawa.” Click here to hear her voice.

That Lotta was perhaps the most prominent Canadian woman of
her generation is beyond doubt. But more than that, she pushed hard
for women’s development, well before the UN began to adopt this
approach in the 1970s.

In particular, she felt great empathy for young women and girls. Once their basic food, shelter and clothing needs were satisfied, Lotta and the USC were at the forefront of ensuring that they were offered meaningful educational opportunities.

Today, USC continues this long tradition of putting women at the heart of our work and our overseas programs have increasingly focused on women and girls. From recognizing and valuing the role of women as seed savers and nurturers of biodiversity, in our Seeds of Survival program around the world, to the exciting life skills training for adolescent girls that our LEAD program has initiated in Bangladesh.