By Gretchen Wallace | Founder and Director
HelpWomenHELPWOMEN By Gretchen Wallace - Founder & President March 8, 2009 is International Women’s Day. Did you know, globally, 1 out of 3 women has been beaten, coerced into having sex or abused?
Join our HelpWomenHELPWOMEN Campaign to advance grassroots solutions to end violence against women in Rwanda.
Help us raise $25,000 by March 8, International Women’s Day, to:
* launch FIVE social ventures (details below) * designed by courageous Rwandan women * to HELP nearly 3000 other vulnerable women, and * END the domestic violence, sexual violence and discrimination they suffer daily
That’s less than $10 per woman.
HelpWomenHELPWOMEN end the violence in their communities. DONATE NOW to support 1, 2, even 10 abused women.
Our HelpWomenHELPWOMEN Projects include:
LIGHT IN OUR HOME Expected Impact: 574 people This group is working on sexual violence against women and girls. The team will begin by creating anti-violence clubs in secondary schools, where sexual abuse and exploitation of minors is a major issue. They will work closely with local leaders to ensure that cases of sexual violence are reported to and followed up on by the legal authorities.
ASSOCIATION DE LA PROMOTION DE LA FEMME ET L’ENFANT RWANDAIS (APROFER) Expected Impact: 500 people This project in the rural district of Kibuye is working to educate the community on domestic violence and women’s property rights. Serving estranged couples, youth about to get married, and widows in property disputes with their in-laws, APROFER will train community leaders to follow up on cases of domestic violence with the local authorities.
RELAX Expected Impact: 815 people This group is working in the rural village of Mutara, where up to 50% of women are victims of domestic violence. The team will teach women about their rights and identify local representatives who will be given cell phones to report cases of domestic violence when they occur. The team will work closely with the police and local authorities to improve the legal protection of women who experience violence, and seek to change community norms that tacitly condone domestic violence by shifting stigma toward the men who abuse their wives.
HAVE PITY AND COMPASSION Expected Impact: 555 people This project will work with couples in the rural community of Mutara District to counsel them on domestic violence and women’s land rights using theater and educational films to fight social norms that accept violence against women. By training a team of counselors to work directly with families, they hope to promote stronger relationships in which men respect their wives.
KIND PEOPLE Expected Impact: 405 people This project works in the rural district of Ruhango, where many women are not able to access their land rights, because they did not get legally married, and domestic violence is pervasive. This team will train couples throughout their district on women’s rights and will set up monitoring and reporting teams to help victims report their problems to the local authorities and seek help.
Please help these women help other women by donating now!
Links:
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