Welcome to WEIF

In adopting the Millennium Declaration of the year 2000, the International Community pledged to "spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty".

"MAKING POVERTY HISTORY BY 2015"

Women's Empowerment International Foundation (WEIF) is a registered Canadian charity (RR #89650 1806 RR0001) managed by dedicated board members and volunteers. Operating on the principle that long-term social change is most effectively accomplished through initiatives that promote self-sufficiency and sustainability, WEIF’s projects are aimed at improving the lives of men, women, and children of Central and South Asia through community-based programs that empower communities to take meaningful strides toward achieving gender equality and alleviating poverty.

Our work is funded by the generous support from private individual and corporate donors: the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Alberta's Wild Rose Foundation, the Community Initiative Program (CIP), the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, the MacEwan Global Fund and private donors provide financial support to WEIF with the delivery of programs and services.

WEIF's vision is to empower women in the Northern Areas of Central and South Asia achieve gender equality and alleviate poverty.

Current News

Contribution from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

WEIF is extremely pleased to announce that the Canadian International Development Agency has approved a grant of $480,974 in support of WEIF’s initiatives at the Nareshwadi Learning Centre. This contribution will enable the construction of a Girls’ Hostel, the renovation of the Vocational Training Centre, and upgrading the facility to include a training centre for young women seeking certification as healthcare workers or Early Childhood Education teachers. WEIF is very proud of our partnership with Girivanavasi Educational Trust (GVET), and grateful to CIDA for allowing the exemplary work done at the Nareshwadi Learning Centre to continue.

WEIF is proud to announce its partnership with Education Generation—a program run by Global Agents for Change Foundation, an organization that supports the secondary and post-secondary education of students from impoverished and remote communities. This partnership will sponsor 11 students who have graduated from the Nareshwadi Learning Centre, Mumbai, India and will be enrolled in Junior College in 2011.

WEIF's goal is to facilitate lifelong, positive change by implementing programs which create sustainable solutions. We believe that through a multifaceted approach of education infrastructure, health clinics, hostels for girls, and micro lending enterprises for women, the entire community will be empowered to ensure the success and longevity of WEIF’s projects, and take crucial steps to promoting gender equality and alleviating poverty.

Our Projects for 2012

Our projects for 2012 to 2014 will include the following:

Project I – The construction of a Girls' Hostel, the renovation of the Vocational Educational Training Centre (VETC) and upgrading the facility to include a training centre where young girls can receive training as healthcare workers and Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers to serve neighboring communities. This Project will be made possible by WEIF and GVET, our NGO partner, with grant funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and generous contributions from WEIF's donors. Activities will commence in late 2011 and are to be completed by end of 2014. We are awaiting approval of our funding proposal from CIDA. Click for more info

Project II – Construction of a two storey school building over 2 phases. WEIF and GVET, with grant funding from Alberta's Community Initiative Program (CIP) and generous contributions from WEIF’s donors will commence the construction in April 2012. New classrooms and laboratories will expand the Centre's capacity to reach more students and will enrich the learning environment for tribal and other underprivileged children, who otherwise would not have access to quality educational resources.

Micro Credit Project in Gilgit, Pakistan – WEIF will continue to expand the micro credit program from 2012 to 2014. In 2013, WAFA in partnership with WEIF will endeavour to set up WAFA's first CREDIT UNION in Gilgit, Pakistan. Click for more info

Girls Hostel in Pakistan - WEIF, in partnership with ANMOL, will continue the construction of the girls hostel in the District of Chitral to complete Arkari’s Education Hub. Click for more info