On October 20, 2008, Ms. Patty Pina, Grassroots Marketing Manager from Women for Women International (WFWI), shared her organization’s experience in helping women in developing countries and conflict zones. According to Pina, Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. WFWI envisions a world “where no one is abused, poor, illiterate or marginalized; where members of communities have full and equal participation in the processes that ensure their health, well-being and economic independence; and where everyone has the freedom to define the scope of their life, their future and strive to achieve their full potential,” said Pina.

Founded in 1993, this organization operates in many war-torn countries of the world, including: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan. Pina said that since 1993 Women for Women International has empowered over 153,000 women survivors of war to move toward economic self-sufficiency. The organization provided $42 million in direct aid, microcredit loans, and other program services. It also mobilized more than 125,000 women and men in 105 countries worldwide to reach out and support women survivors of war.

According to Pina in 2007 alone “we served 49,879 women in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and Sudan.”

Just how exactly Women for Women International works with its supporters and gets funding, asked one of the Ford Fellows. Pina said that “since its founding, WFWI has had a grassroots link between supporters and women in the field through sponsorship,” whereas its supporters can sign up to sponsor a woman’s participation in the programs in one of the eight countries where WFWI works. The sponsor commits to pay $27/month for the woman’s 12 month program. The unique part is that “this is a one-to-one match” said Pina.

This means that the woman does not start the program until she is matched with a Sponsor and often times women have to wait to begin the program. During this 12 months program, women participants receive:

- Direct financial assistance to meet basic human needs
- Direct aid is also fairly unique among NGOs
- Overall, women report that they use their sponsorship funds on: Housing: 37%, Food: 35%,
School fees: 13%, Medicine: 11%, Clothing: 10%
- Rights awareness training
- Leadership training
- Job skills training
- A community of support – from the group of 20 women who they train with, to their coaches,
to the Women for Women staff and of course, their sponsor

Finally, after 12 months, women graduate from the program usually with a festive celebration in their community, a certificate of accomplishment, a network of support and perhaps most importantly access to capital and the skills to leverage it.

What is so unique about WFWI?

Pina believes that Women for Women Int’l has a “proven, scalable model for impacting the lives of women survivors of war.” WFWI’s focus on economic opportunities ensures that women have the opportunity for a sustainable income and as a result, economic power. And with economic power, women are in a position to renegotiate decision-making in their households, communities and, quite literally, their nations.

“Finally, we are unique in that 55% of our support comes from the grassroots – these are women helping women at an individual level, particularly through the one-to-one connection of our Sponsorship Program.”

At the end of her presentation Pina showed some incredible success stories of women who found their new paths via WFWI support. Pina answered numerous questions from Ford Fellows and invited everyone to consider participation in this unique program.