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Breaking News: Fear Of Violence Rising in Nigeria

Violence erupted in Jos, Nigeria recently. In the dead of night it was reported that villages in the Plateau region on the country outside of Jos were assaulted and over 300 people were killed in a grisly attack. The dead are mostly women and children. Graduates of our program reported losing all of their possessions in fires set by the attackers.

Though the areas we work are unstable and it is our sincerest hope that peace and order can be restored as soon as possible. But rest assured that we are in close communication with our country offices and intend on helping these women rebuild their lives. With our support and the assistance of the other women in our program the women affected will begin the process of once again rebuilding their lives.

For more information, please click on the links of our trusted news sources below:

BBC News

The New York Times

Reuters

Nigeria.

Years of corrupt military rule, tribal conflicts, famine and weak economic policies have created problems for all Nigerians – but especially women. Although the 1999 Constitution calls for basic human rights for all and freedom from gender discrimination, nearly 10 years later women all over Nigeria endure astounding miseries:

10 out of 36 Nigerian states have laws that allow husbands to use physical force against their wives
60% of women have endured genital cutting – and in some southern regions as high as 100%
Women are often forced to marry very young
Marital rape is not considered crime
Hundreds of Nigerian women are sold into prostitution trafficking to "repay" debts

Conditions are worse for the thousands of widows.

Because girls marry so young, widows are only in their late teens or 20s. Unfair laws prevent women from inheriting their husband's property, often leaving them and their children in extreme poverty. And the number of women widowed grows. Continued regional conflicts leave hundreds of women widowed each year, forcing them to find a way to care for themselves and their children.

Sponsor Now

Your support is helping women transform themselves into successful, active citizens.

Of the women who come to our offices:*

29% have never had any formal education
80% do not speak the official language of Nigeria
28% can read and write more than their name

After one year in Women for Women International Programs:*

86% report improvements in their own health and 88% report improvements in their families health
71% report improvements in housing conditions
85% report more self-confidence
86% report improvements in their economic situation
84% report having a greater knowledge of their rights

What's even more amazing is how the Nigerian women are using your generous donations to unite their communities with cooperative businesses.

In a country where religious and ethnic diversity often creates conflict and turmoil, it's positively inspirational to see how Women for Women International graduates are working together to succeed

Meet the Godiya women.

After graduating from their Women for Women International program, 50 women united their skills and resources to produce and successfully market peanut oil. The cooperative not only provides extra support, but also helps the women make their resources go further. Godiya women recently acquired a store, pooled their funds to buy a processing machine to extract oil from the nuts, and have now installed electricity and started processing their first batch of peanuts.

“Being in the cooperative makes me feel very secure and successful in business and in life.”
Hauwa Aminu, member of Godiya Women

Sponsor a Woman Like Victoria Now!

Victoria is a 28 year-old widow with 2 young children – a 9-year old son and 6-year old daughter.

Before joining Women for Women International, Victoria was a peasant who had to give up her dream of getting a teaching certificate, so she could work to feed her children.

With the help of her sponsor, Victoria began making snacks to sell at the local market and was able to re-enroll in teaching courses. She is now a nursery school teacher and is also teaching women in her village to read and write.

Sponsor Today

Your donation today helps ensure progress and prosperity for the women of Nigeria!

So far 2,200 program graduates have started over 548 cooperative businesses. More than 30,000 women from 39 communities are feeling the benefits of our programs. Your support also allows us to hold training for men and male community leaders to inform them of women's rights and to help them become advocates for women.

"I now started a trade … with the sponsorship funds. I am now the breadwinner for the family; I even make decisions that are strictly followed simply because I am economically empowered."
Asabe, a participant in our program.