Women Empowering Nations

WEN presents 2010 Legacy of Empowerment Award to Gambian Vice-President

2010-06-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

It was such a great honor to present this award to the Vice-President of The Gambia. She is the first female Vice-President in West Africa who has made great strides for the empowerment of women in The Gambia and abroad. A phenomenal and humble woman, she serves as a role model to so many, myself included. While working with the girls in our empowerment programs, the Vice President is always the first name mentioned when I ask girls to tell me about their role models and leaders. They describe her as hard working, humble, honest, kind, peaceful and educated. Their words only touch the surface of her character. When accepting the award she dedicated it to all the girls and women of The Gambia. She said she is fortunate to be one of the women who is seen working but there are so many women that work even harder than she does that go unseen. Women Empowering Nations is proud to have Vice-President and Minister of Women's Affairs Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy as our 2010 Legacy of Empowerment Award recipient.

Article featured in the Gambian Daily Observer National Newspaper:

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, was yesterday honored with the '2010 Legacy of Empowerment Award' by Carlisha Williams, the executive director of Women Empowering Nations, at a presentation ceremony held at her office at State House in Banjul.

This development is in recognition of her hard work, compassion and dedication to service. Speaking to reporters shortly after presenting the award to VP Njie-Saidy, Ms Williams who is also a goodwill ambassador for The Gambia said her organization is based in the United States and is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) which is committed to enhancing education through self-esteem development and empowerment. According to her, each year, they present 'The Legacy of Empowerment Award' to a woman who serves as a role model, leads by example and promotes the importance of education while impacting positively on the lives of girls and women around the world.

"Our NGO is working with girls and women here in The Gambia and we believe that the vice president is not only a shining example of everything our organization promotes, but also committed to the service and empowerment of women. In recognition of her dedication, we chose to honor her with this prestigious award," she stated.

WENations Volunteer: Seleena Smith

2010-04-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this article about one of our volunteers for this year's Gambian Literacy and Empowerment Program. We are excited to have her as a part of the team!

http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/features/x1745493600/Empowering-Young-Women

WEN & JC3 Literacy and Empowerment Program

2010-04-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

50% of teenage youth in the English speaking country of the Gambia cannot read or write this sentence. We are committed to changing this statistic and need your help to make it happen!

Women Empowering Nations and Johnson Chapel Community Church (JC3) are seeking your support for our Boys & Girls English Literacy and Empowerment Program taking place, May 29 - June 11, 2010 in the Gambia, West Africa.

During our time in the Gambia, we will work students with the greatest academic need, focusing on literacy skills in conjunction with engaging development activities. Our program is multifaceted with an emphasis on academics as well as self-esteem development. We are dedicated to maintaining influential educational programming that fosters a spirit of inquiry, intellectual independence and enthusiasm for learning.

There is a dire need for English literacy development among Gambian youth which is essential for their success academically and socially. Literacy in the Gambia is said to be handicapped by an insufficient supply of basic textbooks and supplementary readers. We will improve this situation by providing participants with reading books and workbooks for summer learning. With your support, we will also be able equip them school supplies and materials to donate to the school.

We are asking you to be a part of this program to enhance literacy and self-esteem development in the Gambia, West Africa. You can be support this initiative by donating today.

For questions or more information, please visit our website at www.WENations.org or contact us via e-mail at info@WENations.org.

IMPACT: Innovative Mentoring Promoting the Advancement of Children through Travel

2010-03-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

How would your view of the world be different if you had the opportunity to travel to Africa when you were in middle school?

The Women Empowering Nations IMPACT program provides underprivileged girls with the opportunity to travel internationally. This year girls from the Marcus Garvey Leadership Charter School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma will travel with Women Empowering Nations staff and volunteers to the Gambia, West Africa. During their stay they will participate in our Girls Literacy and Empowerment Program, volunteer in the villages, study African culture, and fellowship with Gambian girls. This is a life changing opportunity for these young ladies that will provide them with a view of the world most from their backgrounds are never able to obtain.

You can support this program by going to our website to donate today, www.wenations.org.