“I’ve always had a passion for technology and dreams of working to provide for myself and my family.”
Amra, a Syrian refugee and CRF program participant
WfWI program participant, Josephine Anna Taban is pictured holding her 9-month-old son Juma Gift Moses in Yei, South Sudan. Photo: Charles Atiki Lomodong
Guli Omar from a training center in Kurdistan Region of Iraq holds up a Message to My Sister postcard she received from a supporter. Photo: Alison Baskerville
Talatu Danladi is pictured with some of her chickens in Pankshin, Plateau State, Nigeria. She learned poultry-keeping in the Women for Women International training program. Photo: Monilekan
Thanks to you
519,714
women served to date
through core program, microcredit, and partners
through core program, microcredit, and partners
38,170
men reached to date
97%
graduation rate in our program (2020) through which women gain important life and livelihood skills
Message from Laurie Adams, CEO
It’s been a tough year for many of us but your generosity lifted us up when we needed it the most. When Taliban forces entered Kabul in August, it was a frightening time for our colleagues there. Experience told us that marginalized women would bear the brunt of the unfolding crisis but you helped us elevate the voices of Afghan women so the world listened. You used your platforms and your giving power to help raise nearly five million dollars and expand our community of supporters by thousands. Your generosity gives us the power to work with the new government and adapt to rebuild the lives of the women we serve. They are the future of Afghanistan and we will not desert them – because of your unwavering belief in our mission.
Women survivors of war face the effects of the pandemic, of escalating violence and of gender inequality across the world. But we’re hopeful because we know that working together, women can change everything. That’s why, despite all the challenges, we’re ready to respond where we’re needed the most. Looking ahead in 2022, with your help, we’ll begin scaling up our programs so we can invest in the power of millions of women, providing them with the skills and resources they need to realize their full potential. Your support is a source of inspiration to all of us at Women for Women. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and belief in our mission.
Laurie Adams, CEO
Our Mission
In countries affected by conflict and war, Women for Women International (WfWI) supports the most marginalized women to earn and save money, improve health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support. By utilizing skills, knowledge, and resources gained through our program, women are able to create sustainable change for themselves, their families, and communities.
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lwiro. Women listening to Dady Mukenge, who has been a life skills trainer with WFWI for over a decade. Photo: Alison Wright
At Women for Women International, our greatest strength is our ability to meet women where they are, in their communities. We respond holistically to their critical needs by continuous listening and learning. The uniqueness of our data-driven approach is that it is both women-centered and locally powered.
We center the voices and experiences of the women we serve, involving them in improving and adapting programs to better meet their needs. We take great pride in the fact that our country staff is from the same communities as the women we serve and are respected as local leaders. They are knowledgeable about the challenges women face as well as the opportunities to make real and lasting change.
This lasting change is seen in our graduates as they transform into local leaders through our Change Agents program as well as in how we engage men as allies through our Men’s Engagement Program (MEP), to remove the systemic and cultural barriers women face.
The participants in our program deserve to have their voices heard by decision-makers on the issues that affect them, not only in their communities but at the state and national levels. We strive to amplify their voices and vision to influence change at the global level.
Marie Clarke, VP, WfWI Global Programs
Hear in Aveen’s words how your support has made a difference. Aveen and her family fled from Syria and now live in a refugee camp in Iraq. Through the Stronger Women Stronger Nations program, she has been able to save, learn vocational skills and much more.
Watch on YouTube
”I used to be unable to speak up in the face of oppression. I was presented with the opportunity to train as a Change Agent and advocate for others—and I grabbed it. We have taken it upon ourselves to advocate for survivors using communication strategies we learned during our training.”
Grace
“My life has really changed because before I didn't know the different forms of violence. But today I know about rape and violence. I now respect a woman. Personally, I changed a lot.”
Murhula from the Democratic Republic of Congo
Participants in our Change Agent program in Nigeria, discussing how they can help support disabled members of their community. Photo credit: Ramone Segree
Recent findings from our surveys and program evaluations in Nigeria indicate that our graduates were better prepared to pivot their businesses with the tools and knowledge gained from their vocational courses, making it possible for them to still earn an income and provide for their children.
For example, Stronger Women, Stronger Nations participants in Nigeria were 20% more likely to have some profitable activity during the pandemic
These initial data speak to Women for Women International’s vital role in fostering resiliency during times of economic uncertainty.
Thanks to you, Stronger Women, Stronger Nations program participants continued to receive a monthly training stipend, which meant more women had savings to fall back on as waves of COVID shut down businesses and unemployment soared.
When Taliban forces took control of Kabul in August 2021, we called upon donors like you to stand in solidarity with Afghan women. You did that and more. By using your voice, your platforms, and your giving power, you helped raise nearly $5 million and elevated our call to help rebuild the lives of the women we serve in Afghanistan, garnering 26,000 new supporters.
Thanks to your generosity, we are working with the new government and partner organizations on the ground to meet immediate critical needs including enabling mobile cash transfers, providing kitchen garden and poultry kits as well as assessing the longer-term needs of our program participants. Read about our commitment to resuming work in Afghanistan.
Outpouring of support received from our global community, including celebrities, amplified our call to stand in solidarity with Afghan women.
Responding to Emerging Conflicts
Women represent almost half of the 244 million migrants
and half of the 19.6 million refugees worldwide.
Source: UN Women
1 out of every 5 women (refugee or displaced)
in humanitarian situations suffers sexual violence
Source: UN Women
Around the world, more countries are experiencing some form of violent conflict than at any other time in the last 30 years. Through our Conflict Respond Fund (CRF), we are able to expand our impact by tracking crises in real time, identifying credible partners on the ground and allocating resources to meet the urgent needs of women survivors, no matter what side of a conflict they are on.
Our Conflict Response Fund Partnerships:
Myanmar
We provide Rohingya women and adolescent girls who remain in Myanmar with access to literacy, numeracy, and life skills, through our partner, Center for Social Integrity.
Tigray region of Ethiopia
Through our partner Mums for Mums, we are supporting survivors of sexual violence by training community first-responders to focus on immediate needs, and by raising community awareness about the prevention of sexual violence against women and girls. to help women survivors rebuild their lives.
Syria
Our partner, Women Now for Development, helps us provide Syrian women with vocation training skills so they can earn an income and support their families.
As 2021 draws to a close, the pandemic continues to rage on in waves globally, increasing gender inequality, widening the poverty gap and highlighting the inequitable access to vaccines, especially in the countries where we work.
Adding to this, conflict and crises continue to escalate across the world. From the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan with millions facing starvation and the economy on the brink of collapse, to the escalating sexual violence against women in Tigray where rape is being commonly used as a weapon of war, your unwavering support is crucial to help us serve the women the world forgets – women survivors of war and conflict.
Donors like you help us create a world that’s more equal, peaceful and prosperous
The below video is a dance performance by women participants in Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria to welcome Ramone Segree, U.S. ED/VP Marketing, Development and Communications and Latoyia Harris Allen, Director of Development, on their visit to WfWI’s Nigeria Country Office in August 2021.
During this dance, the women are also reenacting daily life. Participants in our program are learning new farming techniques and other vocational skills to gain self-sufficiency.
Thank you for your commitment to creating a world where every woman’s voice, role and contribution are valued – a world where women realize their power.