It's not sponsorship. It's sisterhood.
Match with woman survivor of war and invest in her potential to transform her life. Through our one-year programme, your ‘sister’ will learn about her health and well-being, how to earn and save money alongside a vocational skill, and learn about her rights.
Stand With Her Sister
YOUR NEW SISTER IS WAITING TO MEET YOU
A regular gift from £22 a month
When you get matched with a woman in our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, you'll:
- learn about her and her country and receive updates about her progress in the programme
- have the opportunity to exchange messages with your sister through our online supporter portal
Your sister will develop essential skills to help her strengthen her voice, forge her future and share her newfound skills with her community.
Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme
What women learn during the one year programme
Vocational Skills: Earning an income
Your gift helps women survivors of war learn a vocational skill such as tailoring, brickmaking or agriculture. These skills are highly prized in their local market, so they can earn a stable income and become more independent. This is supplemented with literacy and numeracy training, including bookkeeping and budgeting, which helps them build businesses to support their families.
Rights: Using her voice
Women have fundamental rights that are often overlooked. Even women themselves are often unaware of these rights. Your sisters have a right to vote, to own land, to divorce, and to inherit property. With your contributions, your sisters will learn about gender equality, their rights and the laws that protect them from violence and discrimination.
Health & Wellbeing: Better nutrition means stronger communities
If women aren't physically and mentally healthy, how can they be expected to thrive and contribute to their community? Your sisters will learn about family planning, hygiene, disease prevention, resilience and nutrition to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy.
Support Networks: A community of women learning and growing together
Imagine not feeling safe enough to leave your home. Imagine not having access to friends or community spaces where you could take some comfort in sharing your collective experiences. Sisters are joined together in groups of 25, breaking the isolation caused by war and creating a space of mutual support.
Meet Linda
"The programme has given me the confidence to dream again"
Despite losing her daughter and home in a violent attack, Linda found the strength to rebuild her life. Through the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, she is working towards a brighter future.
"Through the programme, I found strength in the shared experiences of my sisters. Their stories and support helped me heal in ways I never expected. I started reconnecting with my community, attending meetings and even listening to music again."
Hear from Stand With Her Supporters
Mira
"I can honestly say getting involved in the Women for Women International global community has helped me stay positive and hopeful this year!"
Martin
"By supporting a sister, I can make an impact on her and through her, her community."
Anna
"The only way we are going to improve conditions for all women is together, and that means lifting each other up, at home or overseas."
how we choose programme participants
Women chosen for the programme have faced immense hardships. They've lived in extreme poverty without any stable income, are socially isolated, and impacted by conflict in at least one of the following ways: losing a loved one, surviving violence, or forced to flee their homes.
Our team interviews potential participants to understand their background, circumstances, and future plans. To ensure we reach the most marginalised women, we invest where inequality is greatest by intentionally inviting poor and vulnerable women to enrol in the programme.
MEET COURAGEOUS WOMEN FROM COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY CONFLICT
Hadiza
subtitle:
Changing cultural norms is not an easy task, especially when you are a woman in a remote village in Nigeria. But Hadiza is a testament to women’s power and strength. #SheDares to fight for women’s rights, even when it threatens her personal safety. This is her story.
Sohaila
subtitle:
"Culturally, as a widow, it was expected of me to withdraw from public life and rely on the support of my extended family. However, I was determined to take a different path to provide for my children."
Read Sohaila's story of strength and defiance.
Marie Jeanne
subtitle:
The involvement of women in decision-making processes is essential for a balanced and equitable society. However, men are in control of the processes in Marie Jeanne’s community. Read about how she has fought for women’s voices to be heard in community gatherings, and dared to challenge other injustices too. #SheDares to speak up on behalf of all the women in her community.
Learn more
Why women in conflict
subtitle:
When war and insecurity take hold, women bear the heaviest burden of violence, poverty and inequality. Learn more about why supporting women survivors of war is so important.
Where we work
subtitle:
Learn more about the conflict-affected countries where we work around the world. Since our origins in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we have expanded and adapted our programmes to support 675,544 women living in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Our programmes
subtitle:
Participants in our year-long programme work to strengthen themselves across four critical areas of social and economic empowerment.