Nationally recognized journalist, commentator, speaker and Allentown resident Pamela Varkony spoke at the recent Triad meeting on the topic of empowering women throughout the world.

Triad is a national group that works to keep older adults safe.

Varkony serves on the board of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Allentown Planning Commission, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and Allentown City Council.

She has recently been appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women.

Stating women around the world really need help, Varkony said, during the Jan. 8 meeting, she is motivated to "move women forward" through empowerment.

"Women are coming to their own and showing they can be leaders," Varkony said.

Varkony founded "The Power of Women," an initiative focused on helping women throughout the world through education, networking and mentoring to help them achieve their goals.

Through her organization, she assists women throughout the world become independent, self-sufficient and successful.

Varkony said women are starting to earn higher ranks in combat positions and are showing tremendous amounts of courage.

"It's inspiring to see women in combat roles," she said. "Women drive domestic spending and can change the world. "They globally control $20 trillion in spending and represent $13 trillion in annual earnings."

Women are making their marks as leaders, as other countries, such as Ireland, Germany, Thailand and Brazil have had women leaders.

"Women in the developing world are stepping forward to make their voices heard," Varkony said. "It takes a tremendous amount of courage to be in a Third World county.

Varkony has traveled to Afghanistan, where she is especially interested in women's roles and expressed concern for women in other countries who have it much more extremely difficult than women in America.

Varkony shared her experiences within the country with the senior group through photographs and stories.

"There are tens of thousands of orphans," she said. "The children are on their own. They live on the streets."

American military bases serve as a type of safe haven, where the soldiers feed the orphans, get them school supplies and soccer balls from relatives and friends back home.

Showing a photograph she took of an Afgan corner store, she explained they consume a lot of soda, leading to many dental problems in the country.

They also purchase propane tanks for cooking that aren't properly filled or fastened, leading to house fires.

Varkony said in Afghanistan, everyone carries a gun. All war lords have private militias, running water, hot food is a gift and medical help is difficult to find.

Women do not go out unescorted and young girls wear traditional outfits, while young boys can be dressed in American-style dress.

The country is full of contrast, as there is much poverty, war, violence but also beautiful farms and lush rolling hills, she said.

The country is heavily mined. Varkony met with a very young boy who had stepped on a mine.

The Shriner's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia donated a fixator for his leg.

Binney and Smith donated crayons for Varkony to give to the children, who had never seen crayons before.

It took around an hour for the kids to understand the crayon boxes weren't going to hurt them, she said.

Micro-loans, from the private sector, can help women get a start, allowing them to support their families and villages.

Cultural shifts are beginning through awareness, as women are beginning to to participate and protest.

"There is always something we can do, someone we can reach out to through donation, advice and help," Varcony said.

For more information on Varkony and her organizations, visit pamelavarkony.com.