Today, through November 15th, a wonderful supporter has agreed to match every gift we receive up to a total of $150,000!. Your matched gift will help Women for Women International build a permanent, supportive presence in the war-torn countries we serve by helping to fund projects like the construction of new Women's Opportunity Centers (WOC).
Because, for the first time in their lives, women survivors of war will have a place to call their own. These "centers" will be more than just buildings. They will be at the very heart of the community, filled with women who are learning, growing, gaining new skills, and taking control of their lives.
In the last 16 years, we have helped more than 146 thousand women on their journey from victim to survivor to active citizen. One after another, we have opened makeshift offices in the countries we serve, using whatever resources we could find to help them recover from trauma, take control of their lives, and become independent and self-sufficient.
To take the next step in our ability to help women survivors of war, we want to provide women in the nations we serve a permanent home for all Women for Women International services; a place where women can learn, can grow, and can be free to be themselves.
Once complete, the Women's Opportunity Centers will be places where women will come to create lasting economic, political, social and psychological changes in their lives and help lay the groundwork for peace and prosperity in their communities.
Above is a rendering of the Women's Opportunity Center that will be built in Kosovo. View the slideshow to see images from the the location of future Women's Opportunity Centers.
Inspired by a conversation with the passionate and enthusiastic donor spearheading the Women’s Opportunity Centers, architect Sharon Davis knew she had to get involved. The Columbia University graduate specializing in sustainable design and urban renewal, Sharon is working pro bono to create welcoming, friendly, feminine spaces that will reflect the journey women in our programs have made from victim to active citizen.
The Women's Opportunity Center in Rwanda will house many areas, including a farmers market, a peace center, and much more. To view the image larger simply click the image.
To keep the buildings as green as possible, Sharon is designing each center differently based on the geography of the region, the climate, and available building materials. Each building will be safe and secure, yet inviting.
In Kosovo to keep the cost of heating and cooling low, the building will utilize passive airflow in summer and numerous southern exposure windows and heavy insulation to fight the cold Kosovo winters. Although there are very few local building materials in Kosovo, Sharon was able to use natural gas to heat the building – a much greener option than the traditional wood and coal burning common in Kosovo. The women will even have access to an exciting Internet café inside the center.
In Rwanda the center will feature a central, womb-like, gathering pavilion with a capacity for 300, surrounded by smaller, circular outbuildings. This design technique is reminiscent of tribal huts and is common in Rwanda, helping to make the center fit into the landscape. In addition to the customary design, Sharon is utilizing traditional materials such as corrugated steel, but in new and innovative ways.
This center will be self-sustaining, with the design incorporating good airflow, shade, solar energy, and reclaimed rainwater. By using biogas for cooking and solar energy for power, the center will be green and essentially “off the grid.”
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Our Founder and CEO, Zainab Salbi, just returned from visits to each of the country offices who are preparing to break ground on Women's Opportunity Centers. She spoke to women in the programs and learned not only why these buildings are of such a huge importance to the women, but to the programs itself.
Click here to listen to Zainab
as she gives a first hand account of just how much these centers mean to the women in the field. And also answer questions from supporters.
