Women for Women International

Women for Women International (WfWI) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides practical and moral support to female survivors of war. WfWI helps such women rebuild their lives after war's devastation through a year-long tiered program that begins with direct financial aid and emotional counseling and includes life skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy) training if necessary, rights awareness education, health education, job skills training and small business development.

Women for Women International
AbbreviationWfWI
Formation1993 (1993)
FoundersZainab Salbi and Amjad Atallah
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
President
Laurie Adams
Award(s)Hilton Humanitarian Prize (2006)
Websitewww.womenforwomen.org

History

In 1993, Women for Women International was co-founded by a husband and wife, Amjad Atallah and Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi American who is herself a survivor of the Iran–Iraq War.[1]

They were motivated to act after learning of the plight of women in rape camps during the Yugoslav Wars and the slow response of the international community.[2]

In its first year, Women for Women International worked with eight women, distributing about $9,000 in direct aid.[3] As the organization gained experience, its staff came to understand that financial assistance alone was not a sufficient response for women who had lost everything. Women survivors of war, especially those left widowed, also needed to cultivate an understanding of their rights and potential as women, develop marketable skills, and find a way to generate stable income.[4]

From 2012 to 2014, WfWI was led by Afshan Khan, a long-time former executive with UNICEF who became WfWI's first new CEO since founder Zainab Salbi stepped down to devote more time to her writing and lecturing.[5] Laurie Adams is the current chief executive officer.[6]

Headquartered in Washington, DC, WfWI also has executive/fundraising offices in London, UK[7] and Hamburg, Germany[8] and programmatic offices in eight post-conflict countries: Afghanistan (program inception 2002);[9] Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994); Democratic Republic of Congo (2004);[10][11] Iraq (2003);[12] Kosovo (1999);[13][14] Nigeria (2000);[15] Rwanda (1997);[16] and South Sudan (2006).[17]

As of 2015, the charity has helped about 449,000 marginalized women in countries affected by war.[18]

In September 2006, Women for Women International was the first women's organization to receive the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world's largest humanitarian prize of $1.5 million.[19] Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate and Hilton Prize juror also commented on the selection saying women of war is a neglected issue and WfWI has identified the need and has gone on to protect millions of lives.[19]

Activities

Women for Women International connects women with other women a conflict zone and the sponsor sends money every month to this sister. The participants enroll in a one-year program designed to help them gain the skills, confidence, psychological healing, and mutual support needed to rebuild their lives after war. After the program they become leaders in their communities.[2]

As of June 30, 2011, WfWI had disbursed $103 million to some 317,000 women participants. The program is paid for through a mix of individual "sister to sister" direct sponsorships and grants from governmental, multilateral, foundation, corporate, and individual donors.[20]

Since 2016, WfWI has held an annual charity sale to raise money for women survivors of war. The 2017 sale raised over US$224,000.[21]

References
  1. "My uncle, the tyrant". New Internationalist. 2011-03-02. Archived from the original on 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  2. Khaleeli, Homa (2013-04-02). "Zainab Salbi: Escape from tyranny". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  3. "Women for Women Is an Awesome Organization Focused on Empowering Women Worldwide". Archived from the original on 2020-08-08.
  4. "Charity of the Month - Woman Power" The Family Groove, 20 May 2006.
  5. "Women for Women International Names Afshan Khan New CEO." PrWeb, 30 April 2012.
  6. "Laurie Adams: CEO, Women for Women International (WfWI)". The Native Society. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  7. "Women For Women International (UK)". DueDil. DueDil Ltd. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  8. "Women for Women International (DE) gGmbH". Firmenwissen. Verband der Vereine Creditreform e.V. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  9. "Women for Women International-Afghanistan Country Director Sweeta Noori returns from Afghanistan, urges members of Congress to support Afghan women - Afghanistan". ReliefWeb. 18 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  10. "Country Profile - DRC". Women for Women International. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  11. "Case Study Series: Women in Peace and Transition Processes" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-09-04.
  12. "Stronger Women, Stronger Nations: 2008 Iraq Report - Iraq". ReliefWeb. 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  13. "Kosovo | Women for Women International". www.womenforwomen.org. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-03-08. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  14. "The Kosovo - Women's Initiative - An independent evaluation" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-17.
  15. "Women for Women International Nigeria Project". Issuu. 3 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  16. "The New Times - Featured: I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc. celebrates with Women for Women International on International Women´s Day". 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020.
  17. "Women for Women International Announces Ongoing Support for Women of South Sudan - South Sudan". ReliefWeb. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  18. "Zainab Salbi: The Voice Of Arabia". Harper's BAZAAR Arabia. Archived from the original on 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  19. Hanley, Delinda C. "Women for Women Wins Hilton Humanitarian Prize". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, December 2006. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  20. "Women for Women International Supports Women of South Sudan on Country's First Anniversary" Yahoo News, 9 July 2012.
  21. Marfil, Lorelei (2018-03-20). "Women for Women International to Host #SheInspiresMe Charity Sale". WWD. Archived from the original on 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
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