Giving a Mother's Story a Happier Ending

Vestine is a mother of three and Rwandan genocide survivor who's faced countless challenges. Thanks to people like you, she fought back.

At age 21, Vestine entered a common-law marriage with a man who was already married. They had three children and lived with his first wife in a large house, where Vestine earned an income renting rooms.

When her husband died, everything changed. Vestine and her children were thrown out. Destitute and homeless, she had nowhere to turn. Then she found Women for Women International.

Through our rights-awareness classes, Vestine learned that she and her children were entitled to live in her late husband's house. Her Women for Women International trainer told her: "You need to fight this." So, Vestine prepared her case, found witnesses, stood up for her family in court, and won!

Today, Vestine runs a small business in Kigali using skills she learned through Women for Women International programs. She has emerged stronger and more determined.

Your support gives mothers like Vestine the ability to hope, dream, and stand up for themselves. This Mother's Day, honor and celebrate the women in your life - and help women survivors of war - with a gift to Women for Women International. Whether you honor a mother, grandmother, aunt, daughter, sister or friend, your donation will give a woman the tools she needs to rebuild her family's life.

Can you imagine a more meaningful Mother's Day card? As part of your donation, we'll send a special Mother's Day tribute card to your honoree. The card is designed by Rwandan women who participate in Women for Women International programs. Produced from banana leaves, each card is created by hand and helps Rwandan women earn an income and care for their families.