THE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

P E A C E T H R O U G H B U S I N E S S
Economic Empowerment of Women Worldwide
2008 Program Description

The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) is in the business of making a difference! The greatest challenge of the world today is creating an environment where peace will naturally prevail. Nations that are economically sound are in a better position to promote and accept peaceful solutions to conflicts.

Building on the success of our 2007 program, we are pleased to present to you the 2008 Peace through Business program.

Phase One - PRELIMINARY EDUCATION
Phase One begins with preliminary education of women business owners while they are still in their home country. This solves two important components of the program: (a) reach to and train a large number of women business owners, and (b) it qualifies the women that will continue with Phase Two.

IEEW has developed a 4 week training course that women business owners can complete in conjunction with women’s associations already established in their countries. This course is implemented through eDistance learning and provides an opportunity for the women entrepreneurs to network with each other and to strengthen the women’s associations while providing a top-notched, basic entrepreneurial education. This is an opportunity for previous students of the program to reach out to others in an organized format and an approved business discipline.

Once the 4-week course is complete, the participant can submit her results along with her application for Phase Two consideration. This provides an opportunity for the Institute to fully evaluate and research the participants for consideration in the Travel Phase.

“I focused my studies on economics while I was in the US and I have decided that the free market system and capitalism is the way to build a (free) country.”

– Manizha Wafeq, 2007 Peace through Business Student

Phase Two - TRAVEL PROGRAM
As a final step in selecting the women for the Travel Program, the Institute will have qualified personnel meet the women personally and evaluate their business package. From those that have successfully completed the 4 week course and made application, IEEW will select up to 20 participants for each of the Travel Programs.

Having gone through the selection and visa process, the women travel to begin their class work. Professors spend the next 3 weeks teaching advanced business practices and culminate with the creation of an in-depth business plan. Woven throughout the 3 weeks, activities are planned to allow the students to experience other education and social situations with local women. This meets another important objective of the Peace through Business program which is the promotion of goodwill and friendship between the two countries.

At the conclusion of the 3 week class, the women graduate and begin their week of mentoring. Great consideration is given at the selection process to insure the students are matched in pairs to American mentors for 1 week of shadowing. During this time that the students live and work with their mentors, they will learn much about real life implementation of the business education they learned in class. In addition, this week of mentorship connects these students to American friendships that we hope will continue long after their return home. At the conclusion of the Mentor Week, the students have graduation ceremonies where dignitaries such as Afghan Ambassador Jawad have expressed an interest to attend. The women then travel directly to New York where they board the international flight home.

Peace through Business – Rwanda

Peace through Business - Afghanistan

Phase Three - CONTINUING EDUCATION
In order for any program to succeed is for the participants to take ownership. We have staff in each country that will moderate monthly meetings with our students in a group environment. These meetings will allow the student entrepreneurs to:

Discuss best practices in their businesses
Have a venue for continued formal training
Have an environment for continued training
Mentor each other as they grow in their business and within their community

The best way to learn is to teach! Peace through Business comes full circle when the students return home and ‘pay it forward’ their training by mentoring the next year’s students. When Peace through Business alums are engaged in the process of selecting and mentoring new students, you have a program that is sustainable for years to come.

The 2008 Peace through Business program is accomplished through the cooperation of the State Department, the US Afghan Women’s Council, Afghan Embassy, Rwandan President Kgame, Northwood University, Oklahoma Christian University’s Academy of Leadership & Liberty, and United States Agency of International Development (USAID). High ranking Administration officials are invited and have indicated an interest to visit the women on campus at their graduation. This serves as a benefit and honor to not only the students, but also to the American mentors and sponsors.

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