It is Women on a Mission's 11th expedition and the 4th that I am joining! Over the years we have raised over $1 million for women survivors of war and violence and every $ that has been generously donated has gone to empower a woman in dire need, who has in turn empowered her community and children to rebuild their lives. 

This year, after 2 years of waiting, we are embarking on a week long  expedition in Kyrgyzstan!  Our self-funded team of twelve women from around the world, under the banner of Women on a Mission (WOAM), a non-profit organisation that supports organisations that advance the position of women around the world, will embark on a 150km mountain trek to over 4,000 metres in elevation, while camping on the trail, or staying with local nomadic families in their yurts. Kyrgyzstan, one of central Asia’s most fascinating countries, is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, China to the east, Tajikistan to the south, and Uzbekistan to the west. It is one of the least populated countries on earth, with less than 30 people per square kilometres of land and mountains cover 80% of the country. On our way back to Bishkek, our group will also visit a women’s centre for survivors of domestic violence to learn about the issues facing women in Kyrgyzstan and look for ways to assist.

The expedition’s objective is to raise $100,000 USD for women survivors of war in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria via Women for Women International – UK, an organisation that since 1993 has worked with >0.5 million of the most marginalised women in the world in post war zones helping them to transform their lives. Their work is sadly become ever more pressing. 

Having witnessed first hand the operations of Women for Women International in Rwanda (the safest country they operate in) I am absolutely certain that all of your generous donations will go to rebuilding the lives of women that have been torn apart by war and violence and the ripple effect of that will be many times more. 

Sara Bowcutt, Managing Director of Women for Women International - UK stated, “The women we work with live in some of the world’s most dangerous places – it can be hard for us to imagine their daily challenges. I find it so inspiring that WOAM push themselves far outside their comfort zone in order to raise money and awareness for women survivors of war. Each trek they take on is just as challenging as the last, and WOAM members truly go the extra mile to leverage their networks and raise incredible sums of money, which make a real difference to the women we serve.” 

Thank you and I truly appreciate your time and generosity!

What your money could buy

£5 could provide the building blocks of education: a notebook, pen, pencil and ruler for 2 women in WFWI's programme.

£13 could pay for enough vegetable seeds to cover 30 acres and enable a woman to feed her family and sell produce at market.

£22 could pay for a bakery basket, containing equipment and supplies to enable a woman to set up her own small bakery business.

£33 could pay for literacy training. When a woman learns how to read and write, she is able to run her business with confidence.

£49 could pay for a sewing machine, to help a woman set up a home tailoring business and provide an income for her family.

£163 could pay for a bee-keeper basket, with all the supplies needed to set up bee-keeping business.

£327 could pay for a chicken-coop, to enable a woman to run a poultry business from home.

£650 could pay for poultry training, to give a woman the skills she needs to care for poultry and raise money through the sale of eggs and chickens.

£3,000 could pay for a greenhouse, for a woman to grow organic herbs to sell at market.

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For more info:

1) Women on a Mission  (http://www.womenmission.com/)

2) WFWI (http://www.womenforwomen.org.uk) and (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iarxgcit0gU) 

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