The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting on a woman who is proving once again that one person can indeed change the world. In this case, it is the world of young girls living in poverty in Nepal that has been changed from one of slavery to one of food, family and education, due to Californian Olga Murray and her innovative Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation.

Since 1989, Murray has reduced the practice of rural fathers selling their daughters into indentured servitude for $35 to $75 by offering them piglets. The family then raises these piglets and sells them to market for the same dollar amount their daughters would have yielded. In addition, the foundation pays for the girls’ educations.

In its first year, 32 families participated. Since then, 3,000 young girls have been saved by the piglet program.

Olga Murray has been hailed by Oprah Winfrey, the Dalai Lama and others for her service and innovation.

For more on this remarkable program, click here to go to the Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation.