Press & Media Resources
For press and media enquiries, please email press@womenforwomen.org.
Press & Media Resources
Thank you for your interest in including Women for Women International in your coverage
Please see below for more information about our work and available spokespeople. Use these links to explore the page:
About Women for Women International
Key information & boilerplate
Women for Women International has supported women survivors of war in 17 conflict-affected countries to rebuild their lives, support their families and strengthen their communities since 1993. Learn more about our programmes here.
Download our boilerplate and access a selection of our images below. If using any of the shared images, please reference the photo credit included on the resource.
#SheInsipresMe Car Boot Sale 2024
Saturday, 18th May, 2024
The #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale returns to Selfridges car park in central London on Saturday, 18th May, 2024, overflowing with new, past-season, vintage and pre-loved designer fashion donated by luxury brands, designers and fashion and beauty insiders – all at exceptional prices.
100% of the proceeds go towards Women for Women International's work supporting women survivors of war.
more on the #sheinspiresme car boot sale:
- Curated by Women for Women International Ambassador Alex Eagle, powered by Reselfridges, supported by MINI and hosted at Selfridges Car Park in Central London.
- Supported by passionate brands and committed individuals from the fashion and beauty industries donating time and resources, including long-standing Women for Women International partners Jimmy Choo, Charlotte Tilbury, ME+EM and Slip.
- Sold-out event lauded as the “chicest car boot sale ever” by Vogue.
- Over 30 fashion boots overflowing with pre-loved, past-season, vintage pieces and luxury pieces – discounted by up to 70%.
- Stand-out items include a Dior saddle bag donated by Women for Women International Ambassador Elizabeth Debicki, a Louis Vuitton Nano Bag donated by Women for Women International Ambassador Sophie Turner and special pieces from iconic brands including Victoria Beckham, CHANEL, HUNZA G, GANNI, Bottega Veneta and The Vampire’s Wife.
- Some of the biggest names in fashion including Poppy Delevingne, Mary Charterisn, Caroline Massenet and Brigitta Spinocchia Freund are donating special pieces from their wardrobes.
- Alex Eagle, event host, is in attendance with other Women for Women International celebrity Ambassadors: Charlotte Olympia, Alice Temperley, Tina Dahely, Basma Khalifa, Zara Martin and Jasmine Hemsley.
- The event has raised over £1.2 million since its launch in 2016. Last year in 2023, the #SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale raised over £280,000. These funds enabled the charity to continue to reach thousands of women survivors of war amid the exceptional challenges of escalating violence, gender inequality and humanitarian and economic crises.
- 100% of the proceeds go to Women for Women International’s work helping women survivors of war and conflict in Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine, amongst others.
- Confirmed brands include: Jimmy Choo, Charlotte Tilbury, RIXO, FRAME, Agolde x Citizens of Humanity, ME+EM, Astrid & Miyu, Rodial, 111 SKIN.
- Confirmed stylists, designers and industry names include: Alex Eagle, Alice Temperley, Brigitta Spinocchia Freund, Sukeena Rao and Luminaire, Sellier Knightsbridge, Della Vite, By Rotation, Noor Fares & Eugenie Niarchos.
What we can offer
Expertise, events, local voices
With so many conflicts worldwide fading from the headlines, we are committed to raising awareness of global crises and the women they impact.
Work with us to share women's experiences, raise their voices higher and showcase their incredible hope and power in the face of violence and instability.
1. Expertise
Timely responses as crises unfold
Over the last 30 years we have worked in 17 conflict-affected countries worldwide, including Afghanistan, the DRC, Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine.
As the situations change where there is ongoing tension, or when new crises erupt and develop at speed, we can offer timely, women-centred responses about experiences on the ground. Our Global Policy & Advocacy team also offer expertise on international policy and community advocacy.
2. Engagement
Events and engagement in our work
We regularly share expertise and stories from members of our global team, local partner organisations and the women we serve. Join our mailing list and follow us on social media @womenforwomenuk to stay updated on our work - including upcoming events with our staff and expert guests.
If you share your email address with us via our form below, our team will also share updates, event invitations and press releases.
3. Spokespeople
global and local voices
The women we serve are some of the most marginalised in the world, too often silenced or forgotten. We work to elevate their voices and offer a platform for them and our global teams to share their experiences.
Our spokespeople include team members from across our global organisation, local partners, programme participants and celebrity Ambassadors.
Available in the UK:
Storai Ahmadi
Programme Coordinator, Afghanistan
After years of working with our team in Afghanistan, Storai and her family left her country for the UK in August 2021, when Taliban forces took control. She has continued working on the team, steadfastly advocating for the women of Afghanistan from afar while adapting to life in a new country. Storai is a passionate champion for women’s social and economic power, and raising awareness of the restrictions women are facing in Afghanistan. She is fluent in Dari, Pashto, Urdu and English.
Sara Bowcutt
Managing Director, UK
Sara has worked in the charity sector for nearly 20 years – specialising in fundraising, marketing and communications – and has led teams for UK and international charities including War Child, Age UK and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation. She is a passionate champion of women’s rights and is committed to raising the voices of women survivors of war around the world. Sara can also speak to feminist leadership.
See Sara on ITV News here. Read a piece she wrote for Stylist here.
Stephanie Siddall
Director of Global Policy and Advocacy
Stephanie has extensive experience in humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policy, advocacy and programming; a deep understanding of the women, peace and security and sustainable development agendas; and a track record of working with (I)NGOs, women’s rights organisations, academics, multilateral and governments. She also sits on the Management Board of the UK Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) Network.
Read her piece on SDG Action here, co-authored with our former Country Director in DRC, Rachel Boketa.
Available virtually:
Iryna Andreieva
Co-founder of the Andreiev Family Foundation, Ukraine
Iryana supports survivors of sexual assault in the Ukraine war, facing constant threats to provide psychological support and aid in prosecutions. She is the co-founder of the Andreiev Family Foundation, one of our partner organisations on the ground in Ukraine. Read her story here.
Zainab Gbobaniyi
Advocacy Coordinator, Nigeria
Zainab is a lawyer and human rights advocate with over 20 years of experience. Her work is mostly with women who have little to no education in conflict-affected communities in Plateau State, training and mentoring them to become community advocates and leaders. She has previously worked with the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria.
Marianne Kajokaya
Country Director, South Sudan
A lifelong humanitarian and leader, Marianne has extensive experience as a gender coordinator, programme manager and advisor, and in conflict mitigation. She has built a portfolio of skills that includes child protection, gender and women’s rights, gender in education, and gender and women leadership. Marianne is passionate about building women up and believes in a brighter future for South Sudan.
Kavin Mirteekhan
Programme Manager, Iraq
Displaced by the Iraq war, Kavin is now a champion for women's rights in the region and was a rare voice for women in conflict at COP28, where we showcased new research on the intersection between climate change, women and conflict.
Bukola Onyishi
Country Director, Nigeria
Born in Southwestern Nigeria, for more than 20 years, Bukola has been supporting women survivors of war. She says, “I listen to some success stories, and I wonder what their lives would have been if they’d had the opportunity much earlier in life to be educated."
Payvand Seyedali
Country Director, Afghanistan
Payvand has spent her career in the International Development sector, primarily focusing on the rights of women and girls. She specialises in executive leadership, organisational development, gender, education, negotiation and policy work in fragile and conflict-affected states, specifically Afghanistan, where she has lived for over a decade.
Aram Shakerm
Country Director, Iraq
Aram has almost 30 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sectors in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. His roles have seen him delivering life-saving responses to crises and behind complex women-centred programme design and implementation. Aram also acted as Country Director for our Afghanistan office, leading the team through the Taliban's takeover in August 2021.
Additional spokespeople in Afghanistan, Palestine and other regions available on a case-by-case basis. We also have access to women who are participating in/have graduated from our programmes. Please note: this is subject to availability, sensitivity of the subject at hand, language barriers and access in remote areas.
For our celebrity Ambassadors, please see here. Please note: we cannot make any press commitments on their behalf, but we would be happy to discuss ideas for their involvement and make any appropriate request.
Share your details
share your email and interest areas - and we'll be in touch with opportunities and pitches
Safeguarding
for media speaking to our staff or the women we serve
Women for Women International’s mission is to support women survivors of war to rebuild their lives. We are committed to amplifying the experiences of the women we serve, raising their voices and increasing awareness of their realities by talking to our global Country Office teams and partner organisations. Interviews play a vital role in helping us do this, and in bringing our work to life for our supporters.
Women for Women International also recognises that interviews may also cause harm if they are conducted intrusively, disrespectfully or in any other inappropriate manner, or if the pieces they lead to (in any medium – written, broadcast or otherwise) represent the Subject inaccurately or inappropriately in any way.
Before conducting any interviews with our global team, partners or the women we serve, all press and media must read our safeguarding document.
From our newsroom
The conflict in Sudan the world forgot
subtitle:
15 April 2024 | Splinter
Fatima Ahmed, founder of our partner organisation in Sudan, Zenab for Women in Development, spoke to Splinter about their work promoting the rights of women and girls amidst a civil war. The work of humanitarian organisations in Sudan has been made even more challenging by the lack of media coverage of the conflict, resulting in limited funding for emergency response.
26 February 2024 | The i
Anna Orel, Project Coordinator for the Andreev Foundation, our partner organisation supporting Ukrainian survivors of sexual violence, spoke to The i about the horrific stories of violence and destruction that she has heard from survivors. Warning: This article contains disturbing and graphic content and descriptions of sexual violence.
17 FEBRUARY 2024 | THE HILL
Amani Mustafa, Country Director of Women for Women International - Palestine, spoke to The Hill about the lack of adequate clean and safe sanitation, which is leading to disease outbreaks in Gaza and compounding the already dire humanitarian situation.
8 March 2024 | Sky News
Payvand, Country Director of Women for Women International-Afghanistan, says there is a sense of 'deep sadness in the air' in Afghanistan, as millions of women live behind closed doors. Hear from her, our partner Anna Orel from the Andreiev Family Foundation in Ukraine and programme graduate, Suzan, in South Sudan.
Women are suffering in war – this is how we’re supporting those who are working to rebuild
subtitle:
23 October 2023 | Stylist
All people suffer in war, and women face unique vulnerabilities that are too often forgotten or ignored. Sara Bowcutt, UK Managing Director of Women for Women International speaks to Stylist about the incredible resilience and courage of the women survivors of war we serve.
13 September 2023 | Time Out
The Do Good pop-up in support of Women for Women International is one more reason to visit Bicester Village this September. Make sure to visit and shop incredible new, pre-loved and past-season designer fashion at exceptional prices.