Women Funding Women

Beverly Guy-Sheptall, founding director of the Women's Research and Resource Center of Spellman College, states in the Winter 2009 edition of Ms. Magazine, "Don't forget the poor." She argues that "the most urgent problem facing women and girls here and around the globe is poverty and its dire consequences: poor health, dying young, illiteracy, violence, HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, dependency, bleak futures. Women continue to be unsafe in their homes, their work-places, refuge camps and in war-torn spots around the world. Their families, not just middle-class families, need the president's ear" (pg. 37).

It is no secret that when women are provided with sufficient resources, entire communities are not only taken care of but thrive. As Ms. Magazine set out to accomplish with its special inagural issue article, "Visions for Change," women have the power to change the world. A crucial aspect of this change is ensuring that donations and contributions intended for women's causes and development actually reach the intended group. Malaika Durban of World Pulse magazine states, “The majority of women’s groups worldwide are so small they are often not on most funders’ radars.” She also writes that "[i]t’s a tragic paradox. Experts agree that the most effective way to solve global problems is to invest in women, but social initiatives that focus on women actually receive less than 7% of all philanthropic funding worldwide." Check out this article, "10 Ways to Give to Women and Girls," to get detailed information and education on ways to give to better the lives of women and girls around the world. You can also visit organizations online such as Women's Funding Network and Kiva Micro Loans for more information.

What do a Bedouin woman in Israel and a woman in Philadelphia have in common? A lot!

Traditionally, Bedouin women living in the Middle East are not allowed to work outside their home, let alone make a salary that contributes to the greater financial and social welfare of their tribe and family. However, a new generation of Bedouin women are changing that belief.

A JTA online article, Bedouin women weave tradition, economics together by Jo-Ann Mort, reports that these women are finding old ways to create new lives for themselves and their daughters: "Though the method is old, the women who run the project are part of a new generation of Bedouin women whose work is empowering women who for millennia were denied social and economic opportunities in their conservative society." The project is called Lakiya Negev Weaving, led and supported by a grassroots organization called Sidreh.

The women who are employed gather in their homes to weave together traditional Bedouin colors or a contemporary palate to create rugs to be bought and sold throughout Israel. In addition to the work, women who are employed with Lakiya must agree as a condition of their employment to take part in educational seminars in women's health care. Economic sustainability, education, and social gathering provide a formula for social change.

Ok, so what do these Bedouin women have in common with a Philadelphia woman?

Freedom!

Ahyana King has been getting local press and recognition latetly for her new line of socially conscious and stylish t-shirts called Phreedum.

Phreedum is an independent novelty t-shirt company for men, women, and infants. Phreedum is dedicated to providing unparalleled creatively constructed clothing to the socially conscious, fashion-forward individual. Ahyana uses the creativity of fashion design to raise money through the sales for non-profit organizations currently addressing societal challenges such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, and access to education. She also has a book scholarship fund for men pursuing an undergraduate degree in education or social work and women pursuing an undergraduate degree in math or sciences.

For Ahyana, Phreedum has provided her not only with a creative outlet, and a unique way to express herself, but has been a vehicle to create individual and social change. Now that is empowering!

More information about Negev Bedouin Weaving, please visit http://www.lakiya.org/.

For more information about Phreedum, please visit www.phreedum1984.com.