Women for Women International

When war and insecurity take hold, women bear the heaviest burden of violence, poverty, and inequality.

Through Women for Women International's 12-month Stronger Women, Stronger Nations training programme, women learn the skills they need to rebuild their lives, families, and communities. They learn about their rights and health, as well as vocational and business skills to access livelihoods and make savings. In their groups, they also form support networks to help break the loneliness and isolation caused by conflict.

Since 1993, Women for Women International has supported over 530,000 women in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan. They also engage men in their work, to break down restrictive gender norms and end harmful practices that prevent women from reaching their full potential.

In 2022, funding from players of People's Postcode Lottery empowered 1,780 marginalised women in Afghanistan, Iraq, and South Sudan to build stable futures for themselves and their communities after the traumas of war.

Obaida, a participant in Women for Women International's Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme in Afghanistan, said,

"Women for Women International taught me the skills I needed to support my family. I still run a small business sewing clothes and now also sell eggs with the poultry kit I was provided in the programme. With the money I earn, I can support my family as well as save a portion of it. While I do not know what the future holds for us, I feel I can finally build pieces of my life back together, one step at a time."

With players' support, many more women like Obaida will gain the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to rebuild their lives, support their families, and strengthen their communities.

Women for Women International can be found on Twitter (opens in new tab) and Facebook (opens in new tab).