Year 4: Akili Dada
This year we are partnering with Akili Dada, a wonderful organization based in Nairobi whose mission is to cultivate female leaders to build the future of Kenya.
They target young, academically gifted but underprivileged women across Kenya and provide them access to high school education, mentorship, internships, leadership training, social entrepreneurship opportunities, and more. Founded in 2005, they have provided 61 scholarships to support girls through high school. 100% of their scholars qualify for scholarships to universities in Kenya and globally. 100 Kenyan women are providing regular mentoring activities. Alumnae have been placed in 26 internships often with NGOs and 5 fellowships have been granted to alumni to create social enterprises in Kenya.
We feel Akili Dada is perfectly aligned with our mission and we are excited to work alongside them this year. We aim to raise $15,000 to support a specific initiative that we are still deciding on. More to come!
Year 3: Semillas
This year we are partnering with Semillas, a Mexican women's community foundation that provides grants and technical assistance to women's groups advancing the social, political, and economic rights of women in Mexico.
Specifically, we are trying to raise over $15,000 to fund Sbejel Ansetik Sociedad Cooperativa, based in Guaquitepec Chilón, Chiapas. This women’s cooperative was founded in 2012 by former Semillas grantee, Anita Gómez, with the goal to strengthen the economic autonomy of indigenous Tseltal women. The project will strengthen the abilities of 48 women to produce and sell natural products including marmalade, soap and artisan work. The project will also train sexual and reproductive health promoters specializing in women’s reproductive rights with the aim of decreasing maternal mortality. Further, this project will continue to develop Anita ́s leadership skills, as she has proven herself to be a strong voice, role model and advocate in the region.
We are excited to support this ambitious project!
This year we are partnering with Semillas, a Mexican women's community foundation that provides grants and technical assistance to women's groups advancing the social, political, and economic rights of women in Mexico.
Specifically, we are trying to raise over $15,000 to fund Sbejel Ansetik Sociedad Cooperativa, based in Guaquitepec Chilón, Chiapas. This women’s cooperative was founded in 2012 by former Semillas grantee, Anita Gómez, with the goal to strengthen the economic autonomy of indigenous Tseltal women. The project will strengthen the abilities of 48 women to produce and sell natural products including marmalade, soap and artisan work. The project will also train sexual and reproductive health promoters specializing in women’s reproductive rights with the aim of decreasing maternal mortality. Further, this project will continue to develop Anita ́s leadership skills, as she has proven herself to be a strong voice, role model and advocate in the region.
We are excited to support this ambitious project!
Year 2: Camfed
Camfed fights poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by educating girls and empowering women to become leaders of change. Their mission is to improve the lives of two million children by 2013. They have a girl-centric approach and a long-term program that provides long-term support via school fees, supplies, uniforms, etc. They offer business training and small grants to women through their Seed Money Program. The also empower women by providing a supportive alumni network.
Here the background story on Camfed:
In 1991, Founder, Ann Cotton, visited Zimbabwe to investigate why girls’ school enrollment in rural areas was so low. What she found surprised her. Contrary to the common assumption that families weren’t sending girls to school for cultural reasons, Ann discovered poverty was the main roadblock. In her first year, she raised funds through grass-roots efforts and sent 32 to girls to school. In 1993, Camfed was formalized.
Their target and impact to date:
Camfed services 2,517 communities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania. Camfed has supported 602,405 girls and vulnerable boys through school, taught 20,216 young women basic economic skills and helped 6,915 young women launch small businesses. Our work has also started a local philanthropic movement: Cama members have helped 161,300 children go to school.
Camfed USA is based in San Francisco but focuses its efforts on Sub-Saharan Africa.
Year 1: The Women's Initiative
Women's Initiative for Self Employment is a Bay Area non-profit which provides high-potential, lower-income women the training, resources and on-going support to start and grow their business. The business management training, technical assistance, and financial services they provide — in English and Spanish — improve the quality of life for the women they serve, their families and our communities.
Since inception Women's Initiative has served more than 22,000 women in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Their mission is to build the entrepreneurial capacity of women to overcome economic and social barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. Women's Initiative has proven that women create jobs for themselves and others, access the mainstream economy, and increase their economic self-sufficiency when they are given business planning and financing support.
Client Profile
Average age is 41
100% are low-income women at program entry
78% are women of color
46% speak Spanish as their first or only language
29% are single parents
15% have a disability
Since inception Women's Initiative has served more than 22,000 women in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Their mission is to build the entrepreneurial capacity of women to overcome economic and social barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. Women's Initiative has proven that women create jobs for themselves and others, access the mainstream economy, and increase their economic self-sufficiency when they are given business planning and financing support.
Client Profile
Average age is 41
100% are low-income women at program entry
78% are women of color
46% speak Spanish as their first or only language
29% are single parents
15% have a disability
Connie Rivera, owner of Mixcoatl Arts & Crafts
A few amazing entrepreneurs!
