2010 Rwanda In-Country Class Graduation
March 26th, 2010
Our 2010 Rwandan In-Country Students will graduate this Saturday, March 27, 2010!
We are so proud of these women and all they have accomplished. They have worked the past eight weeks creating business plans and learning how to improve their businesses and their communities. They are a true testament to how lives can be changed through the education of women.
At the ceremony, the 15 students who have been selected as our 2010 Leadership Development delegates will be announced. Students were selected by a committee of business women who evaluated students’ in-country performance, business plans and potential to spread knowledge acquired during the program.
These delegates will join the Institute this summer at Northwood University where they will participate in Leadership Development, Mentorship and the International Women’s Economic Summit with our 15 delegates from Afghanistan. Through this training, we will be preparing these women to be leaders in their country by discussing ways to overcome obstacles they face in their country and free-economy solutions to peace.
Please help us in congratulating these extraordinary women and everything they have accomplished thus far!
Rwanda In-Country Class Footage
March 25th, 2010
Protected: 2010 Terry Graduation Message: Rwanda
March 24th, 2010Protected: Pay It Forward Contest
March 12th, 2010’09 Graduate Creates Business Brochure
February 10th, 2010Farzana Ibrahimi has created a new brochure for her business in Afghanistan, Kandahar Health & Development Organization. Way to go, Farzana!
A glimpse at the brochure for Kandahar Health & Development Organization.
2009 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
November 5th, 20092009 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
Welcome to the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS 2009 information section.
Whether you are just looking, learning, thinking about becoming contributor to the Institute or you are considering applying to become a mentor to our 2009 students, this page contains important facts you’ll want to know!
Women all over the world are embracing the philosophy that a country that is economically sound has a much greater capacity for peace. The best way to develop economic stability is to build a solid middle class through the largest population demographic -WOMEN!
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) understands that financial stability is a slow process, but through the mentorship of those that ‘have,’ you can be a part of something very spectacular – the transformation of those who ‘have not.’ We are seeking a pool of mentors to participate in the 2009 Peace through Business® program.
Peace through Business® is a training program designed to provide long-term business education to women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Through our private partners, government agencies, and Institute staff, we will provide a business education program in three phases: 1) In-Country Education, 2) Leadership Development, which includes an International Women’s Economic Summit and Mentorship and 3) Pay it Forward.
1) In-Country Education
WHEN: March 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009
WHERE: Rwanda and Afghanistan
Basic business education will be taught to 30 women in Rwanda and 30 women in Afghanistan, which will result in the completion of an in-depth business plan over a period of eight weeks. At the conclusion of the In-Country Education, each of the participants will be invited to apply for Leadership Development. Attendees will be selected based on the performance of their work in class, the evaluation of their business, and the likeliness to return home and Pay Forward.
2) Leadership Development
WHEN: Aug. 10 – 14, 2009
WHERE: Dallas, Texas
The 30 women who have been selected to travel to the United States will engage in a series of in-depth discussions with leading experts on specific business topics. The discussions at Leadership Development are designed to not only enhance the business of the individual participants, but also to teach the participants to be leaders in their community and their country.
- International Women’s Economic Summit
WHEN: August 17 – 18, 2009
WHERE: Dallas, TexasLeaders from many NGOs and government agencies around the country will be invited to attend and participate in conversations on economic development in Afghanistan and Rwanda, and how our students can contribute to the attainment of their country’s economic goals. At the conclusion of the International Women’s Economic Summit, the participants will present a document to their country’s ambassadors outlining their commitment to the top three economic issues.Anyone is welcome to attend the Summit.
- Soiree with the Stars
WHEN: August 17, 2009
WHERE: Dallas Arboretum
A memorable night in the beautiful, lush gardens of the Dallas Arboretum complete with cocktails hors d’œuvre. Mingle and network with our 2009 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Afghan and Rwandan students, our sponsors, contributors, volunteers and dignitaries amidst the vivid seasonal garden blooms.
- Mentorship
WHEN: August 19-23, 2009
WHERE: Oklahoma and Texas; throughout the United StatesOur 30 students will be matched with an American woman business owner and will live/work with that woman for a total of four days. The purpose is to take all of the information the participants have learned and apply it in real-life scenarios. A secondary purpose is to develop a network of women who may become long-term mentors and potential business contemporaries and allies. It is our hope that both student and mentor will mutually benefit and that the relationship will continue long after the commitment to Peace through Business® is satisfied.
3) Pay it Forward
WHEN: Upon students returning to their country
WHERE: Worldwide
The sustainability of this program lies in the desire and ability of each participant to PAY FORWARD her education to other women in their country. We will assist each participant to fulfill this phase through various educational programs established in each country.
We invite you to participate!
It’s important to receive the formal business education and engage in high-level discussions, but implementing all of that information to real life scenarios is some times tricky. Managing the Work/Life balance while building a business is an art – and you have the opportunity to assist these young women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda to grow their business and build their country.
Journal Record story on PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
September 3rd, 2009Peace through business
by Heather Caliendo
The Journal Record August 26, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – On a simple bridge in a quiet backyard, a Rwandan and an Oklahoman take a moment to reflect on their journey.
Nadia Keza and Angie Hendricks talk on a bridge on Hendricks’ property in south Oklahoma City. Keza’s stay with Hendricks has built business and cultural bridges for the two women. (Photo by Maike Sabolich)
“We have a great relationship,” said Angie Hendricks, president and chief executive of Bentley Hedges Travel Services in Oklahoma City. “But I think it takes a lot of trust with each other, and that trust will allow us to go forward.”
Angie Hendricks and Nadia Keza are two women who live worlds apart but were brought together on the principle that business can create peace.
The Oklahoma City-based Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women touts the idea that women are the key to development through emerging economies.
The institute’s Peace through Business program is designed to provide long-term business education to women entrepreneurs in Rwanda and Afghanistan.
This year, 30 women selected from both countries are participating in the program.
One component of the training is for the women to be matched with American mentors with similar careers as their own.\
Last year, Hendricks mentored a travel agent from Rwanda. When she found out this year’s class had another woman in the travel industry, she jumped at the chance to mentor again.
“I just wanted to have that experience again,” she said. “It has been wonderful, if not even better (than last year).”
Before Hendricks and Keza crossed paths and started on a road of a business partnership, they were running travel agencies in their respective countries. Keza said she felt her trip to America would help improve her leadership skills.
“I felt it was very good for me to come and see how other travel agents are working in the United States,” she said. “I knew I would learn finance and the practical side.”
Through Peace through Business, the visiting women have a schedule to follow, but it’s up to the mentors to take them to work and entertain them at night.
Prior to Keza’s visit to America, she and Hendricks talked through e-mail, establishing the beginnings of their relationship. Still, before the two women met, Hendricks said, she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Well, I heard she was really nice and knew she had to be a good sport to do this,” she said.
When the women finally met, they immediately felt comfortable.
“She gave me a big hug,” Keza said. “It was like we already knew each other.”
“We had each other at hello,” Hendricks said as the friends laughed.
For the women, laughter proved to serve as the universal language. Laughter helped bridge differences in age, culture and business methods.
“To be with my husband and I, you have to laugh and roll with the punches,” Hendricks said. “We’ve had a blast.”
Keza worked Hendricks’ 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. schedule, and Hendricks took Keza on appointments, as well as had her work with different members of her agency.
One common ground the women found they had was customer service. Hendricks said she could tell by Keza’s gentle nature that she treats clients with respect.
“When it comes to customer service, that sets both of us apart from others,” she said. “It gets in your blood to be of service.”
Keza said customer service is not well-known her in country. She said she constantly is trying to educate her employees on the importance of good customer service.
“We’re selling a service,” she said. “We must work hard for that.”
A difference between their operations is Hendricks’ company offers an array of travel services, while Keza’s focuses on air tickets and short tips to the southern Africa area. Not many travel agents book trips outside of those areas, Keza said. After seeing how their professional and personal relationship clicked, Hendricks said she and Keza decided to form a business partnership.
Keza is going to work with Hendricks on offering vendor vacation packages to Europe through the vendor that Hendricks’ company utilizes.
“She can sell into that program as an independent agent of ours,” Hendricks said. “With technology, she can be like a branch of our office and us be of hers. We have the ability to do things like that and do business together.”
“There is no time zone difference, because we both work 24 hours a day,” Hendricks said as she and Keza laughed.
“Now I have a contact and friend where we can continue to work together,” she said. “I can now offer so many more choices to my clients that the competition doesn’t have.”
Another profound learning experience for Keza was finding out how to market herself and the business.
Unlike American culture, she said Rwanda women do not talk about themselves. She was surprised to see Hendricks had awards hanging on the wall because in Rwanda that simply doesn’t exist.
She said she has acquired several tips in marketing and networking in order to gain more business.
“Marketing – oh my goodness, that is a big one,” Keza said. “I will go back and teach about how you talk about oneself and the importance of networking.”
During Keza’s visit she attended a Rotary club meeting, saw Bricktown and took time to devour an ice cream cone. Keza said she took her profound memories and an increased knowledge base for business back to Rwanda. Before she left, Hendricks found a quote that she felt suited Keza.
“People won’t remember what you said. But they’ll remember how you made them feel.”
When the two women said their goodbyes, it was bittersweet but neither woman cried. The two said they know they will keep in touch and continue to expand their business through partnerships.
“To be a mentor, the awards far outweigh any downside, which there really isn’t any at all,” Hendricks said. “But to give yourself, it’s just so rewarding. It really is rewarding. Plus you make new friends.”
“That is true,” Keza said.
OETA Covers Peace through Business
September 3rd, 2009Lori Rasmussen from OETA’s Oklahoma News Report covers PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS students, Saudah Nalule and Roqia Sajjadi, who mentored in the Oklahoma City area. Click here to learn more about OETA.
Rezai Shahrbanoo*
May 12th, 2009
Rezai operates the Afghanistan Women & Men Development Organization at Jawzak Village. AWMDO has been open since September 2008 and is in the business of processing and packaging almonds. Comparing her operation to that of local processing, Rezai has been able to improve in the areas of quality control, production control and packaging.
AWMDO employs 24 women and a varying number of contractors as work is available. Rezai is currently negotiating to handle the almonds from additional farms.
* Denotes that student has been selected to travel to the US to participate in Leadership Development at Northwood University in August 2009
