Today, through 31st October, a wonderful supporter has agreed to match every gift we receive up to a total of £60,000!. 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 centres (WOC).
Because, for the first time in their lives, women survivors of war will have a place to call their own. These "centres" 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 centres 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 centre that will be built in Kosovo. View the slideshow to see images from the the location of future Women's Opportunity centres.
The centres will be more than just a retreat from outside challenges: they will serve a community of women who are learning, growing, gaining new skills, and taking control of their lives. For the first time in their lives, women survivors of war will find a space where they can share their stories. They will know, finally, that they belong to a community that acknowledges and values their contributions.
We will break ground on the first centre in Kosovo and then move on to Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina and eventually have centres in every country where we work. Rwanda Country Director, Berra Kabarungi said, "The centre first of all is a "safe Haven" for women, a physical gathering space in which both information sharing and experiences will be done, for women who are still in the program as well as those who have graduated... The knowledge acquired through the training at the centre will transform the lives of women socially, economically and politically thus enhancing action."
The Women's Opportunity centre in Rwanda will house many areas, including a farmers market, a peace centre, and much more. To view the image larger simply click the image.
All women survivors from all walks of life will be welcome at the centre. In a safe, protected and supportive environment, they will be free to create solutions to their most pressing problems, and begin to transform themselves and their nations. And when these women find medical resources, business counseling, legal assistance, and classrooms with desks and blackboards and computers–all there to support them as they fight for their rights–each woman will know that she is important.
Your gift today will contribute to the permanent network of support and community we are building at the centres, where women will finally have a space to express themselves freely, to find help through their struggles, and to belong to a family that will share their worries and celebrate their accomplishments.
