2018 In Review
The year you changed the world
In 2018 your support transformed the lives of thousands of women survivors of war.
From sending a #MessageToMySister, to sponsoring a woman survivor of war, to attending our #SheInspiresMe LIVE event - you supported our work in so many ways throughout 2018.
Last year, we were able to reach thousands of women across the post conflict countries we work in. Because of your support, the women in our programme have been able to spark change in their communities and provide for their families.
Thank you for being part of an incredible year, here is a look back at what we achieved together in 2018.
Programme updates
Celebrating the first graduation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)
In 2018, the first group of women survivors of war in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq graduated from our year-long programme which was supported by players of the People's Postcode Lottery.
We were able to train over 250 women in vocational skills as well as delivering vital health and rights training so that participants felt empowered to provide and care for their families.
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Women for Women International programme participants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) celebrate their graduation. Photo: Alison Baskerville -
Women for Women International programme participants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) celebrate their graduation. Photo: Alison Baskerville -
Women for Women International programme participants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) celebrate their graduation. Photo: Alison Baskerville -
Women for Women International programme participants in Iraq celebrate their graduation. Photo: Alison Baskerville
Change Agent Success in Afghanistan
Using skills learned in our “Change Agents Programme” our graduates worked together with Women for Women International – Afghanistan and the Afghan Women’s Network to secure a personal meeting with the First Lady of Afghanistan, Rula Ghani, to speak about the problem of gendered discrimination and domestic violence. The "Change Agents Programme" is generously supported by The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women (FLOW) programme.
Reporting on our programme success
We released our 2018 Global Goals report cards which situates our work and the women we serve in the framework of the Global Goals. Three years into the Goals, and ahead of the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report, we are concerned that women affected by conflict are being failed by the Goals and are continuing to be left behind.
Delivering interactive datasets
Alongside our printed and digital report cards, we have created an interactive dataset to illustrate the impact of our programme on targets within the Global Goals.
Explore the data for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Nigeria in relation to seven of the Global Goals.
Beyond our programme
In 2018 we witnessed our programme graduates go on to become inspiring leaders in their communities.
Meet Cinama
After graduating from Women for Women International’s programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cinama became a brickmaker and now runs a successful brickmaking business. She is now also employed by Women for Women International as one of our vocational trainers, teaching other women in her community how to make bricks.
Shireen's story
Shireen and her family fled the war in Syria and found refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Through the Women for Women International programme in Iraq, supported by players of the People's Postcode Lottery, she was able to learn a vocational skill and provide for her family.
Solar Sisters
Mercy Paul and Salamatu Yusuf, two Women for Women International programme graduates in Nigeria, were recognised for their outstanding achievements marketing and selling clean energy products in their communities in Plateau State.
Creating a global movement
Our global sisterhood reached even more men and women.
International Women's Day
On International Women's Day over 1200 of you from 61 countries sent a message of support and hope to the women survivors of war we work with through the #MessageToMySister campaign.
We will be renewing the campaign for International Women's Day 2019 - watch this space for more information.
#SheInspiresMe LIVE
We hosted the #SheInspiresMe LIVE event in partnership with Refinery29. The day was full of inspiring talks and hands-on workshops to energise a new generation of changemakers.
Inspiring events
Over 2018 we held several high profile events to raise vital funds for our work.
#SheInspiresMe Car boot sale
This year’s #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale saw over 1,500 shoppers exploring 45 car boots including fashion, food and drinks and beauty to raise money for our work.
The event was hosted by Alex Eagle and The Store and in partnership with THE OUTNET.COM. Fashion designers and brands on the day include; Alex Eagle, Temperley London, Charlotte Olympia, M.i.h Jeans, Maria Kastani, Hikari Yokoyama and many more.
We will be hosting 2019's #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale on the 11th May - watch this space for more information coming soon.
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"We have a magnificent, creative group of women and brands joining forces to show the power of fashion to create real change for women survivors of war," shares Brita Fernandez Schmidt, our Executive Director. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
“The event is bigger and brighter than ever, pushing women’s strength further and celebrating extraordinary women”. Glass Magazine. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
We were joined by fashion designers and luminaries whose car boots were bursting with goodies including one-off samples and must-have designer pieces. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
#SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale 2018. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
#SheInspiresme auction
We held our inaugural #SheInspiresMe Auction, culminating in a VIP invite only reception hosted by Sotheby’s on Monday 19th November.
Bringing together a variety of carefully curated lots, guests were able to bid on truly innovative experiences or bespoke pieces that simply cannot be found anywhere else. Covering art, fashion, film, music, travel and more, the items on offer were unique and exclusive including pieces such as Frida Khalo in Flowers by Philippa Craddock and signed memorabilia by Pink Floyd.
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Women for Women International #SheInspiresMe Auction 2018. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
Women for Women International #SheInspiresMe Auction 2018. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
Women for Women International #SheInspiresMe Auction 2018. Photo: Oliver Rudkin -
Women for Women International #SheInspiresMe Auction 2018. Photo: Oliver Rudkin
Our amazing supporters
2018 saw us welcome new ambassadors and grow our supporter network.
Our ambassador Tom Burke
Actor Tom Burke joined Women for Women International as our first male ambassador.
Watch this video of Tom's visit to our programme in Kosovo where he reflects on the role of men in promoting women's rights.
Our corporate partners
From collaborating on empowering t-shirts to donating a portion of their sales for #GivingTuesday, our corporate partners generously raised vital funds for our work.
Our student societies grew
We welcomed two new student societies in 2018! From bake-offs to sharing our work over a meal, our student societies have worked hard in 2018 to elevate the voices of women survivors of war.
Best of the blog
"Building a personal connection with my sponsor sister, Amela, became a source of strength for me." Our Executive Director, Brita Fernandez Schmidt shares the story of meeting her first sponsor sister and the very real impact of our programme.
Sylvia, our Fundraising Projects Assistant, was born during the civil war in Sierra Leone. She shares why peace matters whether you're in Sierra Leone or South London.
Celebrating Graduation Day in the DRC
subtitle:
600 of our programme participants in the DRC have graduated from our 12-month social and economic empowerment programme. It was a chance for our programme graduates to reflect on their journey and share their achievements with their classmates, families and wider communities.
Our work in the press
This is Afghanistan
subtitle:
16 AUGUST, 2018 | THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
A colleague in our Afghanistan office reflects upon life in a conflict zone and explains that despite the poverty, the war, and the patriarchy, women persevere. They don’t give up on Afghanistan, and they are building a better world.
Rwanda: A Leader For Women’s Representation
subtitle: journey of Rwanda
9 JULY, 2018 | THE INDEPENDENT
This month's instalment in the Forgotten Women series features one of our programme graduates, Mukeshimana Vestine, who was widowed, orphaned and only one of 14 siblings to survive during the Rwandan genocide. Mukeshimana was left to rebuild her life from nothing while still drenched in grief.
6 FEBRUARY, 2018 | BRITISH VOGUE
Our Executive Director, Brita Fernandez Schmidt, discusses the inherent inequality in our society in her blog post for British Vogue and what we can do to redress it.