BUSINESS: Afghan Women Empowerment Organization (AWEO)
Rahela, 39 years old, owns AWEO, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of Afghan women. Rahela took on a big risk early in life when she left her home in Mazar to help distribute medical and educational materials to Bamyan, which was under strict economic and military control by the Taliban.
After successfully re-establishing the collapsed health system in this province, Rahela began to focus on how she could help women through literacy and vocational training, including animal husbandry, housekeeping and quilt-making. All projects were aimed to generate income for women.
Rahela started AWEO one year ago after some basic planning and strategizing. After she registered the company with the Ministry of Economic, she prepared proposals.
With 10 employees, AWEO focuses on empowering rural women in aqua culture and animal husbandry. The company also implements fish farming and has introduced improved breeds of sheep and cattle, which has resulted in higher incomes for the women.
Over the next five years, Rahela’s business goals include increasing the women’s incomes and continuing to provide alterative opportunities for women in rural areas instead of growing poppy.
By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Rahela wants to learn more about management skills and get more ideas for starting new businesses as well as how to discover more opportunities in both local and international markets.
Parinaz, 23 years old, works as a business development manager for MEDA, which works with 2,250 rural female farmers in Afghanistan.
While the organization reaches over 2,000 women directly, it reaches 10,000 family members indirectly.
In addition to providing farming activities, MEDA helps these women turn their farming projects into viable businesses. As a business development manager, Parinaz provides training and support. Parinaz is passionate about her business because it allows her to take part in the development of her country, to help bring peace to families and their communities and to make a positive change.
Parinaz says that her commitment to Afghanistan is in a fundamental way a part of her search for my own identity and moral fulfillment. She has learned that education is of the utmost importance, and her training in business administration and management has engrossed her in Afghanistan’s business development. She has carefully observed development policies, short-term approaches, lack of capacities, and coordination gaps among the different line organizations.
After learning about the Institute, Parinaz believes the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program can help Afghan women develop their businesses in a successful and professional way.
Over the next five years, Parinaz wants to see that all of the women she helps can legally own businesses in their own names.
“My main goal is to have a life-altering opportunity and to equip myself with modern theoretical knowledge in the field of business development. This program will help me to better understand the complex business issues and alternative solutions that can be effective.”
BUSINESS: Hope for the Future (organic farming & agro-based school)
Agnes, 31 years old, co-owns Hope for the Future, is a multi-faceted operation. Currently, Hope for the Future is an organic farming enterprising, but Agnes has future plans to expand the business to include an agro-based school project for street kids that focuses on education and hands-on agricultural experience.
Hope for the Future grows maize, and this year’s harvest is expected in April.
Agnes is already supporting 24 street children, and she has four employees who watch over and train the children in agricultural projects on the farm.
In addition to these four employees, Hope for the Future has hired 100 employees – mostly women – to work in the fields, tilling the soil, planting the maize and wedding.
Agnes hopes to turn her attention full time within one year to Hope for the Future once the business has stabilized and she has enough profit to cover her own salary and medical insurance. Agnes also wants to be able to provide train other farmers and develop her school project.
Through her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training, Agnes wants to learn more about developing her business, more agricultural innovations, project management, and how to develop a successful school.
Kevine, 32 years old, started a farming business that focuses on the cultivation of maize and distributing it to local farmers.
Kevine has faced challenges in her business, due to plant diseases and irregular season, which results in expected production. Her goals include expanding her farming project to include more crops, to open a store that sells her crops and start distributing more the local level and eventually internationally. Kevine wants her farm to provide job opportunities to her fellow Rwandans.
Kevine hopes her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training will help her in marketing strategies, accounting and finance skills and how to seek business partnerships.
January is National Mentor Month… Where would we be without our wonderful mentors?
January is National Mentor Month. At the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women we take pride in knowing that we have directly helped more than 200 women in Afghanistan and Rwanda improve their personal and professional lives thanks to the mentorship of women business owners throughout the United States. Read more about National Mentor [...]
IEEW CEO & Founder Wins 2011 Association for Women in Communication Matrix Foundation Award!
IEEW Founder, Dr. Terry Neese just learned she received the 2011 Association for Women in Commuications Matrix Foundation Award for her contributions to the advancement of women through education, entreprenurialism, empowerment, and mentorship around the world. Congratulations, Dr. Neese!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Graduates are Committed to Paying It Forward!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS International Women’s Conference and Graduation was a huge success. The women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda have returned to their home countries with a renewed commitment to pay forward the knowledge and sense of empowerment they received from the program. We congratulate the Class of 2011!
Paying it Forward: PTB Alumnae to Serve as Parliament Lawmakers in Rwanda!
2010 Alumna, Marie Josée Kankera and 2011 Alumna, Teddy Gacinya were sworn in yesterday to Rwanda’s Parliamentary House. Teddy, a newly appointed Senator and Marie Josée, one of the newly appointed members of Parliament, took their oath of office Wednesday and then were welcomed to the House by President Paul Kagame. President Kagame noted that while there [...]
Best-Selling Author of “It’s Your Biz” Book to Donate Proceeds to the Institute!
It’s Your Biz, by Susan Wilson Solovic Dear friend of the Insitute and best-selling author, Susan Wilson Solovic is donating $2 from the sale of every book to support our mission! We thank her for this gracious gift and urge you check out Susan’s website to place your order today. Buy The Book Here! (Use Referral Code [...]
T. Boone Pickens Foundation Spotlights IEEW in August!
The Pickens Foundation has supported the Institute since the first PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program launched in 2007. Pickens fervent belief in the power of entrepreneurship is at the heart of his support for the Institutes work. “I believe that you build stability in developing economies by helping entrepreneurs get a stable foothold, which is why we support [...]
IEEW Founder Receives Honors for a Lifetime of Empowering Women!
Dr.Terry Neese, founder of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday night during The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year Gala, held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Terry was recognized for her business savvy, political involvement, and contributions to empowering women both domestically and globally. “It is a great honor to [...]
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program graduates Gloria Uwizera and Akaliza Gara are featured in The Service Mag’s September edition: Young Women Entreprenuers. Read their inspiring articles here: Gloria Uwizera Akaliza Gara
Take a look at this article in October’s issue of Fortune Magazine - “The X Factor“. Our founder, Dr. Terry Neese, talks about the economic impact of women-owned firms and the connection between entrepreneurship and freedom.
2007 PTB Graduate Elected to Afghan Chamber of Commerce!
Congratulations to Qandi Amaki (Jan), who was just elected as the Afghan Chamber of Commerce Industry’s Director of Membership. Amaki, a 2007 inaugural PTB graduate, made history when she was first elected to this body because she was the only women ever allowed in. Now, she holds a higher position and credits IEEW’s work. [...]
IEEW Joins With Google to Help Small Businesses in Oklahoma Get Online!
We just joined Oklahoma Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program to help small businesses in Oklahoma get online. You’re invited ! November 3 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Tulsa, OK November 8 Will Rogers Theater Oklahoma City, OK Register today Google and friends are coming to town to get your business online! Oklahoma Get [...]
Advocate Peace: PAY It Forward With an End-of-Year Donation!
Women are a vital resource in any nation’s advancement; they must be able to contribute economically, socially, and politically in order for a nation to develop and prosper on a global level. Unfortunately, there are nations who have not fully tapped in to this potential. The great news is, you can be a part of the solution! Help promote international [...]
Dr. Terry Neese to be Featured in 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada and goes on sale today! Order your calendar here: 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese on The Small Business Advocate Show with Jim Blasingame
Dr. Terry Neese, Founder and CEO of The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women discusses the mission, peace & prosperity building initiatives, and recent success stories on the Jim Blasingame radio show, The Small Business Advocate. Click here to listen
IEEW Joins Global Community in Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week
November 14-20 is Global Entrepreneurship Week(GEW). Enterprising individuals around the globe are held up and spurred on for their part in the transformation of small-town main street USA to developing nation’s villages. GEW is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch start ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand [...]
Advancement of Women Award Honoree, Dr. Terry Neese Ties Success to Three 3′s
A big thank you to the Association of Women in Communications for honoring Dr. Neese with this year’s Matrix Award and for posting this article in the December edition of the AWC Communique. Read the full article here: AWC Communique
Dr. Terry Neese, Empowering Businesswomen Here & Overseas
Check out this article in Corps! Magazine on the Institute, our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program, and our founder, Dr. Terry Neese. Corps! Magazine Article
The New Times Celebrates PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association Launch
The New Times featured the amazing women of the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association and their successful launch celebrations. Read more here: The New Times – Rwanda’s First Daily
Dr. Terry Neese and Sarah Sears of S Design Inc. Talk About the Importance of Mentoring on NEWSOK
Two-time mentor and longtime friend of the Institute Sarah Sears, president of the OKC design firm S Design Inc. joined IEEW’s CEO and founder Dr. Terry Neese to speak about the importance of mentorship to thePEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program. Watch the video here: NEWSOK – Local Group Spotlights National Mentoring Month
IEEW’s Newest Board Member and Best-Selling Author, Susan Wilson Solovic Blogs about PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
Expert blogger, founder and CEO of ItsYourBiz.com, best selling author, and IEEW’s newest board member Susan Wilson Solovic blogs about the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program and the importance of mentors. Thanks Susan! Fast Company Mag – Mentoring Women in a Global Economy
