| Women's Organizations | ||
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List Currently Registered Organizations … By Country
By Region |
Women's Organizations
South Asia
Aaina
Bhubaneswar, India
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Aaina was founded in 1998 by a group of like minded women who wanted to focus on the development of women and childrens issues, especially as they relate to disability. Their mission is to see a world of identity, dignity and rightful provisioning for the underprivileged people, especially women, children and persons with disability. Targeting women and children who are distressed, disabled, or trafficked, Aaina has instituted several programs to offer relief. Some of these include counseling for distressed women through Art therapy, responding to natural disasters in terms of relief and rehabilitation, Community Based Rehabilitation for children and adults with disability, and special schools for children with disability that include the participation of the mothers through income generating projects. Contact Details: Aaina 765, Sahid Nagar Bhubaneswar India 751007 E-mail: aaina50@hotmail.com |
AANCHAL
Mumbai, India
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Aanchal is a help line and support group that reaches out to lesbian and bisexual women in Mumbai, India. This population was chosen because sexual minorities, especially lesbians are seen as invisible in India. Lesbians, in particular, are often viewed as sick or suffering a mental illness that needs to be cured. One of the main issues facing lesbian and bisexual women in India is the discrimination, resulting from the lack of awareness about homosexuality in a traditional heterosexual society. Aanchal is committed to creating a safe and confidential place for women, regardless of their age, class, caste, religion and race, who are dealing with issues that related to their sexual orientation. Aanchal has created many support groups for women which meet on a regular basis to discuss issues related to sexuality. In addition, the organization has joined with other LGBT groups, supportive women's groups and HIV /AIDS groups to fight discrimination by challenging current legal statutes.
Contact Details: AANCHAL India Centre for Human Rights and Law, 4th Flr, CVOD Jain High School, 84 Samuel Street, Dongri Mumbai India 400009 E-mail: aanchal69@hotmail.com |
ABC/Nepal: Anti Trafficking, Basic Human Rights and Cooperatives
Kathmandu, Nepal
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ABC/Nepal was founded in 1987 by Ms. Durga Ghimire and Ms. Meera Arjyal. The mission of this organization is to create awareness regarding issues surrounding the trafficking of women and young girls in Nepal. Of particular importance is the increase of HIV/AIDS among such women and young girls. ABC/Nepal hopes to create a strong network against the trafficking of women and young girls by promoting self-reliance and self-confidence among women through self-development training and economic empowerment. The ABC/Nepal team includes a seven member executive committee, over 5,000 women volunteers and 2,000 community workers. They have a central staff of 25, a field staff of 50 and an art staff of 10. They work with other local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to facilitate programs such as women's leadership training, non-formal education, and girls' trafficking awareness. Contact Details: ABC/Nepal: Anti Trafficking, Basic Human Rights and Cooperatives P.O. Box 5135 Narephat, Koteshwor Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: abc@transit.wlink.com.np |
Afghan Women Social and Cultural Organization (AWSCO)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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Afghan Women Social and Cultural Organization (AWSCO) was established in 1994 by Ms. Qazi Marzia Babakarkhail. Over the past two decades Afghanistan has suffered from numerous wars, resulting in a significant decline in the standard of living. Women, in particular, were deprived of their civil rights, especially the right to work and be educated. AWSCO's mission is to "contribute to the rehabilitation and development of Afghanistan through the planning, designing and undertaking of economic and humanitarian assistance programs, as well as by developing the skills and capacity of Afghan women." AWSCO has created numerous projects throughout central and northern Afghanistan as well as in Peshawar, Pakistan. The projects include handicraft/vocational training, education in computers and English, health awareness, emergency relief, human rights education, women development programs, housing construction, water supply, as well as women and social affairs projects. Currently, AWSCO is working with UNICEF on a water and sanitation project in Kabul, Afghanistan. Contact Details: Afghan Women Social and Cultural Organization (AWSCO) House #1, St. #3, right side Qalai Fatullah Shar-e-naw Kabul Afghanistan 091 E-mail: awsco_afghanistan@yahoo.com |
Afghan Women Welfare Department (AWWD)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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The Afghan Women Welfare Department (AWWD), a non-affiliated and non-profit Afghan woman NGO, was established in July 1989. The purpose was to deal with the great women-related emergency needs and to provide services to the Afghan refugee women in the North Western Frontier Province of Pakistan (the NWFP). AWWD, as a woman's organization strives and was established for the mere purpose of bettering Afghan women's welfare in refugee situations by elevating the educational and social status of Afghan women within the family, Afghan community and the world at large. AWWD achieves its objectives by providing community based programs, especially in refugee camps. These programs included English Language Programs, Typing and Computer training programs, Literacy, Health Education programs, Islamiat, Tailoring Training Programs, Carpet Weaving Training Programs, Vulnerable Female Refugee Assistance Programs, Poultry, Soap and Candle making Training programs, Credit System assistance(providing loans), Gender awareness, Embroidery training programs, etc. In the past twelve years, AWWD has trained approximately 6000 Afghan refugee women in the fields of Education, Vocational Training, Health and Income-Generation in Peshawar. Contact Details: Afghan Women Welfare Department (AWWD) Madeena Bazar, Share Now Kabul City Street H1, House #25 Kabul Afghanistan E-mail: awwd@brain.net.pk |
Afghan Women's Educational Center (AWEC)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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AWEC was established in 1991 by a group of educated Afghan women in Islamabad who were concerned about the lack of facilities for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The mission of AWEC is "to improve the status of women as leaders and as agents of positive change in an Islamic and traditional Afghan society." The primary goal of this organization is to improve the living conditions of marginalized groups of women and children. AWEC provides numerous opportunities to disadvantaged refugees, including two centers for women and street children, in Peshawar and Kabul which integrate skills development, literacy, health education, drug awareness, counseling on issues such as domestic violence and sexual abuse. For street children AWEC provides informal education to reintegrate them into schools, reproductive and maternal health services, as well as vocational training. Currently, AWEC is running one high school in Islamabad, in addition to constructing a widows support program and an emergency relief and water supply project in Kabul.
Contact Details: Afghan Women's Educational Center (AWEC) H # 115 , First bus stop Kololapusta Kabul Afghanistan E-mail: irfan@pes.comsats.net.pk |
Afghan Women's Network (AWN)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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Inspired by a UN Conference on Women in 1995, seven female
Afghan participants founded the Afghan Women's Network with the idea of establishing an environment to promote unity and cooperation among Afghan women. Their mission is to promote the rights of women and children on a national and international level by providing them with a strong voice. This voice is acheived through the formation of committees where educated females learn how to train and hold workshops for less educated women. Human and child rights, issues of gender, and problem solving are all issues that the committees discuss and explore. Their past and present activities include conducting capacity building workshops and skill development training of the English language. They are beginning gender training in six provinces in Afghanistan through a developing training team. They currently have an office in Afghanistan as well as one in Pakistan, where over twenty four NGO members work for women's empowerment. In the future Afghan Women's Network will hold a Child Rights Convention and wishes to establish a child rights committee in schools throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan. Contact Details: Afghan Women's Network (AWN) H# 193, St #3 Qalah Fatihullah Kabul Afghanistan 25000 E-mail: awn@brain.net.pk |
AID INDIA
SATANKULAM, India
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Aid India was originally founded in 1992 by a group of men and women with the goal of helping disabled people. Since 1992, Aid India has expanded to include focus on the welfare of dalit women and widows. Its board has also expanded to include five women, and only two men. As stated by the organization, Aid India stands for "Empowering the women and disabled people in rural areas where they have no access to economy and education." In the past, Aid India has worked toward this goal by implementing programs for awareness raising, free medical camps, adult literacy for the rural illiterate women, and educational assistance for the poor. Aid India now also runs a micro-credit program namely Grama Vasantham for disadvantaged women and disabled of all categories, a vocational training program for young dhalit girls, and a computer center for them as well. Contact Details: AID INDIA 9, RICE SHOP STREET SATANKULAM THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU SATANKULAM India 828 704 E-mail: ttn_aidindia@sancharnet.in |
Akshara - A Women's Resource Center
Mumbai, India
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Akshara was established in 1995 by two activists of the Indian Women's Movement. In the beginning it was primarily a resource center that sought to reach women in poor or marginalized areas with the necessary information to allow them to assert their rights and realize their full potential. Their mission is to enable women to continue with education, to develop critical thinking skills in regards to gender and development, and to promote self-awareness. Akshara presently works with young women in schools, slums, and institutions through training groups, discussions, and workshops, as well as by issuing scholarships for education. The organization continues to have a women's resource center, and is in the process of putting together a detailed reference of women's studies. Contact Details: Akshara - A Women's Resource Center 501 Neelambari Road #86 Opp. Portuguese Church Dadar West Mumbai India 400 028 E-mail: aksharacentre@vsnl.com |
Anubhooti
Patna, India
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Founded in 1994, Anubhooti works in underprivileged areas of Bihar State to improve the lives of women. The organization focuses on the limited awareness of women's legal and human rights. It is also working to stop violence and crime against women in India. Anubhooti offers training and support to the creation and maintenance of women's savings and investment groups. They have constructed and maintain a sanitation center and hope to replicate these centers in other districts throughout Bihar. Anubhooti is also training their members to be active players in local governing bodies. Contact Details: Anubhooti A/25 Magistrate Colony Ashiana Patna India 800 001 E-mail: sbhartiraj@indiatimes.com |
Anveshi Dalit Women's Trust
Tiruvalla, India
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Anveshi Dalit Women's Trust is an organization that was founded in 1993 by a group of Dalit women. Anveshi's main goal is to empower Dalit women and the Dalit community, as a whole for social change. Sadly, today Dalit women are still not able to participate in religious activities, mainstream political parties or societies. Anveshi wants women to recognize the daily exploitations that they face in order to challenge the existing social structure. The organization therefore encourages women to develop and demonstrate those capabilities which are often suppressed due to their marginalized status in society. This is accomplished by promoting women to use their culture and folklore as a form of resistance. Anveshi provides centers where women are able to research their culture and discuss issues of oppression. Contact Details: Anveshi Dalit Women's Trust Madukkolil, Kuttoor P.O. Tiruvalla India 689106 E-mail: |
ARPAN
Himatnagar, India
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Advancement of Rural People And Nature (ARPAN) was established in 1992. The group was founded to help women of North Gujarat India who suffer due to the prevailing social values. ARPAN works in more than 120 villages offering programs to raise awareness about women's conditions. These programs primarily focus on rural tribal women in North India who are deprived of their right to common property resources such as land, forest and water. Thus they loose access to fodder, fuel and water. In addition, ARPAN has established 150 self-help groups for these tribal women to help them overcome poverty and to create a sense of empowerment. ARPAN's programs and self-help groups focus on pressing matters such as economic dependence, participation in decision making, age of marriage, unwanted pregnancy, discrimination of female children, illiteracy, atrocities against women and economical issues. Furthermore, they work with tribal sex workers on HIV/AIDS issues. Contact Details: ARPAN 77,Laxminarayan society, Gaytrimandir road, Societynagar area, Himatnagar India 383001 E-mail: arpan1_in@yahoo.com |
Association for Bottom Strata (ABS)
Pudukkottai, India
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ABS is an organization that aims to uplift the Narikkuravar Gypsys, Kuravan community, dalit women and children through exclusive programs constructed for the development of the poor people living in rural areas of Pudukkottai District of Tamilnadu, India. The organization's goal is to uplift these communities by providing training, skill development, awareness and healthcare programs, schools for children, research projects, and HIV/AIDS prevention programs. ABS has been active in a variety of programs including environmental awareness, welfare associations, child labor elimination, and women awareness. Presently ABS is working on forming self-help groups, providing income generating programs, health programs, counseling, and vocational training.
Contact Details: Association for Bottom Strata (ABS) 21, Mamundimadam Street, Thirukkokarnam post Pudukkottai India 622002 E-mail: abs_organisation@yahoo.co.in |
Bhutanese Women and Youth Empowerment Program (BWYEP)
Thapa, Nepal
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Founded by a group of Bhutanese refugee women in 2001, BWYEP addresses problems faced by Bhutanese women, particularly girl trafficking, domestic violence and male domination. The organization strives to empower women and help them be educated about issues affecting their day-to-day life. BWYEP focuses on women ages 17 to 25 who are considered to be most vulnerable to trafficking and the sex trade. BWYEP is currently providing computer education and organizing HIV/AIDS awareness programs in Bhutanese refugee camps in Thapa, Nepal. Contact Details: Bhutanese Women and Youth Empowerment Program (BWYEP) P.O. Box 9 Anarmani-4 Thapa Nepal 9772341538 E-mail: bwyep@ntc.net.np |
BLOSSOM
Virudhunagar, India
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BLOSSOM was founded June 7, 1993 in order to assist in the "blossoming of power in every individual, particularly women and children." BLOSSOM's mission is to "facilitate a process where marginalized groups, particularly women and children, have an improved quality of life, by working in partnership with other development actors." The organization's current goals are to give a voice to women infected with HIV/AIDS and to build the capacity of their women members, while focusing on women laborers and those affected by violence. BLOSSOM has 25 staff members, 10 volunteers, and 8500 female members. The organization's activities include self-help groups, support for women and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS, family counseling, vocational training, a music and dance school, and an entrepreneurship development program.
Contact Details: BLOSSOM 77, Sekkilar Street Virudhunagar India 626 001 E-mail: blossomtrust@eth.net |
Blue Veins ( Women Welfare & relief Services) Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade
Peshawar, Pakistan
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Blue Veins was founded in 1999 by a group of women concerned about the lack of health information and resources available to women. Blue Veins has dedicated their efforts to breast cancer victims, who often face severe taboos and oppression due to misunderstandings about the illness in Pakistan society. Today Blue Veins is a growing national group of volunteers who embrace the motto, "Awareness, Action, and Advocacy." Their goal is to "increase public awareness about breast cancer and ensure that individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds have rapid access to current relevant education, support and information about this disease." Blue Veins has recently launched numerous information campaigns within Pakistan, including conferences, presentations at universities, colleges, schools and health fairs, and lobbying federal and provincial departments. They also provide psychological and social services to breast cancer patients and their families.
Contact Details: Blue Veins ( Women Welfare & relief Services) Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade 21, second floor islamia club building khyber bazzar peshawar (NWFP) pakistan Peshawar Pakistan 25000 E-mail: bveins@hotmail.com |
Centre for Women's Development and Research
Chennai, India
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The Centre for Women's Development and Research (CWDR) is an organization that was founded in 1993 by a group of female activists who wanted to address problems faced by women in the southeast end of Chennai, India in a region called Thiruvanmiyur. CWDR's mission includes creating awareness about gender issues, increasing the income of women, and eliminating violence against women. CWDR primarily works with slum women and female children who are employed as domestic workers. They have initiated local women's organizations with more than 3,000 women in 75 slums.
In the area there are over 5,000 women engaged in all household activities from kitchen duties to childcare. The wages they receive are insufficient to cover the basic amenities needed for survival, and usually these women are the primary breadwinners for their families. Sadly in this type of work the women are not able to learn any new skills that may eventually help them to succeed in other fields. Furthermore, their work is seen as non–productive, non-economic, not real work, but rather more as charity cases. CWDR is trying to focus on giving the women vocational training and providing them with loans to possibly start their own small businesses.
Contact Details: Centre for Women's Development and Research 5/359 Annai Indira Nagar Okkiyampet, Thuraipakkam Chennai India 600 096 E-mail: |
Council for Tribal and Rural Development (CTRD)
Bhubaneswar, India
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Council for Tribal and Rural Development (CTRD) was founded to promote the leadership of rural women, to address their health issues, and to strengthen women's self-help groups through capacity-building and linkage with international donors. They aim to alleviate rural poverty by promoting self-employment among women and involving women in micro-enterprise activities and community-level food security initiatives. In addition, CTRD supports community-based environment management programs initiated by local women groups. The organization has 15 elected members, 22 staff, and 20 volunteers. They have mobilized a savings program investing in a handicrafts center for income generation through as many as 100 women's self-help groups. They have also provided wells and livestock to a number of these groups. Among other micro-enterprise initiatives, they are at present working with 50 groups in 7 coastal villages to develop a community plant nursery and a riverbank plantation. Contact Details: Council for Tribal and Rural Development (CTRD) Plot No. 420, Sahid Nagar Bhubaneswar India 751 007 E-mail: ikfoundationofindia@hotmail.com |
Dalit Women Forum
Secunderabad, India
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Dalit Women Forum (DWF) was formed in India in 1993 by a group of women development workers to empower vulnerable groups such as women, pavement dwellers and street children facing problems including violence, discrimination, unequal wages and the institutions of dowry and bigamy. DWF does not solely target Dalit women but includes all poor and oppressed women irrespective of their caste or religious background. The mission of Dalit Women Forum is "to enhance their bargaining skills in order to increase their living levels in the fields of economic, social, political, cultural". DWF’s three-person staff aims to empower women by raising awareness on various issues, fighting for the rights of the oppressed and organizing women’s and self-help groups. Contact Details: Dalit Women Forum 10-5-751, Sai Nagar, Thukaram Gate, North Lalaguda. Secunderabad India 500017 E-mail: dalitwomen_forum2000@yahoo.co.in |
Deepak Charitable Trust
Vadodara, India
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Deepak Charitable Trust was founded in 1982 to improve the health, education and socio-economic status of the entire Nandesari community in Western India, with a particular emphasis on providing women with a better quality of life. Some of the issues that the women face are lack of education, early marriage, diseases, and unemployment. The area of Nandesari where Deepak works is primarily a Hindu Rajput community. These kinds of communities are often very conventional resulting in many restrictions on women. These include limitations on their freedom to interact with the outside world, limited development of women's self esteem and limited expression of their sexuality. Deepak's vision is for women to have expanded horizons of autonomous decision making, as well as control over their own bodies and resources. Most importantly, Deepak wants women to have equal rights to men. In able to reach their goal, they provide reproductive health care for women and mental and physical health care for children. In addition, the organization provides facilities to make basic needs such as making drinking water, fuel and fodder more accessible to the community. Contact Details: Deepak Charitable Trust 9/10, Kunj Society, Alkapuri Vadodara India 390007 E-mail: deepakfoundation@yahoo.com |
Educational Training Center for Poor Women and Girls of Afghanistan (E.C.W.)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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The Educational Training Center for Poor Women and Girl's of Afghanistan (ECW) was founded in 1997 by Maleka Qanih and Rozan Seran. ECW provides support, education and training to poor and widowed Afghan women who do not have access to jobs or schooling outside of the home. ECW is composed of fifteen volunteer members who coordinate and carry out the decisions of the organization. The staff, many former students of the program, volunteer their time and skills. More than 500 women have completed ECW's training and are able to generate an income from the goods they produce. ECW currently offers classes to more than 300 women in a variety of subjects, including literacy, English classes, embroidery, tailoring, and handicraft. To date (11/2002), this organization, which operated clandestinely throughout the Taliban era, has been financially supported by volunteer members of the community and from the sale of products (embroidered and tailored items) produced by the center.
Contact Details: Educational Training Center for Poor Women and Girls of Afghanistan (E.C.W.) Airport Street near Aziz-i-Afghan Secondary School 1107 Post box Kabul Afghanistan E-mail: arezo_qanih@yahoo.com |
Empowering the Women of Nepal (EWN)
Pokhara-6, Nepal
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Empowering the Women of Nepal (EWN) was founded by three sisters with the goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged women in Nepal. Their mission is "to help foster the growth of independent, self-sufficient, decision-making women, by encouraging self-empowerment." EWN provides skill training and income-generation opportunities to Nepali women through Adventure Tourism. The organization consists of a board of twelve women and three staff members who work in conjunction with various advisors and volunteers. EWN runs a training program that teaches essential skills and knowledge to women to work as trekking guides and provides a trekking guide apprenticeship program. These programs are aimed at giving women the opportunity for education, leadership and technical training, and employment. Contact Details: Empowering the Women of Nepal (EWN) P.O. Box 284, Lakeside, Kahare Pokhara-6 Nepal E-mail: ewn@3sistersadventure.com |
Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)
Lalitpur, Nepal
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The Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), founded in 1994, is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit making and non-governmental national level organization. It is the first and only organization of its type in Nepal to represent the Dalit Women, voice their concerns and address their needs. FEDO's mission is to uplift and empower the downtrodden Dalit Women educationally, socially, economically and to advocate against caste and gender discrimination. The organization focuses on these issues by working to
increase literacy rates and the education status of the Dalit Women, to empower them economically and to improve health conditions in the Dalit community.
Contact Details: Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) Kupondole Lalitpur Nepal 4366 E-mail: dms@fedo.wlink.com.np |
Foundation for Low Income Group & Social Health (FLASH)
Pondicherry, India
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The Foundation for Low Income Group and Social Health (FLASH) was formed in India in 1996 to help very poor rural Dalit women and downtrodden people suffering from social exploitation, denial of basic human rights, and fear of sexual exploitation. With an overall mission of "women's holistic development", FLASH's current goals are women's education, awareness building, and skill training for income generation. FLASH currently provides formal and informal education and skill training to Dalit girls. Six of the seven members of FLASH's governing board are women. Contact Details: Foundation for Low Income Group & Social Health (FLASH) 166, Subbiah Nagar, Thattanchavady Pondicherry India 605009 E-mail: |
Guidance Society for Labour Orphans and Women (GLOW)
Tamil Nadu, India
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GLOW (Guidance Society for Labor Orphans and Women) is a non-profit, social service organization that has been assisting the poor, marginalized and vulnerable Dalit women of Taminadu, India since 1996. GLOW operates in five districts within Taminadu, servicing 168 villages and hamlets. GLOW's development activities have benefited nearly 40% of the population in these districts. The mission of GLOW is to "raise the socio-economic condition of the poor and the marginalized and to empower them politically using Micro-Credit small savings and credits as its main strategy." GLOW works toward breaking the cycle of poverty through integrating micro finance schemes and gender programs. Currently, GLOW is involved in ten major programs including STD/HIV awareness, micro-credit loans, scavenger's rehabitation program, and gender development to name a few.
Contact Details: Guidance Society for Labour Orphans and Women (GLOW) K. Pudur. post Tifuppattur.Tk Vellore District Tamil Nadu India 635653 E-mail: annaduraiglow@rediffmail.com |
Guild of Women Achievers (GOWA)
Bangalore, India
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The mission of Guild of Women Achievers (GOWA) is to help women maximize their potential by networking and helping each other to grow personally and professionally. Their current goals are to build a strong membership base of women from different walks of life and also to motivate them to reach out to women from marginalized sections by volunteering their ideas, time, talent, services, experience and expertise. GOWA was designed to boost women's self esteem by perceiving them as an achievers, therefore stepping out of the 'victim' mold and into the one of 'victor'. GOWA serves women from both urban and rural areas, catering to each groups specific needs. Activities/projects include income generating activities, free health services and counseling, annual "Best mother, grandmother and husband" awards, conferences for businesses concerning employment of women, lectures in schools concerning interpersonal relations, craft workshops, product marketing workshops, product exhibitions, and more. Since it's introduction in 1996, GOWA now has 650 members and is still growing. "Be a friend to another woman" is the basic thrust of GOWA.
Contact Details: Guild of Women Achievers (GOWA) 8/67 Block1 Railway Parallel Road Kumara Park West Bangalore India 560-020 E-mail: womenach@hotmail.com |
Indira Social Welfare Organization ISWO
Dhenkanal, India
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Indira Social Welfare Organization (ISWO) was started in 1985 by a group of enthusiastic female teenagers mainly from Thenkanal district in the state of Orissa. This group of girls had been attending tailoring classes and after identifying the need for skills training in their own town, they formed ISWO. The organization aims to empower the slum dwelling women, who are mostly Dalit and tribal women, to enable them to rise above the poverty line. Most of this population is illiterate and experiences wage exploitation, health hazards and violence. Past services provided by ISWO include community organization, health, education, and infrastructural development plus environmental and agricultural improvement. IWSO has recently started a human rights project which provides legal counseling and legal aid to women in the district. In addition they operate a girls school and run awareness programs.
Contact Details: Indira Social Welfare Organization ISWO At-Kunjakanta, (Chandiasahi) Dhenkanal India 759001 E-mail: puspanjaliiswodkl@hotmail.com |
Inspiration Nepal
Thamel, Nepal
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Inspiration Nepal was founded in March 2003 with the purpose of uniting a group of energetic and socially-minded students to be "helping hands" for the welfare of their community. Their mission is "to eliminate illiteracy from early childhood, to launch programs on women's awareness within their community, to provide skill-development programs, to provide opportunities to apply the abilities of women and children, to unite women for creative and developmental works, and, finally, to bring women into the mainstream of development of the nation." The staff of thirteen students and various other volunteers have conducted a survey on the labor conditions of women and children and been involved in the development of programs for blood donation and low-income youth scholarships. The group is currently investigating child prostitution and working on a Campaign Against Migrant Child Labor. Contact Details: Inspiration Nepal Collins Institute (Inspiration Nepal) Near Saraswoti Campus (Above Saraswoti Book Store) Contact No 4418362 Thamel Nepal E-mail: inspirationnepal@hotmail.com |
Institute for Development Studies and Practices, IDSP - Pakistan
Quetta, Pakistan
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The Institute for Development Studies and Practices in Pakistan was officially established in 1996, but has been working for the past 25 years to "create and develop human resources that will change the power structure [of Pakistan communities] by demystifying the development process and by establishing sustainable partnerships with communities." Today, IDSP's mission targets underprivileged women who suffer from poverty as well as unequal economic, social, political, and educational rights. IDSP is governed by an executive committee, and each of its program sectors has its own implementation committee. Some of the programs include: Learning and Community Development, in which "learners are selected based on their record of community-based activism, contributions to local cultures, intellectual caliber etc." to help build the initiative of IDSP; an Academic Program, in which research is introduced as the key component in every programmatic activity they try to promote; Institutional Development and Core Support, in which publications are made for the overall outlook of the institution; and External Relationships, through which IDSP keeps its extensive list of networked organizations engaged and apprised of its proceedings. Contact Details: Institute for Development Studies and Practices, IDSP - Pakistan C - 32, Railway Housing Society, Joint Road Quetta Pakistan E-mail: idsp@idsp.org.pk |
Integrated Women Development Institute (IWDI)
Chennai, India
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The Integrated Women Development Institute was founded in 1989 by Celinal Paul Daniel, a woman inspired by the ideology of Gandhian thoughts and Christianity, who wanted to implement programs and rural development works that would benefit the people living in Gummidipoondi and Ponneri taluks of the Thiruvallur District. IWDI fulfills its mission to uplift women and girl children from the devastating situations they encounter by setting up income generating programs for deserving women to become self-employed. The IWDI targets homeless women, low income bonded labourers, the destitute, the deserted aged, and nutrition lacking girl children and provides them with better water facilities, proper sanitation, hygiene education, and savings micro credit programs. Under the rehabilitation of manual scavengers programs, IWDI has formed four sanitary Mart Groups in the Ambattur and Kattivakkan municipalities (slum areas). IWDI also would like to educate and motivate women through Leadership Training Camps with a view to utilise their potential for creation of a new society which is free from exploitation. Contact Details: Integrated Women Development Institute (IWDI) No. 14/57, Thirunagar, Villivakkam Villivakkam Chennai India 600 049 E-mail: womenaid@md3.vsnl.net.in |
Jagaran Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Jagaran Nepal was founded in 2000 in Kathmandu by Miss Sharmila Karki. The mission of the organization is to mobilize underprivileged women and children for their rights and social justice. The goal of Jagaran is to develop and empower women for leadership for the positive change of society and for peace-building. Jagaran believes that when women become involved in state/country-levelleadership and policy-making decisions their concerns can no longer be ignored. The Jagaran Nepal team includes 31 members serving as a Board of Directors, a General Body, Advisors, and volunteers. Jagaran currently has 3 programs, two working in rural villages with women to develop their leadership and political skills as well as a national campaign to include women of different sectors in Nepal's political process.
Contact Details: Jagaran Nepal Anamnagar, P.O. Box 19487 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: jagarannepal@hons.com.np |
Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS)
Janakpur, Nepal
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The Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS) was founded in 1993 by a group of women social workers to provide sustainable development, self-help promotion, and empowerment and equality to rural women. The mission of JWAS is to "improve the economical, health, and social condition of rural women by proper mobilization of local resources with community participation." The organization consists of a general assembly of 85 women who elect seven women to serve on a board of directors overseeing 21 staff members and nine volunteers. They have worked on programs aimed at education, legal literacy, and reproductive health for women. In addition, JWAS has launched a goat-raising program for rural women's economic development and hosted training seminars on violence and discrimination against women. The organization is currently continuing an economic progress program for women and working toward an awareness campaign on girl child marriages. Contact Details: Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS) Janakpur Nepal 45601 E-mail: jwasnepal@hotmail.com |
JEETA (Joint Endeavour for Emancipation, Training and Action for Women)
Cuttack, India
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The Joint Endeavor for Emancipation, Training and Action for Women (JEETA) was founded in 1994 by a group of women from varying backgrounds. Their primary interest is to help women in the State of Orissa by initiating a sustained human rights campaign. JEETA works to inform and organize poor and disadvantaged women in rural and urban areas who are distressed and vulnerable. Some of the problems that the women face are violence, low wages, trafficking and drug abuse. The organization promotes empowerment by focusing on issues such as socio-economic development and access to government organizations. Through newspapers, magazines, anti-drug and anti-liquor movements it creates awareness and education throughout the local community. JEETA has also participated in unionizing daily wage and domestic workers and through participation in the Right to Information movement they aim to promote an open, responsive and transparent government. Contact Details: JEETA (Joint Endeavour for Emancipation, Training and Action for Women) 4-A-Jubilee Tower, Choudhury Bazar Cuttack India 753009 E-mail: dollidash@rediffmail.com |
Kamdhenu Association
Kathmandu, Nepal
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The Kamdhenu Association, founded in 1993, is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit organization that works in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kamdhenu's mission is to improve the position of women in the family structure, as well as in society. The organization intends to provide skills to women for income generating through training and program activities. The trainings also include information related to maternity, children's health, sanitation, safe drinking water and nutrition. In addition, legal literacy aimed at women's rights is taught. Currently they are working on raising the awareness of local people in order to encourage participation in community building and improving the quality of life. Contact Details: Kamdhenu Association Tebahal, Kathmandu P.O. Box No. 9693 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: sarayushrestha@hotmail.com |
Learning & Caring Society
Lahore, Pakistan
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The Learning and Caring Society (LCS) is based in Lahore, Pakistan and aims to safeguard women, youth, mentally retarded, and the elderly. Their motto is to "Serve Humanity without Discrimination." The organization's goal is to provide educational facilities for women and homes for the elderly and neglected people of society. The primary aim of LCS is to train and teach women and mentally retarded people various skills in order to improve their socioeconomic status. LCS has established a Women Skills Development Center where the women learn skills like stitching, knitting, fashion design, and embroidery. LCS focuses on providing the women with a job after completing the skills program and their aim is the improvement, motivation, empowerment, self-reliance, and rehabilitation of women. In addition, this organization has been involved in running a daycare for children, enabling their mothers to work, and in disaster management programs.
Contact Details: Learning & Caring Society 128-J, Gulberg-III, near firdous Market Lahore Pakistan 74600 E-mail: lcspakistan@yahoo.com |
MAHILA MANDAL BARMER AGOR (MMBA)
BARMER, India
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MMBA, founded by Ms. Mumtaz Ben as a result of her struggle to improve the quality of life at Indira Colony, has been working in the Barmer and Jaisalmer districts of India since 1985. It is a grass roots organization that concentrates on education, health, gender discrimination, and serves primarily widowed women known as dalits. Ms. Mumtaz Ben received the "Women Excellency Award" in 1997 from the National Women Commission for her work through MMBA. The vision of MMBA is to "establish a society with equal rights for men and women." The organization aims to inform villagers, especially women, of their fundamental rights and to promote their upliftment through education and participation in organizational activities. Mahila Mandal Barmer Agor is currently involved with non-formal educational camps for girls, non-formal educational schools, a community based project working with the visually impaired, and rural development projects .
Contact Details: MAHILA MANDAL BARMER AGOR (MMBA) INDIRA COLONY BARMER RAJASTHAN INDIA BARMER India 344001 E-mail: |
Mahila Sankshem Sangh (MASS)
Hyderabad, India
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The Mahila Sankshem Sangh (MASS or Women Development Organization) was founded in 1994 by a group of women activists who aimed to form self sustainable programs for women and to educate women on reproductive health and legal rights. MASS currently has five staff members and 1,000 organizational members. The organization has created self managed women's groups which build the capacity of women to create "socially and economically self sustained women with equal participation in decision making of their respective families." Currently MASS is engaged in a number of programs, such as Girl Child Education, Leadership Development Camps, Health Awareness Camps, Thrift and Credit Activities, Income Generation Activities, and Skill Development Activities, which provide socially and economically disadvantaged women, single women, and illiterate women with numerous resources to improve their standard of living.
Contact Details: Mahila Sankshem Sangh (MASS) 16-2-700, B-104 Sai Dilsukh Apartments Malakpet Hyderabad India 500 036 E-mail: massknr@rediffmail.com |
Manushi
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Manushi was founded in 1990 by a group of five women from a multidisciplinary background (community workers, economist, social scientist, gender specialist and grass roots women) who felt that the "economic growth model" of development had failed to recognize the needs of the major sectors of the population of the global south. The organization strives to promote a development ethos that is based on social justice, self reliance, gender equality and good governance. Manushi serves rural grassroots women and communities who have been traditionally excluded socially and economically from the basic necessities in life and who continue to be marginalized. Past and present activities include: 1) In remote Western region of Nepal: Community level "gender sensitization program" for 20 primary level government managed schools 2) In 10 districts: working with farmers on a sustainable soil management project and monitoring of gender sensitive decision making processes 3) developing local handicrafts as income generating project.
Contact Details: Manushi P.O. Box 2682 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: cwd@mail.com.np |
Nagarik Aawaz
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Nagarik Aawaz, meaning "voice of the citizen", was initiated on July 17, 2001 in Nepal as a forum for concerned development professionals and organizations that felt the urgency to act together to work for peace. At first weekly meetings were held for two months to generate and share ideas about possible relief work and support related to the impact of the Maoist insurgency and counter-insurgency. With the mission to "involve civil society and mobilize local resources for lasting peace in Nepal," the organization's work has aimed to assess the physical, psychological, social and economic situation that conflict widows and youth are facing and suggest areas of support and possible policy changes to government, political parties, donors, the private sector and civil society. Nagarik Aawaz's six core staff and five volunteers continue to host bi-weekly interaction forums, conduct pioneering research on conflict widows, run an innovative program for youths displaced by the conflict and spearhead a joint initiative for peace. Contact Details: Nagarik Aawaz Ekantakuna-4 PO Box 9041 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: naawaz@ntc.net.np |
Nari Chetna Kendra Nepal (Women Awareness Center Nepal)
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Founded in 1991, WACN focuses on the advancement of women through development of the inherent personal power of rural and underprivileged women. Their goals are achieved through "awareness campaigns" which are conducted in rural villages, the creation of credit (savings) groups, income generation training and literacy programs. They serve approximately 3,000 poor, rural women and have on-going programs in four districts outside the Kathmandu Valley. (For a detailed description of this group please go to http://www.changemakers.net/journal/02december/index.cfm) Contact Details: Nari Chetna Kendra Nepal (Women Awareness Center Nepal) PO Box 2245 Gyanshwor Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: wacn@mail.com.np |
Nari-O-Sishu Kalyan Kendra (NSKK)
Howrah, India
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Nari-O-Sishu Kalyan Kendra (NSKK) was registered in 1979. It was originally founded by a man named Md. Mainuddin, who believed in empowering women. His initial goal was to empower women living in seven Muslim dominated villages who due to their faith were unable to receive an education. In these communities, women courageous enough to seek an education were socially and economically punished. His strategy was to encourage women to share their hardships as a way of silently mobilizing a form of resistance. This strategy was so successful, that today NSSK is run by women who work for women. The organization serves all ages of women because they believe that at each stage of life women face different problems. For example, female children face child labor, adolescents face early marriage and adult women face victimization within the home and in society. NSSK focuses its services on three age groups of women: up to 12; 12-18; and 18-45. Some of the current activities and programs include: counseling services; consist of mobilization of local resources; and credit access for skill development and self employment opportunities. Contact Details: Nari-O-Sishu Kalyan Kendra (NSKK) Vill-Khaskhamar, PO Rameswarnagar Dist. Howrah Howrah India 711 310 E-mail: nskk@vsnl.net |
Nepal Association of University Women
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Established in July 1991, the Nepal Association of University Women unites women graduates from different educational institutions of Nepal and to improve their self. Nepal Association of University Women is greatly concerned with the lack of education, lack of skill, and employment opportunities that exist in Nepal. The organization facilitates various activities such as: 1) seminars and workshops, 2) community development projects 3) a library, and 4) non-formal education and training. These activities seek to support and encourage members to acquire more knowledge, allowing them to initiate creative activities which are beneficial to women of different communities within Nepal. These activities also mobilize women to participate in national development thereby enhancing their leadership. Contact Details: Nepal Association of University Women P.O. Box 10069 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: rsuwal@rbb.com.np |
Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS)
Lalitpur -3, Nepal
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Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS) is an organization created for disabled women and female children in Nepal. The organization was established in 1994 by a group of disabled women that could not find the proper economic, political or social support that they needed. NDWS main goal is to rehabilitate and protect the rights, interests, and duties of the disabled women while providing proper support. NDWS has five branch offices in five districts of Nepal. Each office provides assistance to disabled women who are blind, deaf, physically disabled or mentally retarded. NDWS ultimate vision is to see all disabled women from within the kingdom to have access to opportunities and resources so they can manage their own destinies. They publish a news magazine called the "Disabled Voice" and conduct various workshops to provide skills varying from sign language to handicrafts. In the future they hope to explore possibilities in finding employment opportunities for disabled women and providing modern training in computer, English language, and receptionist skills. Contact Details: Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS) Jawalakhel Post Box No. 5445 Lalitpur -3 Nepal E-mail: ndwsp@wlink.com.np |
New Afghanistan Women Association (NAWA)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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The New Afghanistan Women Association (NAWA) formed in 2002 is the combination of Afghan Women Journalist Association (AWJA) founded in 1994, and Afghan Feminine Association (AFA) founded in 1999. NAWA's goal is to support Afghan women and girls by promoting their education. NAWA also aims to further democracy and women's rights by encouraging women to participate in reconstructing a new Afghanistan. Due to the high rate of illiteracy among Afghan women, the organization has set up home schools to educate them. Part of NAWA's programmatic activities also include training women to work as journalists and learn about the media. In addition they work to educate women about their right to learn, irrespective of their age or marital status. By raising women's awareness about their own rights NAWA hopes that women will be active partners in reconstructing a democratic Afghanistan.
Contact Details: New Afghanistan Women Association (NAWA) 4th Microrayan Block 11 Apartment 30 Kabul Afghanistan E-mail: shafiqa_h@yahoo.com |
Nirnaya
Secunderabad, India
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Nirnaya is a non-profit women's trust that was founded in 1998 by Indira Jena and Uma Maheehwan. The organization's main mission is to work towards gender justice by increasing women's decision making capabilities. Their mission is accomplished by financially supporting both rural and urban grassroots women's groups. The organization focuses it's works on Dalit tribal women and girls because they are the ones who are most vulnerable to poverty and violence in Indian society. Nirnaya supports and promotes the formation of grassroots women's groups, in urban slums as well as in rural areas. The organization also conducts and sponsors skill training for adolescent girls. With their fundraising activities they have established a legal aid and counseling center for the women.
Contact Details: Nirnaya Flat #11, Deepti Apts. S.P. Road Secunderabad India 500-026 E-mail: hyd2_nirnaya@sancharnet.in |
OLAKH - A Space For Women. A Feminist Documentation Resource & Counseling Centre.
Vadodara, India
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OLAKH, A Space for Women, is a feminist documentation, resource and counseling center founded in 1993. This organization stresses the need to have an alternative space for women to share their own frustrations and to gain education and skills to empower themselves. By gaining a feminist perspective, the existing discriminatory structures such as patriarchy, gender, class, and caste can be recognized and challenged. The organization's ultimate vision is to create a society based on justice and dignity for all. OLAKH strives to attain this goal by reaching women through the use of various forms of mass media and other interactive processes at micro and macro levels. They are able to implement these things by having a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space for women and girls to discuss issues such as violence, sexuality, emotional, mental and reproductive health. The Documentation and Resource Center runs a library, study circle, film screenings along with training workshops and seminars. In addition, OLAKH has a counseling center which offers a telephone help line, face to face dialogue, interventions, and mutual support groups. Contact Details: OLAKH - A Space For Women. A Feminist Documentation Resource & Counseling Centre. 24, Jalaram Park, Opp: Lalbahadur Vidayalaya, Kareli Bagh Pani n Vadodara India 390006 E-mail: olakh@satyam.net.in |
Organization for Women Liberation (OWL)
Nilgris District, India
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OWL was founded in 1984 in response to the felt needs of women in the Nilgiris District under the auspices of the Rural Development Organization. Poverty and the lack of resources are major problems facing these communities which lead to domestic issues, bonded labor, illiteracy and lack of education. OWL identifies economic independence and education as major ingredients for the liberation of women living in very poor conditions. OWL's ongoing work with the Nilgiri District aims to 1) equip women with the necessary skills to be viable employees in the workplace, 2) start supportive services for women and 3) open small scale industries to generate income for the needy women. OWL has been instrumental in establishing a Tea estate for women and their families at Koundankolli and Allavayal-Gudalur and implementing a tailoring and typewriting institution in Gudalur. Contact Details: Organization for Women Liberation (OWL) Gramya Bhavan Aruvankadu Nilgris District India 643-102 E-mail: rdotrust@satyam.net.in |
Pact Nepal (Samjhauta Nepal)
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Pact Nepal was established as a national NGO in 2001, after twelve years of functioning as a local chapter of Pact International Inc. The organization seeks to create opportunities for women, men, and children to develop skills and resources needed to achieve social, political, civil, and environmental justice. Presently, Pact Nepal is working with women from the southern belt of Nepal along with two hill districts (Surkhet and Ilam), because in these areas illiteracy rates and poverty levels are very high. Pact Nepal works in collaboration with many NGO's in Nepal providing activities to women including; "Women Reading for Development," a literacy package funded by USAID and reaching over 500,000 women; "Women's Empowerment Program," reaching 125,000 women; and a combating AIDS/HIV program through literacy and awareness. The organization has seven active board members and ten staff members who are committed to achieving women's empowerment.
Contact Details: Pact Nepal (Samjhauta Nepal) Gahana Pokhari, Tangal Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: promote@pactnepal.org.np |
Pakistan Association for Women's Studies
Karachi, Pakistan
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Founded in March 1991 by activists and academics with a feminist consciousness, the Pakistan Association for Women's Studies acts as a catalyst to bring about the empowerment of women, transforming a gender biased society into one inclusive of gender equity and social justice. This social-welfare organization works to provide a forum for interaction and coordination for those engaged in teaching, research or action for women's development. Further goals include developing documentation and publication for women while organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and short courses on women's studies and feminist issues. This organization works to create health awareness and empowerment amongst our sisters living in urban slums and in peripheral villages of urban areas. Often, short duration focused group sessions are held discussing management of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Constraints such a lack of health care facilities, unemployment, segregation, illiteracy, and male domination are also issues of concern. Consisting of 14 dedicated women, PAWS has published a newsletter entitled, "Panghat" as well as an academic journal and books and is currently working on a research study on Women's Reproductive health in Pakistan. Contact Details: Pakistan Association for Women's Studies C-31, Noman Heaven, Block 15 Karachi Pakistan 75290 E-mail: pjw_stud@hotmail.com |
Pakistan Women Network
Peshawer, Pakistan
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The Pakistan Women Network was founded in 2002 by concerned professional women. Consisting of eight executive board members with memberships allotted to eleven NGO's and thirty-five individual women, PWN focuses on women from diverse fields of occupation, political sectors and rural backgrounds. The PWN feels that this diverse group has a massive potential, but lacks certain training and exposure to the right environment for their growth and promotion. Because of this, PWN assists its members in the public and private sector, improving their performances as professionals. To do this, they provide advisory services, publishing and networking opportunities, conferences and seminars. PWN is currently working to arrange meetings for donors and NGO's, facilitate training sessions for the women in NGO's and to provide computer training to healthy as well as disabled women.
Contact Details: Pakistan Women Network 81 E/A,old bara road, university town Peshawer Pakistan 25000 E-mail: pwn@brain.net.pk |
PROJECT SWARAJYA
CUTTACK, India
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Project Swarajya was founded in 1988 in Cuttack, Orissa by a group of progressive women and men. They had a vision to “prevent atrocities against women, prevent drug abuse and alcoholism, to promote policy planning for women, to increase the role of women in eco-development, and to empower the women weavers and fisher women.” Since 1988, Project Swarajya has grown to be governed mostly by women. Today, its mission is to “ensure human rights, ... to provide employment opportunities to women... to ensure the participation of women in all spheres of socio-economic-cultural development.” Project Swarajya also campaigns against the trafficking of women, and works for gender justice. These efforts are aimed primarily toward the rural poor and downtrodden dalit women of India. With a staff of 40 and more than 50 volunteers, some of their most current projects include efforts toward scavenger liberation, eradication of child labor, conservation of coastal ecology, governance reform and public interest litigations for the cleaning of rivers. Contact Details: PROJECT SWARAJYA Ganeshghat Bakharabad Cuttack, Orissa CUTTACK India 753002 E-mail: projectswarajya@sify.com |
Qaiser Foundation
Patna, Bihar, India
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Qaiser Foundation is an organization that was created in 1994 through the mother group Mahila Samooh. Qaiser began it's work by launching an awareness campaign among the deprived section of the society regarding health, education, and development. Their main goal is community development and women empowerment through education and health awareness, family welfare and primary health care. Qaiser plans to install education centers, health centers, low cost latrines and develop self help groups by collaborating with different governmental programs. Furthermore, they hope to improve the handling of land disputes and dowry cases. Contact Details: Qaiser Foundation Tahir Lane, Road No16 Gardanibagh Anisabad Patna, Bihar India 800 002 E-mail: |
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CENTER
KATHMANDU, Nepal
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Resource Development Initiative Center was founded in 1992 with the objective to endorse women's rights. RDIC gives women the skills and knowledge in order to be self sufficient. They serve poor, disadvantaged, and elderly females living in rural areas of Nepal because most of these women are illiterate and without financial support. This NGO is run by a seven member board, two full time employees, and fifteen volunteers. They currently conduct adult literacy classes, advocacy programs, skill development training, and environmental awareness classes to increase the awareness of women in the rural areas. RDIC believes in education as a means of liberation.
Contact Details: RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CENTER P.O BOX 6944 KATHMANDU Nepal E-mail: udayardc@ntc.net.np |
ROZAN
Islamabad, Pakistan
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Rozan was created by both men and women in 1998 to address issues related to emotional health, gender, and violence against women and children. Their mission is "to enhance the self-esteem of all people, especially women and children, in order to work towards a society which is aware, confident and accepting of itself and others." They work with the community by providing training and counseling services. Rozan works for women of all socio-economic classes facing mental and emotional health problems with a special focus on victims of violence. The organization currently has four programs including Aangan, which works on the emotional health of children with a focus on child sexual abuse, Zeest, which works on the emotional health of women, in particular violence against women, Pehchaan, a gender resource center, and Rabta, a police training project which works with police on issues related to violence against women and children. Rozan presently has 29 staff members, forty volunteers, and over sixty members who work on various programs enhancing women's lives.
Contact Details: ROZAN House # 4-A, Street 34, F-8/1, Islamabad Pakistan 44000 E-mail: rozan@comsats.net.pk |
Rural Educational Awareness Development Society (READS)
Sathankulam, India
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Founded in Tamil Nadu in 1998, Rural Educational Awareness Development Society (READS) organizes women in order to raise their social and economic status. In Tamil Nadu, dowry torture is still prevalent, most women have little or no education due to pressure from their parents to stay home and help with house work, and married women have no voice in decision making. READS goals include forming female self help groups in local villages, gathering young female drop-outs and providing them with an education, and creating vocational training for women and girls. Recently READS has formed 115 female self help groups, and through grants, they have created a female operated dairy farm. They offer training and programs on topics such as savings habits, women's rights, clean environment, and child health. In the future the organization will work on initiating micro credit programs, setting up elderly homes, daycare centers, and implementing income generation programs for women.
Contact Details: Rural Educational Awareness Development Society (READS) 3/2, Kothuva Palli Street, Sathankulam India 628 704 E-mail: reads_j@yahoo.com |
Rural Health and Environment Development Trust (RHEDT)
Coimbatore, India
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Rural Health and Environment Development Trust was established in Tamil Nadu in 1990 by a group of male and female social workers. RHEDT serves the Irula Tribal women of the Nilgiri Hills because these women are denied access to the forest, are forced to live in restrited areas, do not have basic health and educational supplies, are not considered for government welfare, and are deprived of their basic tribal and human rights. The mission of RHEDT is to organize the Tribal women into self-help groups and equip them with knowledge, awareness, analytical skills etc. It also works to help the women take responsibility for their own development initiatives and to enable them to become economically independent. The organization is concerned with environmental awareness, AIDS prevention, mother and child healthcare, as well as human rights. They have established an early childhood education program for the tribal children in order to provide a safe and positive learning environment while their parents work. In the future they are planning to organize and run a school for the children of women who are commercial sex workers. In addition to the board of directors, and general membership, RHEDT currently has a staff of 13 ans over 20 volunteers serving the needs of tribal women. Contact Details: Rural Health and Environment Development Trust (RHEDT) D/NO. 2/304-A Kumaran Nagar Karamadai Coimbatore India 641 104 E-mail: |
SAATHI
Kathmandu, Nepal
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SAATHI is a women's organization that was established in 1992 to address contemporary challenges being faced by Nepali women. In Nepal, SAATHI is recognized as the pioneering organization in the area of violence against women, especially domestic violence. SAATHI's goals are to promote gender equity and equality based development, to eliminate injustice and violence against women, to support the victims and their children, to collect data through research in order to identify the social issues, to raise awareness among the women, and to work as a pressure group. SAATHI has been very active in the drafting and advocacy of key legislation affecting the status of women and children such as the property rights bill, the bill of domestic violence, and the child protection act. SAATHI has implemented different strategies including workshops, lobbying, designing and conducting training for government and NGO partners, mobilizing communities, providing crisis intervention and shelter services, as well as influencing government policy and legal reform. SAATHI has a strong advocacy strategy and has recently formed a National Coalition for Violence Against Women and Girls in partnership with 31 other organisations. Contact Details: SAATHI Baluwatar 4 Kathmandu Nepal 7770 E-mail: saathi@net.com.np |
SACH - Struggle for Change
Islamabad, Pakistan
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Sach-Struggle for Change is an organization that works toward the rehabilitation and reintegration for survivors of organized violence and torture. The organization operates by using an interdisciplinary and holistic approach. They focus on human rights issues with a special focus on women and children, due to the fact that they are often the most oppressed. Sach works specifically with victims who are in prison and refugees who have fled from their native lands due to war, inhumane treatment instigated by their governments or oppressive socioeconomic conditions surrounding them. The organization's goals are to raise consciousness against torture, violence and cruel inhumane treatments and punishments. Furthermore, they aim to train professionals to work with victims of torture, and to provide feed back to the government on policy implications regarding all forms of institutionalized traumatic human rights abuses. The organization currently has training, workshops, and shelter based services in place to achieve their goals. Contact Details: SACH - Struggle for Change PO Box 3025 Melody Islamabad Pakistan 44000 E-mail: khalida@apollo.net.pk |
Saraswathi Meenava Magalir Sangam (Society for Fisher Women)
Tamil Nadu, India
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Saraswathi was founded by Danida Adult Education Project for Marine Fisher Folk in January 1994. It was formed to retain the impact of this adult education program among fisher women. Furthermore, they wanted to organize the women for collective action and to create holistic development for the entire marine fisher community who live in the Bay of Bengal coastal villages of Tamil Nadu. The organization's goal is to empower marine fisher women residing in 30 coastal hamlets so they can ultimately provide alternative and supplementary income for themselves. Since the fishing industry is primarily patriarchal, the women are forced to face many more problems then men. Some of the issues they face include lack of education, health care, and employment. Saraswathi has nine project centers that provide awareness programs, education, employment and various other support such as counseling and first aid. The organization now has 64 volunteers and 6 board members. Contact Details: Saraswathi Meenava Magalir Sangam (Society for Fisher Women) 174, Ponnu muthu Pillai Street Singara Thoppu Cuddalore Tamil Nadu India 607-003 E-mail: |
SEWA - Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal
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SEWA Nepal was formed in June 1992 by a group of dedicated and intellectual women for the purpose of improving the socio-economic status of women and children in Nepal. They are serving poor rural and urban women because they are the most vulnerable in the society due to illiteracy, economical weakness, and lack of awareness. SEWA is a member based organization governed by annual meetings. They have participated with the national campaign for the Beijing Conference and provided education to adults and children. In addition, they have created programs for consumer awareness and parental motivation to improve the status of female children. SEWA has over 102 members and is still growing. Contact Details: SEWA - Nepal G1/262. Dilli Bazar P.O. Box 2475 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: sewa@sewahq.wlink.com.np |
Shaishav
Bhavnagar, India
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Shaishav was founded in 1992 in the city of Bhavnagar, located in the western peninsula of Gujarat. The organization mainly focuses on improving issues such as child labor, uneducated children and slum children, especially girls. Their primary goal is to improve the general society by beginning with empowering children to take charge and initiate change. Shaishav's philosophy is that a healthy child leads to a healthy adult, which ultimately makes a healthy society. They execute their goals by working towards abolishing child labor in Bhavnagar, protecting children's basic rights and involving parents in activities for their children. They have a multi-pronged strategy to address these complex issues. This strategy includes rehabilitation, prevention, alternative, networking and support. Shaishav strongly believes that people should be helped to empower themselves. Therefore the organization does not play a role as the "problem solver" but rather as a catalyst. Contact Details: Shaishav Block A-2/T-34 Adinath apartment, Opp. Virbhadra Ambawadi Bhavnagar India 364001 E-mail: shaishavad1@sancharnet.in |
Shirkat Gah-Women's Resource Centre
Lahore, Pakistan
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Shirkat Gah (translation - a place of participation) was founded in 1975 and is active in all four provinces of Pakistan with offices in Karachi, Lahore and Peshwar. It is a non-hierarchal collective, integrating consciousness raising with a development perspective and initiating projects translating advocacy into action. The goal of Shirkat Gah is to fully empower women in a just, vibrant, democratic, tolerant and environmentally sound society, where equity and opportunity are ensured for all. Shirkat Gah seeks to bring about women's empowerment for social justice and social justice for women's empowerment; to promote women appropriate development schemes, programs, policies and laws; to enhance women's autonomy, access to resources, and all levels of decision making; and to help catalyze a socio-cultural perspective premised on gender equality at all levels. Shirkat Gah has various programs such as: 1) Women and Law program integrating grassroots to policy-level advocacy and building women's capacity to access rights and address their felt-needs; 2) Outreach program working to build the capacity of community based organizations as actors best positioned to understand the needs of their own communities, to devise and implement appropriate strategies to address these needs and to be a constant and immediate source of support to their communities. Contact Details: Shirkat Gah-Women's Resource Centre 68 Tipu Block New Garden Town Lahore Pakistan 5192 E-mail: sgah@lhr.comsats.net.pk |
SHREEJANA
LALITPUR, Nepal
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Shreejana was founded in 2002 by a group of nine women, former schoolmates from various backgrounds such as engineering, teaching and social work. The main mission of the organization is to "uplift deprived women and children in a rural village of the Lalitpur district" in Nepal. Shreejana began working with women in the farming village of Dukuchhap, who are illiterate and of low-income, despite their proximity to town. The main issues facing the women of Dukuchhap include poor cooperation due to the male domination of the village, lack of awareness and financial burdens. Shreejana's current goals are to: mobilize women; raise awareness about women's issues such as education, health, income generation and human rights; provide training and skills to empower women; and support projects generated by women through training, financial and other support. Shreejana currently focuses on lobbying and networking. The nine founding women also govern Shreejana. Future projects include a health campaign in Dukuchhap, an income generation program, training about Safe Motherhood and publication of a magazine. Contact Details: SHREEJANA WARD NO. -5, MANBHAWAN, LALITPUR, G.P.O. BOX-14333 LALITPUR Nepal E-mail: shreejanao@hotmail.com |
STREE ATYACHAR VIRODHI PARISHAD (Social Organization agitating For Socio-Legal Justice to Women and Girl Children)
NAGPUR, India
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On March 8, 1980, a silent march of women took place in order to bring awareness to the community of the issues women faced, such as rape and other atrocities. The women who organized the march had come together to work on a case which involved a girl who was raped in the police station by the police. This case led Dr. Seema Sakhare to establish Stree (Social Organization Agitating for Socio-Legal Justice to Women and Girl Children) in an attempt to advocate socio-legal justice for women. Today the organization serves 10 districts in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. It aims to bring awareness, awakening and information to women about their constitutional rights, laws and judicial procedures. It also works to create equality, liberty and social justice for women in the society. Although the organization serves all groups of women, they focus on the uneducated poor rural women of Vidarbha Division of Maharashtra State. Because these rural areas are very patriarchal, women do most of the work, with little respect or recognition, and they tend to lack self confidence. Stree's goal is for these women to be self sufficient when it comes to solving their own problems. The organization's main activities included mobilizing groups of women to meet, so that they are able to give each other emotional support and create a community atmosphere, which ultimately enables them to be self sufficient. Stree also has implemented a number of support programs and activities to improve the many atrocities that adolescent and adult women face. Contact Details: STREE ATYACHAR VIRODHI PARISHAD (Social Organization agitating For Socio-Legal Justice to Women and Girl Children) B-204, GANESH APARTMENT, KOTWAL NAGAR, RING ROAD NAGPUR India 440022 E-mail: |
Support
Dhanusha, Nepal
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Support was founded in 1995 by a group of local Nepali women. Support seeks to empower women and to improve the living conditions of women and children though self-reliance. To alleviate poverty they encourage the use of local technology, expertise and resources as tools to solve problems. Support targets women in both rural and urban areas because illiteracy rates are high, child marriage is widely accepted, and women are not able to participate in development projects. Support believes if a women can stand in a decision making position in her own family, this will mark the beginning of society that better understands and accepts women. The organization currently has five full-time staff members, as well as seventeen volunteers. Support collaborates with eight local, three national, and five international organizations. In the past, Support has conducted training activities involving over 300 female participants in topics such as health and sanitation, AIDS prevention, child education and development, and savings and credit. In the future, their activities will focus on AIDS prevention, rural energy awareness, computer literacy programs, as well as community health. Their goal is to reach over 1500 people. Contact Details: Support Campus Road Pirariya Maithan Dhanusha Nepal 00977 E-mail: |
TEWA
Kathmandu, Nepal
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In 1996 Tewa was formally established and registered as a non-profit philanthropic organization that aims to 1) involve communities in the process of closing the gender gap 2) to increase the self-reliance of Nepalese by reducing dependency on foreign donors. Tewa identifies and prioritizes emerging groups of rural women for the allocation and disbursement of Tewa grants. Tewa also utilizes philanthropy and altruism inherent in traditional Nepali culture by urging men and women to regularly donate money for grant making. They also work to address issues that have developed due to the rapid socioeconomic transition of Nepal. Part of Tewa's program activities include training a cadre of fund raising volunteers, targeting educated and resourceful house-wives, who will work towards disseminating and enhancing Tewa's philosophy. These volunteers help raise funds for Tewa and in doing so expand their own knowledge on development related issues. In order to sustain the organization and to make better use of their endowment fund, Tewa is currently developing a recently purchased 2 acre property to build their own office complex. They also plan to develop these premises into other building complexes which will have spaces for women to use their entrepreneurship in trade, crafts, and training facilities while at the same time generating income for Tewa's operational costs. Contact Details: TEWA PO Box 11 Lalit Pur Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: tewa@mail.com.np |
Training Human Rights Association (for Afghanistan) T.H.R.A.
Kabul, Afghanistan
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Training Human Rights Association for Afghanistan (T.H.R.A.) was founded in 2003 to train women in handicrafts and to promote women’s rights, especially related to the participation and election of women in government. With a staff of twelve women, T.H.R.A. trains women in tailoring and the production of handicrafts, provides literacy education, conducts training programs in human rights and advocates on behalf of women. In preparation for the 2004 elections, T.H.R.A. is continuing its one-year election program, which has served over 500 women in five provinces in Afghanistan. Contact Details: Training Human Rights Association (for Afghanistan) T.H.R.A. 2nd Microrayon 103rd Block, 1st Apartment Kabul Afghanistan 0093 E-mail: roshan_sirran@yahoo.com |
Vikalp (Women’s Group)
Baroda, India
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Viklap (Women's Group) was formed by a group of women who felt the need to create a grassroots organization to address women's issues in rural tribal areas. This group of women representing diverse fields such as education, media, government and private sectors, shared a common political understanding and feminist perspective. Vikalp was formally registered in 1996 and is currently working in 70 villages of Chotaudepur and Kavant blocks of Vadodara district in Gujarat state. Vikalp believes that "an aware woman is a revolutionary being who can initiate changes in her surroundings, and in gender relations through collective and individual power." As a means to change, the organization focuses on strengthening women's health, education and rights. Vikalp strongly feels that all three spheres are highly interrelated, therefore, change needs to take place simultaneously. The organization has a strong community base, involving the local village women and representatives of the panchayats (local government bodies) who work together in implementing programs. Most programs aim to develop leadership skills and to encourage decision-making within as well as outside the household. Some of the activities that the organization has initiated include health education and awareness, rapport building, and development of a resource and counseling center.
Contact Details: Vikalp (Women’s Group) 3, Mira Apartments Nr. Vrundavan, Waghodia Road Baroda India 390019 E-mail: vikalpgroup@hotmail.com |
Wake Up India Women's Wing
Bangalore, India
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The organization was founded by Mrs. Ellen John in 1995, with a burden to help the poor in India. Working primarily with rural village women, Wake Up aims to help poor and underserved village women. Their primary programs include: a primary school for rural children; a prison ministry providing counseling and medical care to women in the Bangalore central jail; tailoring, typing and computer training courses. Contact Details: Wake Up India Women's Wing Dodda Dunna Sandra village Devanagundi Post Bangalore India 560067 E-mail: wakeup77@sify.com |
Welfare And Development Organization
Peshawer, Pakistan
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The Welfare Development Organization, (WDO) was founded in 1995 by Mr. Haji Hayatullah who wanted to establish an NGO in order to give women a platform to express themselves because other organizations would not recruit females. Today the organization is run by women and has a staff of forty women working in the field. WDO's mission is 1) to support the Afghan population through the distribution of relief items, 2) to provide potable water facilities, 3) Widow and children sponsorship and 4) the institution of basic health and education programs to these rural communities. WDO serves girls and women from 7-60 years. As women have no power in this part of the world, WDO is working to uplift their current situation. Programs include running a hospital and nursing training courses, providing mother and child health care, and drug awareness programs. Contact Details: Welfare And Development Organization 45-D/3,old jamrud road P.O. Box # 769 University Town Peshawer Pakistan 25000 E-mail: wdo@brain.net.pk |
Women Acting Together For Change (WATCH)
Kathmandu, Nepal
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"The mission of WATCH is to establish a judicial and equitable society in which women and other marginalized people can live in control of their own lives with honor, dignity, and with due recognition." Founded on March 8, 1992 by committed women professionals of different disciplines, WATCH emphasizes a rights-based, participatory approach to development where rural people, especially women and disadvantaged groups, are partners rather than the subjects and/or objects of development. In this way, women are enabled to develop greater self-confidence and self-esteem by increasing their skills, knowledge and by implementing their own decisions. WATCH's activities focus primarily on organizing women's groups and federations for the purpose of empowering women to solve problems at the local level. WATCH is most active in the areas of Women's Rights, Community Organizing, Federation Building, Health, and Community-Based Resource Management. Programs include: AIDS/STD awareness programs including camps, NGO training, information distribution and anonymous blood testing and counseling; creating awareness and action against trafficking and rape of girls by distributing information and facilitating interactive meetings; primary health care clinics and camps including training and support to women health volunteers and birth attendants; community-based development activities including training packages for non-formal education; natural resource management( i.e. - WATCH's Community Forestry Program and Irrigation Users Project); networking and federation building; NGO support and capacity building; and a resource center including publications related to health, women's issues and community-based resource management. Contact Details: Women Acting Together For Change (WATCH) Battisputali - PO Box 11321 Maitiden Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: watchftp@wlink.com.np |
Women Citizen Community Board
Kasur, Pakistan
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Women Citizen Community Board was founded in 2001 by a group of women to work for women’s welfare and empowerment. Their mission is to educate women about their basic rights and enable them to successfully participate in social development and political activities. The organization consists of a seven-member board of directors and a total of 25 volunteers. The Women Citizen Community Board targets rural women of Kasur, holding seminars on women’s rights and education and performing stage shows aimed at stopping violence against women and raising women’s political awareness. The group is currently working on opening centers for adult literacy and women’s health.. Contact Details: Women Citizen Community Board O/S Kot Muraad Khan St. Mashkian Wali Kasur.(Punjab)pakistan Kasur Pakistan 55050 E-mail: wccb_ngo@yahoo.com |
Women Development Resource Centre (WDRC)
Madurai, India
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The Women Development Resource Centre (WDRC), was started in 1991 to create a space for women to come together to sit and discuss the development of women, the injustice on them, and to bring conditional and positional changes to the lives of women. The mission of WDRC is to help promote a strong grassroots women's movement. The organization also addresses the livelihood needs of women, works on actions against violence on women and encourages the political participation of women in local governmental systems. While working in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, WDRC has promoted 162 community level women's organizations among Tribal and Dalit women who are the culturally, economically, socially, culturally, and politically vulnerable. WDRC helps women to promote savings groups for their economical empowerment through promotion of the Women Laborers Bank, which is involved in micro income generation programs which increase the level of income and create local employment opportunities such as organic manure production. Contact Details: Women Development Resource Centre (WDRC) 40A, Meyappa 3rd Street Gnanaolivupuram Madurai India 625016 E-mail: ismmdu@eth.net |
Women Development Society(WODES)
Kathmandu, Nepal
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The Women Development Society (WODES) was established in 1988 to raise women's awareness and to aid women in organizing themselves to recognize their rights. WODES has focused on building community based women's organizations to enable women to achieve equal status through training, education and income generation for self reliance. They also work to empower women through awareness raising actions so that women can make decisions and participate in the development and political process. WODES focuses on working with rural and ethnic women and girl children because these groups are the most exploited and discriminated against. These women do not have access to property, education, or employment. Current programs include education for girls in Dhading, Kavre, Kathmandu and Chitwan and literacy classes in Chitwan. They are also organizing meetings against trafficking and violence against women in Kathmandu, and organizing different income generating activities and women's health and reproductive rights awareness meetings and workshops. Contact Details: Women Development Society(WODES) Sita Paila Ring Road GPO BOX :5840 Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: ncbl@mail.com.np |
Women for Human Rights
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Women for Human Rights (WHr), founded in 1994, aims to provide support to needy single and widowed women of Nepal. The organization helps these women to become independent by conducting various income generating activities and making the women aware of their legal rights. WHr also assists the women by providing scholarships to their children. Working at the village level, the organization initially focused on working only for widows of army personnel. Within the last 2 years, WHr has expanded their activities to include helping single women as well as widows. Women for Human Rights has received funding from the GFW (USA), from local schools and organizations. Contact Details: Women for Human Rights BISALNAGAR Kathmandu Nepal 8973NPC427 E-mail: lily@mos.com.np |
Women for Women Forum (WWF)
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Women for Women Forum (WWF) was established in 1994 by a group of Nepalese women who shared the common vision of carving a better place for women in the male-dominated society of Nepal. Women for Women Forum serves the poor, illiterate, socially backward and underprivileged women of Nepal to change their ways of thinking and to improve their status by empowering them economically, socially and mentally. WWF aims to create awareness about local issues concerning women, to assist women in becoming economically independent, to conduct micro-credit and saving programs, to conduct literacy programs for women and to make women aware of their important roles in their families and the society, and to advocate for the causes of women and gender equality. WWF is fulfilling these objectives through various activities such as: 1) organizing leadership training and literacy programs for women; 2) organizing awareness programs on issues of human rights, women in politics, trafficking, prostitution, abortion & reproductive rights, domestic violence, and other health issues including hygiene, sanitation, HIV/AIDS and STD prevention; 3) distributing free children's magazines for the children of prisoners; 4) conducting training programs on income-generating activities such as sewing, knitting, painting, goat farming, etc.; 5) forming co-operatives for women so that they can carry out credit and saving activities; 6)conducting free health camps, health clinics and distribution of medicines. Contact Details: Women for Women Forum (WWF) P.O. Box 1939 Bhote Bahal Kathmandu Nepal E-mail: wfwforum@hotmail.com |
Women's Emancipation and Development Trust (WED)
Tamilnadu, India
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Women's Emancipation and Development Trust (WED) was founded in 1992 with the aim of "building a gender-just society with self-sustained, economically independent, politically empowered women." The organization's mission is to "empower women and children in all spheres of life through education, training and intervention programs along with networking of peoples' movement for campaigning and lobbying." WED consists of a five-member board of trustees, six permanent full-time staff, ten part-time staff, and five volunteers. Their activities include programs aimed at awareness education to prevent violence against women (especially female infanticide and feticide), self-help groups and micro-finance for women's income generation, as well as family counseling and legal aid. In addition, WED campaigns against child labor and coordinates activities with other regional organizations. Contact Details: Women's Emancipation and Development Trust (WED) Gandhinagar,Chellampatti (P.O) Usilampatti (T.K.), Madurai (D.T) Tamilnadu India 625 566 E-mail: wedtrustindia@sancharnet.in |
Women's Organization for Rural Development (WORD)
Tamil Nadu, India
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Women's Organization for Rural Development (WORD) was founded in 1991 by Ms. Sivakamavalli who envisioned "promoting rights of the oppressed, discriminated and marginalized women" in India. Their goals include eradicating gender disparity through the attainment of social, economic, health, cultural, and environmental development. Focusing on serving primarily rural poor women, the organization works to improve the status of women by promoting women and children in livestock rearing and bio-diversity conservation. Through training and awareness they also work to improve women's health rights. The organization is grounded by a general body of 21 women who elect an executive committee of 7 women, which in turn takes care of the overall function of the organization with support from the staff (composed of 25 women and 2 men). While decisions are collective, the general body has the final word. Some of the organization's recent activities include: "Women Empowerment Through Social Awareness and Economic Development," a program involved in the formation of self-help groups and income generating programs; "Micro-credit of Income Generation Activities," a program offering training in savings and credit management, bookkeeping, and accounts management. This organization is actively involved in several ongoing and widespread programs reaching out to local women through training and education, these vital tools allow them to attain their ambitious aims throughout society.
Contact Details: Women's Organization for Rural Development (WORD) H.O: Post Bag No. 1, Bazaar Street Pandamangalam Post P. Velur Taluk, Namakkal District Tamil Nadu India 637 208 E-mail: siva_word@hotmail.com |
Women's Political Watch (WPW)
New Delhi, India
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Women's Political Watch (WPW) was founded in 1991 by Ms. Veena Nayyar. The organization works to promote development and democracy for women who live below the poverty line in slums and tenements. To encourage development, WPW works to enhance the social and economic status of women by bringing centrality to women's needs. Furthermore, they advocate and implement economic and social programs in the hopes of maximizing women's capacities, resources, and opportunities. By bringing women's political and developmental needs to the mainstream, WPW is encouraging democracy for women. They often help by electing and appointing women in sufficient numbers to local governing bodies. Most importantly, the organization empowers women by creating access to literacy, vocational skills, micro-credit and more. At any time WPW has around 600 women and children spread over 40 centers attending classes.
Contact Details: Women's Political Watch (WPW) L-1/4, Hauz Khas Enclave New Delhi India 110-016 E-mail: nayyar@del3.vsnl.net.in |
World Organization for Mutual Afghan Network (W.O.M.A.N.)
Kabul, Afghanistan
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World Organization for Mutual Afghan Network (WOMAN) was founded by Mina Sherzoy in 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mission of WOMAN is to "educate, train and empower women not only to become self-sufficient but to play a very important role in their family life as well." The primary focus of this organization is helping widows and the needy, as well as promoting the self-sufficiency of women. During its short existence, WOMAN has initiated 50 women's literacy classes with 2000 students, sent 4 girls on a Law scholarship to Poland, and established on-going bead work and tailoring projects. Currently, WOMAN is working to add a maternity health clinic which trains nurses.
Contact Details: World Organization for Mutual Afghan Network (W.O.M.A.N.) Kolola Poshta Opposit of Borje Bark House No. 91 Kabul Afghanistan E-mail: minasherzoy@hotmail.com |
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SERVING WOMEN
Aford Nepal
Kapilvastu, Nepal
| AFORD-NEPAL (Awareness for Development) was founded in 2000 to address the lack of sufficient public awareness about education, environment, health sanitation, and family planning in rural Nepal. The principal objective of the organization is “to bring about a positive change and transformation in the life of people in society by empowering, and strengthening the status and conditions of children and women enhancing their pace of development through equal opportunity for equal participation in development in order to create a peaceful, prosperous, equitable and sustainable development in poor, rural communities.” The organization has eleven governing board members and various coordinators and volunteers who aim to implement equitable and sustainable community development programs that combat injustices against women, provide awareness and counseling to HIV/AIDS infected people, and provide income-generating training for women. In cooperation with other non-government organizations AFORD-NEPAL has started a reproductive health clinic, a residential training program, and implemented a safe motherhood program. Contact Details: Aford Nepal Anandbag-2, Taulihawa Kapilvastu Nepal E-mail: afordnepal_btw@wlink.com.np |
Crescent Trust (CT)
Pudukkottai, India
| Crescent Trust was founded in 1988 to work for the development of rural women in the Dalit community who are living below the poverty line. CT aims to uplift poor women and to promote sustainable agriculture. Issues facing this population include socio-cultural and gender inequality. Through women's awareness programs, CT aims to promote community development and traditional leadership. They also offer training in fiscal fiber production, tailoring and food processing. CT has established two preschools and operates an ecology farm to demonstrate sustainable agriculture. Contact Details: Crescent Trust (CT) T.S. No. 8653/1 Kambar St. Thiruvappur Pudukkottai India 622003 E-mail: CRESCENTKESAVAN@YAHOO.CO.IN |
DOVE (Development of Village Education)
Sathankulam , India
| Development of Village Education (Dove) works in the backward villages of Sathankulam Taluk. It was started by a homeopathic doctor named R. Stephen in order to alleviate acute poverty and lack of basic amenities including primary health care and illiteracy. This organization serves communities of "palyra tappers", Dalits, and Farm labourers. Working in forty villages, Dove's mission is to create women centered activities through women self help groups, micro credit programs, empowerment education, sanitary condition improvement, environmental awareness, health care and infrastructure development. Future programs include bringing proper medical care to these villages and working with health professionals to teach villagers about personal health and hygiene. Dove also aims to survey natural resources such as precious herbs in order to protect and put them to use for various ailments. Contact Details: DOVE (Development of Village Education) 21, Sindhu Bhavan Bangalow Street, Sathankulam India 628 704 E-mail: rpackianathan@yahoo.com |
Good Thinkers Organization For Human Development - Women Development Wing
Kasur, Pakistan
| Alive to the critical need to participate in the struggle for change, a group of well-meaning and positive-minded human rights activists in Kasur, Pakistan got together in 2001 to establish the Good Thinkers Organization For Human Development. The organization's mission is to work to end the suffering of all human beings, especially women, purely on humanitarian grounds, without regard to politics or religion, and bring radical, productive change to Kasur, an underdeveloped region of Pakistan. The Good Thinkers Organization For Human Development broadly focuses on women's development, environmental pollution, information technology, free legal aid, and education in Kasur. The organization's seven executives and twenty-four women volunteers host awareness seminars on women's rights, provide legal advice to women, and are working toward the creation of adult literacy centers for women in rural areas of Kasur. Contact Details: Good Thinkers Organization For Human Development - Women Development Wing Chowk Masjid Noor, Shahbaz Road, Kasur Pakistan E-mail: good_thinkers@yahoo.com |
LeverageTrust
Pudukkottai, India
| Leverage-Trust Foundation was created in 1994 by a group of women activists in the Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu in India. The organization seeks to strengthen deprived communities, especially Dalit women, by promoting self-reliant and self-confident members. Leverage-Trust is working to improve women's gender inequality and human rights, to increase women's general heath, and to strengthen the role of women regarding employment and property ownership. The organization is currently conducting workshops at the local level offering skill training, legal assistance, micro credit promotions, health activities, and economic empowerment training. Contact Details: LeverageTrust 386 Mettupatti Kaikkurici Post Pudukkottai India E-mail: leverageorg@yahoo.com |
National Development Support Program (NDSP)
Peshawar, Pakistan
| NDSP is a Peshwar based non-profit, non-government organization seving Pakistani women. For the past 8 years it has been working for human institutional development in marginalized Pakistan communities. Through action, research, community and beneficiary involvement, NDSP hopes to achieve a world "free of poverty and distress where everyone is able to enjoy his/her fundamental rights to lead a life of dignity, peace and honor without discrimination on the basis of color, creed, race, ethnicity, language, gender and nationality." NDSP is achieving this goal by working for gender justice and development. It is a male-run organization working for the furtherance of female welfare. It addresses women's issues such as equal education, equal employment opportunities, wage parity, harassment in the workplace, domestic violence, and reproductive health. It is also working to integrate child and women's rights in state policy and legal frameworks. NDSP has a 21 person staff and over 600 social workers who are working toward this goal. Contact Details: National Development Support Program (NDSP) NDSP wing, First Floor, Shahid plaza, University road, Peshawar, PAKISTAN Peshawar Pakistan 25000 E-mail: econmist@psh.paknet.com.pk |
Rural Development Organization
Nilgirls, Tamilnadu, India
| Rural Development Organization (RDO) was founded in 1980 to serve rural communities that suffer from lack of resources and education. RDO serves women from the poorest communities in Nilgiris, including Tribal, Harijan, and Baguga and employs 96 people, the majority of whom are women. The organization’s goal is to achieve self-sustaining communities in Nilgiris through capacity-building, income-generation, health care, environmental and educational programs. RDO has set up over 53 supplementary schools in villages so children can have access to a better future. As part of the schools, RDO has also organized over 800 Women's Self Help Groups, comprising more than 12,000 women in the region and geared at generating credit and savings for rural women. Contact Details: Rural Development Organization Gramya Bhavan P.O. Box 7, Aruvankadu Nilgirls, Tamilnadu India 643202 E-mail: rdotrust@satyam.net.in |
Rural Reconstruction Organization
Tamil Nadu, India
| Rural reconstruction Organization was founded in 1999 by Rose Malar to empower women in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Being the first non-governmental organization in the area, where poverty and unemployment are extremely prevelent, RRO is working to create opportunites for female income generation. In the past the organization has created 180 self-help groups for women and currently holds skill training classes as well. Future plans include income generation and marketing projects. The organization has seven staff members, eleven volunteers and eleven members on the governing board where decisions are made colectively a a group. Contact Details: Rural Reconstruction Organization Alankulam Road Mukkudal P.O. Tirunelveli Dist Tamil Nadu India 627601 E-mail: |
SmileLife Charitable Trust
Navi Mumbai, India
| SmileLife Charitable Trust was founded in 2003 to contribute to women's empowerment. Their mission is to bring about the social and economic betterment of women through programs aimed at giving single women the opportunity for self-sufficiency. Run by a board of five trustees, SmileLife currently runs a program teaching computer literacy to the women of Navi Mumbai. The organization plans to expand their programs to include animal husbandry and other income-generating activities. Ultimately, SmileLife plans on initiating a small-scale local industry that could employ a large number of area women and give them a stable means of income-generation. Contact Details: SmileLife Charitable Trust #C-321, Vashi Plaza, Sector-17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai India 400703 E-mail: smilelifes@smilelifes.org |
SNS Foundation
Gurgaon( Haryana), India
| The SNS Foundation was established in 1976 by the Anand Groups (leading auto component manufacturers operating in 8 states of India), with a view to fulfill its social responsibility in communities where manufacturing is located. Today, its main goal is promoting equal opportunities for development in India for women and children. SNS works to improve the lives of disadvantaged girls and women who are socio-economically and politically disadvantaged. SNS focuses on "Education for All," "Reproductive and child health," and vocational training. With the support of over 15 partner groups and supporters, they are currently involved with an adolescent girls project, health assistants training, organic farming for villagers, a HIV/AIDS project, water harvesting, and their annual Girl Child Exhibition. Most of their funding comes from private donations, grants and community contributions. Contact Details: SNS Foundation 88-89 Industrial Development Colony Mehrauli road Gurgaon( Haryana) India 122001 E-mail: info@snsf.org |
Society for Health Education and Development
Hindupur, India
| Society for Health Education and Development (SHED) is non-profit voluntary organization working for the welfare of the poor communities of Ananttapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. SHED was established in 1985 to mitigate the sufferings of the poor and underprivileged classes and the socially outcast people, the Dalits. Their mission is "to spread peace and prosperity in urban slums and remote villages in spite of their difficulties." The organization comprises 28 staff members and 43 volunteers and is run by six core officials constituting a governing board. They aim to educate and empower down-trodden people, particularly in rural populations, through awareness campaigns and improvements in health, community development, education, and vocational training. The women's wing of the organization provides programs for women's rights and legal aid as well as women and children's health. In addition, SHED has set up adult literacy programs and conducted awareness programs in villages on environmental protection, drinking water safety, and to inform rural populations of their rights. SHED is currently working on a preschool education program and a leadership and development program for village women. Contact Details: Society for Health Education and Development Andhra Pradesh Hindupur India 515201 E-mail: shed_hup@yahoo.co.in |
YOUNG CITIZEN OF INDIA CHARITABLE TRUSTE
MEHSANA, India
| Young Citizen of India Charitable Truste is an organization located in North Gujarat State. The organization was founded in 1988 with a focus on improving health care for women and children. The main problems faced by women are discrimination, illiteracy, reproductive health problems, and unwanted pregnancies. One of the goals of Young Citizen of India Truste is to educate pregnant women on pre-natal care and infancy care. Furthermore, their activities have included improving the supply of drinking water in the rural areas of north Gujarat. Contact Details: YOUNG CITIZEN OF INDIA CHARITABLE TRUSTE 16,VITTHAL PARK SOCIETY , NO-2 , MALGODOWN ROAD,MEHSANA-384002 NORTH GUJARAT ( INDIA) MEHSANA India E-mail: YCICT_AMARVYAS@REDIFFMAIL.COM |
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