Stories

"Change takes time, but every time a man tells me that he has changed how he treats women for the better, I know we are making progress."

When conflict reached her village in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nsimire’s life was torn apart by sexual violence. With support from Women for Women International and our partners, she is beginning to heal and reclaim her future.

When we first met Nerat Dabwol in early 2024, she was a 15-year-old from a rural village in Plateau State, Nigeria who had been forcefully married, had a baby and was forced to drop out of school. After seven months, we connected with Nerat again to see how her life has transformed since enrolling in the programme.

"When I stand in front of my female neighbours and relatives who are forced to stay home and I teach them – I feel stronger. It gives me more power and makes me feel happier. I dream of the day when the doors of universities and schools reopen for girls so they can have access to education!"

Forced to flee Syria, Jihan faced years of hardship and isolation in Iraq. Through Women for Women International’s adolescent girls’ programme, she regained confidence, built new skills and now believes in a brighter future.

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. #SheDares to hope for a better tomorrow.

"With the support and encouragement from the incredible women in my class and our trainers, I’ve discovered how to start my own business, save money with a savings group, and, most importantly, build my confidence."

"I am witnessing a significant change in my community. More women are bravely stepping forward to report injustices and fight for their rights."

"When the locals learnt about my efforts to stop the conflict and protect them, they appointed me as the first female Sultan—community chief—in Ronyi ... I envision a future where more women take on leadership roles in my community, believing that women are best equipped to represent women's issues."

"I am very proud of myself for achieving all of this, my confidence is at an all-time high right now, and I feel like I can take on the world if the need arises."

Blessing enrolled in the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme in Nigeria in May 2023. She shared her experience at various points in the programme with her trainers. Here is her journey, in her own words.

"This newfound awareness has empowered me to advocate more effectively for myself and others, ensuring that our voices are heard and our needs are met. The training has not only boosted my confidence but also fostered a stronger sense of togetherness with my group sisters, reinforcing the importance of solidarity in the fight for disability rights."

"My friend told me about the programme and said that I would be helped to repair the strained relationship in my family, and I would be taught how to negotiate with him so that we could have discussions as husband and wife."

"Improving menstrual hygiene in my community is a significant achievement for me."

Find out how Grace was able to launch a successful business that generates a steady income while addressing period poverty within her community.

"This is the first time I have the confidence to share my story."

After surviving conflict and tremendous loss, Saleha is finding ways to rebuild her life and care for her eight children. Read Saleha's story, shared in her own words.

"The war, though, is bringing me a lot of pain and anxiety. The Madlien that existed before, with the beautiful smile that used to project hope among people, does not exist anymore. I wonder if she's ever going to be back to the past days. Could anything in the world make up for the loss that we are experiencing? Absolutely not. Even though the situation seems endless, I am hopeful that Palestinian women’s voices will be heard, and that one day there will be peace in the region."  

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.

"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.

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.

Mariam* has been working with us to document the deteriorating situation in Gaza. While living through the horrors of war herself, she dares to lift the stories of other Palestinian women. 

Many women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo don't own their own land - even though most farmworkers are women and despite laws in place to protect their right to it. Read about how Angelique's journey through out programme led her to become a Change Agent and persuading a skeptical community that she had just as much right to own land as her husband.

War has taken so much from Suzan – loved ones, financial security, stability – but she has always fought to protect her children. When her daughter became pregnant and faced forced marriage, Suzan dared to defy her family and communal pressures. And now, she helps others dare to do the same. This is her story.  

Faizah has always been brave – even aged 13, when her uncles tried to force her into marriage. So, when ISIS attacked her community and warned her not to flee, she harnessed that defiance and dared to find safety. Faizah dreams of a world without war; of peace for her children. Here is her story.

Despite years of violence at the hands of her partner, Chismidi had the strength to raise and provide for her four children. After leaving the relationship behind, she regained her voice and courage. #SheDares to stand up against child trafficking, even boldly standing in front of the President to advocate for the rights of women. This is her story.

Amid violence and poverty following the Rwandan Genocide, Grace dares to build a better life. She is pursuing a large-scale business venture in a small Rwandan community, an innovative project to make footballs that captured the heart of FIFA’s President. Her idea has provided opportunities for the women in her savings group and demonstrates the power of resilience. Grace dares to overcome adversity and create positive change in her community.  

Ferhana graduated from our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme four years ago. Since then, she's been running a shop and employing other women - all the sole earners for their families. But Afghanistan's de facto government put her success and security at risk. Read her story of hope and power against all the odds.

Burhane is a survivor of loss and sexual violence. For a long time, she had lost all hope. But today, she runs a small shop, supports her children and dreams of owning a supermarket where she lives in Ethiopia. Read her story of transformation. 

A widow at only 23, Manal has survived over a decade of violence in Syria and now lives in a camp for internally displaced people. After years of limited opportunities, scarce resources and financial instability, our beauty care training programme, delivered with Women Now For Development, has been a dream come true. 

For many years Sarab's life was restricted by ISIS's control of Mosul, Iraq. Today, thanks to her enrolment in the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme she is slowly beginning to move on from this trauma and, for the first time in her life, is starting to believe in herself and her capabilities. 

Dada was forced to flee her home when Boko Haram threatened to kill her husband. Now she is a successful businesswoman and a leader in her community. 

"When I found myself in the programme, I was happy. Now I want members of my family to also benefit from this programme."

"My name is not Nastasiya. It is too dangerous to tell you my real name." After fleeing the war in Ukraine, 'Nastasiya' says, "We have lost our home, our city and many of our neighbours, but we will not lose our spirit."

Motivated by the prospect of learning how to make clothes, Sifa joined the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme. But it was the lessons she learnt about women's empowerment that helped to transform her life.

The Women for Women International programme was my ray of hope. It felt like I was finally completing my education which was cut short by poverty.

Through our programme, Amissi has learnt financial literacy, vocational skills and about family planning. She has transformed her marriage, her children's opportunities and - ultimately - her life.

Nema lives with her husband and five children, displaced in South Sudan after fleeing conflict in their hometown in 2016. Read about how our programme helped Nema become an entrepreneur and rebuild her life. 

Habiba was forced to drop out of school in 2017 due to the dangers of conflict. She didn't know if she would ever get the chance to finish her education. That was until a Community Learning Centre, funded by Women for Women International, came to her village. 

If someone had told me in the past that I would need to restart my life from scratch, I couldn't believe it. But that is what happened to me when I needed to flee to Poland with my son.

At 31 years old, Josephine is married with two children. She is from Nigeria, where she had to drop out of school after falling pregnant. Now, she hopes to continue her education to university level. Read her story.

Being in the programme, I enjoyed having the space to connect with other women in the skill-building and social empowerment classes. I was learning things that I never imagined I would have the opportunity to learn in my life.  

Thanks to Women for Women International and my trainers, I now know how to sew beautiful dresses. Moreover, with the lessons I had about savings, I could save a portion of the stipends I was receiving from the programme to buy my own sewing machine.

I was very disappointed and stressed when the new government (in Afghanistan) took over because it was so hard for me to enrol in this programme, and suddenly I couldn't learn anything, but when I heard about the resuming of the programme, I was very happy.

Through genocide, rape and the loss of two children, Euphrasie never lost hope. Read her story, from forced marriage to skilled beadworker and her family's breadwinner.

Daniella has always had a dream of owning her own tailoring workshop, but for years she didn't have the skills or the start-up money. Since completing our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, Daniella has turned her dream into a reality.

Aged 31, mother of 3 and now a proud farmer and business owner - this is Josephine's story of success and self-reliance. She shared: "I am grateful to Women for Women International for reviving my hope from a very unclear path and putting me on the path of growth."

24 years old, proud mother, leader and trainer – Marie is changing the way her community treat people with physical disabilities, one soap bar at a time.

I used to depend on my husband totally to cover all expenses, pay children school fees and medical care - but now I am empowered.

There are many young girls who come from my village who are rape victims. When they come I try to encourage them, telling them "You still have life, one still has value." I tell them that they should hope for the future.

The friendly environment at the training centre and connections I made with other women changed my life.

In July 1995, men and boys were massacred in Srebrenica during the genocide in Bosnia. Fazila lost male relatives but knew she had to rebuild her life for the sake of her daughter and the women in her community.

Francine fled Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. When she returned, she had to stop her education and find work. Married at an early age, she soon found it difficult to work and provide for her growing family, but beekeeping changed everything.

Unable to find work as a refugee, Shireen desperately wanted to learn a new skill that could help her provide for her family. Shireen learnt how to sew, but she gained more than the ability to make clothes: she learnt about her worth and value as a woman.

Christine knows what survival means. She was pregnant with her first child during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Faced with economic challenges after the death of her husband, she needed more than survival, she needed a future for her family.

Nanbam’s life was changed after attending the Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme. She learnt new skills that could help her and her family, and other women too. Nanbam’s outlook changed from meeting her own immediate needs to helping other women.

Saratu, our programme participant from Nigeria shares her experience of escaping Boko Haram, learning about health, business and gender equality and building a better life for herself and her family.

Women entrepreneurs in Iraq are preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Hassana escaped Boko Haram and lost almost everything. Since joining Women for Women International she has learnt business skills and started earning her own income, improved her and her family's health and gained hope for a better future.

Our neighbour knocked at the door and asked ‘Why are you not escaping?’ She told us that they are kidnapping girls and killing men, so we decided to run away and not take anything with us.

I was alone and had to take care of the children who were all very young at the time. I couldn’t imagine them growing without their father around. He was the one who provided for them.

After graduating from our 12 month programme in the Democractic Republic of Congo, Cinama went on to start her own brickmaking business. She now shares her knowledge with other women and is looked up to as a role model.

Joining the Women for Women International programme was the biggest change in my life. I found myself. I was convinced that I was alone, the only person who had experienced such difficulties.

During the sessions on decision-making and women’s rights, my eyes were opened. It made me appreciate myself more as a human being.

One of my friends told me about Women for Women International and how it provided training for women. That’s when I learned that I wasn’t alone in my suffering. There are other women, who have the same pain.

The programme gave me the courage and the skills I needed. Other women encouraged me and gave me new ideas. I am proud to say I am a beekeeper. It gives me a lot of self-confidence.

I know that I should take courage because I survived a hard situation. Every day, I have to wake up and pray and say, thank you God, for I’m still alive. It was hard but now I’m here.

I will continue mobilising other women in the community in utilising the lessons I have learned, and I hope many more of them will be part of the training.