Learn more about Women for Women International
In Fears to Fierce, Brita shares the incredible impact Amela (right) made on her life. Pictured together at Amela’s house in Doboj in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they first became friends in 2009 writing letters to each other through the Women for Women International programme.
Fears to Fierce
Our story
We have seen that with the right support, women can rebuild their lives, break cycles of poverty and seize opportunities to create better futures for themselves and their communities
During 1992-1995, an estimated 50,000 Bosnian women were subjected to rape as a weapon of war. Thousands more witnessed the killing of loved ones and destruction of their homes, and were left struggling to provide and care for their families whilst dealing with severe trauma.
Survivors said that they felt invisible, that the world had forgotten about them.
Women for Women International created ‘sister-to-sister’ connections between isolated women in Bosnia and Herzegovina and individual supporters around the world. A letter exchange provided these Bosnian women with solidarity and emotional support, along with small amounts of financial aid to help them meet their basic needs as they began to rebuild their lives.
The power of sisterhood in action
To this day, our approach remains inspired by this spirit of sisterhood, and the combination of social and economic investment.
We have gone on to support over half a million women across 8 conflict-affected countries to overcome the horrors of war and work towards a better future for themselves and their families.
Amela helped inspire Brita's 'Fears to Fierce' journey
In 2009, Amela enrolled on the Women for Women International programme, which provided support, training and community for women affected by the legacy of war. She was matched with a Stand With her sister from the UK, Brita Fernandez Schmidt, and they began to exchange letters.
More than 10 years later, Amela and Brita met for the first time – on the porch of her house, overlooking her garden where the tulips bloom every year.
Stand With Her today
MAKE A ONE-OF-A-KIND CONNECTION WITH A WOMAN SURVIVOR OF WAR
There are hundreds of women waiting to enrol in our year-long training programme.
Sign up today and give one woman the opportunity to transform her life.