I am a sucker for charity that is committed to our girls, I guess I just connect to the mission as a woman, as when a young sistah is behind the cause, even better. Meet today’s charity spotlight Women Empowering Nations (WEN) is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of girls and women through self-esteem development, educational, and leadership outreach programs. WEN was founded by Carlisha Williams a growing social entrepreneur committed to empowerment, civic engagement and women’s development. Carlisha began the work of Women Empowering Nations in the Gambia, West Africa where she frequently travels to facilitate girls’ empowerment workshops, mentor teenage girls, and provide students with needed supplies and materials to promote higher learning. She has developed educational programs which she presented to international aid organizations, foreign diplomats, and the Gambian government for country-wide implementation. Her work in the Gambia led to her appointment as a United States Goodwill Ambassador to the Republic of the Gambia. Carlisha is a 2011 Teach for America Corps member, 8th grade math teacher at KIPP Tulsa College Prep, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
WEN’s vision is to be a primary resource for inspiring, supporting and connecting female leaders so they grow in a capacity to lead and serve. Strengthening communities by educating and empowering women, the organization firmly believes in the words spoken by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, “If you educate a man, you educate a family and a village. To educate a woman, you empower a nation.” Women Empowering Nations aims to improve self-esteem of young women while aiding them with resources to accomplish their goals and transform their communities.This summer, WEN is taking a diverse group of 8th grade girls from North Tulsa, Oklahoma hope to participate in the Girls Leading Our World Travel Seminar and Leadership Conference hosted by Women Empowering Nations. They will travel to Casa Blanca, Morocco and Banjul, Gambia to explore North and West African cultures, tour historic sites, and participate in a girls’ leadership conference with local Gambian girls. The conference will include sessions on education, social and economic justice, and global women’s empowerment. Amazing right, of course the organization needs help! They are producing a documentary of which you can check out below and raising funds to support their effort and trip to Africa. If you would like to support their efforts click here to visit their Indiegogo campaign. Kudos to Carlisha and team, giving is not only good, it’s inspiring.
