Give Gifts that Give Back!

Stumped by holiday shopping? Support Women for Women International and cross some names off your list by giving the gift of sponsorship! Make shopping a more rewarding experience this holiday season by empowering a woman survivor of war and creating a bond between sister and sponsor that is sure to be unforgettable!

Simply visit our Give Gifts that Give Back Page and fill out your information as well as the information of your gift’s recipient. In 4-6 weeks, your friend or family member will receive a sponsorship kit with everything they will need to enjoy the benefits of being a sponsor, including information about their sister and how they can begin corresponding with her.

Also find a Women for Women International insert for your holiday cards and some other helpful giving suggestions!

For general information about sponsorship, visit our Sponsorship Page and read inspirational stories from sponsors and their sisters.

This year, give a woman the resources she needs to move from victim to survivor to active citizen and make a truly lasting impact.

Olive Smart: A Green Gift

When writing your holiday gift list – keep it green. Olive Smart is committed to providing you with environmentally conscious, quality products and they donate 20% of your purchase to Women for Women International! The Olive Smart Sack holds six big bags that will help you to eliminate your use of plastic bags entirely. The bags fold nicely into the Sack that fits perfectly in the cup holder of your car or slides easily into any bag. Pick one up for yourself too and use them to carry all your other holiday packages! Check out their simple convenient bags here and not only do the environment a favor but support women survivors of war.

Paint for Congo

Sara Woster does not like to run. After reading that over 5.4 million people have been killed in the war in Congo, Sara looked into Run for Congo Women as a way to take action and raise awareness about the suffering in DRC but Sara would not run. She is not a runner. Sara is however a painter. Sending emails, Sara offered her services asking donations for a painting of anything. Sara’s Paint for Congo project is raising hundreds of dollars for women who are making positive changes in their lives through Women for Women International. Thank you Sara and keep up the beautiful work!

Two examples of the paintings done by Sara.

Pottery Fundraiser

Donations aren’t the only way to support women survivors of war, just ask Janet Richards. Janet is an artist creating beautiful pieces of pottery in her home during the small amount of spare time she has. Last week, Janet held an open house where she displayed her pottery and told her guests about Women for Women International. Answering questions and sharing her commitment to the women supported by Women for Women International, Janet served refreshments and sold her pottery. During the night she raised over $500! Thank you for your hard work Janet and way to go!

Janet and her beautiful pottery with her Women for Women International display behind her.

Watch The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo on HBO Thursday, November 20th at 10:30 p.m. EST.

In light of the renewed violence in Congo’s eastern provinces, HBO is airing an encore presentation of The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo this Thursday at 10:30pm EST. Please share this with friend and sponsor a woman in Congo through Women for Women International. Help us break the silence.

http://www.womenforwomen.org/silence

In 2006, Emmy Award winning producer/director Lisa F. Jackson spent the year in the war zones of eastern DR Congo. She documented the tragic situation women and girls are forced to deal with as they stand in the middle of a country’s conflict they did not create, and cannot control.

A Marathon for Women for Women International

Not only has Kari Voss run a marathon but she did it for a great cause! Kari ran the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and raised hundreds of dollars for Women for Women International by soliciting sponsors including her sister. Kari’s sister pledged $2 per mile of the marathon so that Kari would run with her! Thank you Kari and congratulations on the marathon!

Kari on the left and her sister at the marathon!

Cocktails for a Great Cause!

Victoria Meakin really knows how to inspire a crowd. During a night of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Victoria gathered guests to learn more about the work of Women for Women International and women survivors of war served in the Sponsorship program. To raise funds, she raffled off donations including a beautiful heart pendant and an interior design consultation. Sharing her passion for the work of Women for Women International, Victoria raised $5,000! Great work Victoria and thank you so much!

Victoria with a raffle donor and guest

Don’t just read about it – Become a part of the movement!

If you have been inspired by one of our supporters, want to recreate it or have a great idea of your own, please let us know! Make a huge impact by spreading the word and sharing our work with your community, family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Introduce them to women survivors of war and the work Women for Women International is doing to change their lives forever as they move from victim to survivor to active citizen. Your event can be as large and extravagant or as simple and intimate as you want. You can do so much with a little bit of effort and some imagination.

Visit Host an Event at the Women for Women International website to get your plans started and find useful materials including brochures and videos to share with your guests.

Once you have set a date and decided how many guests you’ll have – email Kate Siegfried at ksiegfried@womenforwomen.org so we can help you with any of your questions. Also, don’t forget to take photos – we’d love to share your stories here so you can inspire someone else!

Screening “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo”

Join Working Films this Sunday for a viewing of “The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo” by Lisa F. Jackson. This documentary follows Lisa as she travels through the Congo breaking the silence that surrounds women survivors of kidnapping, violence and rape. Meeting with activists, priests, doctors, survivors and even the rapists themselves, Lisa shines a light on the women of the Congo who despite having gone to hell and back, are filled with grace and hope. Read more about the film here. Stay after the film for questions and discussion with the filmmaker.

What: Film Screening and Discussion

Where: 92YTribeca

200 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013

When: Sunday, November 9, 2008

Time: 7:30pm

Price: $12.00

Temple Ner Tamid Reaches Out

On September 21, Temple Ner Tamid held an event to kick off the sponsorship program that is a part of the synagogue’s year long drive to support Women for Women International. With a goal of raising $10,000, this synagogue in New Jersey has found a dynamic way for the women of its congregation to reach out to women survivors of war.

This effort has been lead by Marcia Kramer who is a sponsor herself and shared her joy from the relationship she has built with her sister Miradije Berisha from Kosovo. Now sponsoring her second sister, Marcia is inspiring her fellow congregants to sponsor and support a survivor of war.

In addition to hearing from Marcia, Temple Ner Tamid members watched a video and heard from Grassroots Marketing Officer Patty Pina who answered questions and explained the sponsorship process. Women lined up and one by one became a sponsor for a woman who would join the Women for Women International program. Through a special arrangement, the women were able to meet their sister’s immediately after signing up, receiving her picture and bio and seeing the face of the woman they would support for the next year.

Thank you Temple Ner Tamid for your support and effort to help women survivors of war!

Volunteers help women sign up to sponsor a sister.