The experienced fingers of 20 women crochet strands of plastic into one-of-a-kind gifts in a shop in Porto-Novo, Benin's capital. These women, led by Grace Dotou-Aboh, began their business, Qui Dit Mieux?, in 1996. They collect plastic bags littering Benin's streets, clean them and transform them into beautiful purses, bags and dolls. The group has received international recognition for raising en

Young Niele Ivey intently watches the basketball game on television with her four older brothers. Her eyes focus on the moves and actions of her favorite player, Michael Jordan. More than 10 years later, Jordan continues to be one of Ivey's role models because of "his personality and his dedication to the sport and to his family. He was in the gym an hour before practice, an hour after practice, a

Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan and first woman ever elected to head an Islamic state, once said, "The ethos of Islam is equality, equality between the sexes. There is no religion on earth that, in its writings and teachings, is more respectful of the role of women in society than Islam." Evidence of fair treatment of women in Muslim countries, however, is rarely seen in the West

Tucked behind some trees on a Northside street is a cozy three-story house. Inside, three toddlers run through the rooms, and the sound of children's laughter rises from the basement. Two women sit in the living room, talking. This is a happy place. No one would know that these women are prisoners, serving out their sentences here. Y-Press recently visited Craine House, an alternative sentencing p