I’m very passionate about education in particular of the girl child as I believe if you educate a girl child, the effect is felt throughout the community. As an indigenous woman I work for the empowerment of my community, the enhancement of the capacities of the girl child and the amplification of women’s voices in my community.
“I come from the Maasai community an indigenous community that inhabits parts of Northern and Central Kenya. The Maasai community are a pastoralist and nomadic community and have held on to their distinct traditions, customs, culture and dress. My community is considered a minority due to their numbers and are considered marginalized due to the challenges of livelihoods and their dependence on livestock and the nomadic lifestyle which has a lot of challenges. The areas of occupation of the Maasai are largely Arid and Semi - Arid Lands (ASALs) and susceptible to drought and hunger and this impacts the health, education and development within the community. When this happens, women and children within the community are the most impacted by drought, climate migration and adverse effects of their health and nutrition. The pastoral life of the Maasai has increasingly been threatened by the encroachment of their communal territory due to other growing communities and agriculture. This inspired my first area of study in community development, as I was very passionate about advocating for proper government interventions and investment in the development of the Maa people.
The Maasai community as is common in Kenyan society is fiercely patriarchal. As a woman coming from a minority community where women are highly disadvantaged, I consider myself highly advantaged to have parents who believed in education for the girl child and ensured the education of my 5 sisters and I up to University level, in a community where a probable fate for a girl is early marriage. I’m very passionate about education in particular of the girl child as I believe if you educate a girl child, the effect is felt throughout the community. As an indigenous woman I work for the empowerment of my community, the enhancement of the capacities of the girl child and the amplification of women’s voices in my community."
Nkamunu Patita, human rights and environmental justice defender,
project implementation
Women Coalition for Empowerment – Eastern Africa
Nkamunu Patita, human rights and environmental justice defender,
project implementation
Women Coalition for Empowerment – Eastern Africa
The Foundation’s partner organizations are generally managed by women and located in the global South.
The Foundation and its partner organizations keep regular contact; their cooperation is based on mutual trust and transparency.
Project duration: 6 years (2022–2027)
Country: Israel, Westbank and Gaza
Partner organization: KAYAN Feminist Organization, Israel
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: Bolivia (Oruro department)
Partner organization: Asociación Kay Pacha
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: Bolivia, Tumupasa (Amazonía Sur)
Partner organization: Fundación Comunidad Plural (C-Plural)
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: Bolivia, La Paz (El Alto district)
Partner organization: Fundación Machaqa Amawta (FMA)
Project duration: 3 years (10/23–09/26)
Country: Brazil, Minas Gerais state
Partner organization: Instituto Cordilheira, Brazil
Project duration: 3 years (08/23–07/26)
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Partner organization: Amica Educa, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Project duration: 4 years (2022–2025)
Country: Uganda (West Nile Region: Adjumani, Lambwo, Arua Districts)
Partner organization: Women Coalition for Empowerment Eastern Africa WCEEA, Kenya
Project duration: 4 years (2022–2025)
Country: Kenya
Partner organization: Wakina Mama Shupavu, Kenya
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: Bolivia (La Paz Department)
Partner organization: Fundación RENACE (Red Nacional de Acción Ecológica), Bolivia
Project duration: 2 years (2023–2024)
Country: Brazil (Bahia)
Partner organization: Casa de Maria, Brazil
Project duration: 2 years (2022–2023)
Country: Bolivia (Oruro Department)
Partner organization: Colectivo CASA, Bolivia
Project duration: 5 years (2021–2025)
Country: Uganda
Partner organization: Katosi Women Development Trust – KWDT, Uganda
Project duration: 5 years (2021–2025)
Country: Columbia
Partner organizations: CENTRAP, Columbia, and Casa Ernestina Parra, Soacha, Columbia
Project duration: 5 years (2021–2026)
Country: Nepal (Nawalpur and Lalitpur)
Partner organization: Nagarik Aawaz (Citizen’s Voice), Nepal
Project duration: 4 years (2020–2024)
Country: Colombia
Partner organizations: Red Nacional de Mujeres, Bogotá, Colombia
The focus women foundation also supports partner organizations in Switzerland and in Europe, provided they have long-standing good relations for cooperation with women’s organizations in the target country.
Sharing knowledge and experience
Project duration: 6 years (2019–2024)
Country: Nicaragua and further Latin-American states
Partner organizations: Swiss Association for Women’s Solar Projects in Nicaragua (Nicasolar), Switzerland, and Frutesól, Nicaragua
Members of the Frutesól organization share their experience of many years in organic farming and building solar cookers and driers with other women’s organizations. Implementing such environmentally friendly practices enables these women to mitigate the impact of climate change and to contribute to food security in their communities.
Cooking together helps to solve conflicts
Project duration: 5 years (2021–2025)
Country: Lebanon
Partner organizations: Cuisine sans frontières, Switzerland, and Makani Association, Lebanon
In the Burj El Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut, a restaurant that is accessible only for women and their children was built in cooperation with Makani. It is the only place in the camp where women can meet outside of their homes.
In addition, operating the cafeteria is creating work and training opportunities for women.
Networking for peace
Project duration: 3 years (2021–2023)
Country: worldwide
Partner organization: PWAG (Peace-Women across the Globe), Switzerland
PWAG has been building a network of female peace activists across the world since 2003. The project “Feminists Connecting for Peace” aims at strengthening and expanding the existing net-work. It provides its members with a space for joint learning and exchange of experiences. In ad-dition, it serves as a platform for women to formulate demands that can then be put forward in decision-making processes and taken before the public.
Sanitary pads and education
Project duration: 7 years (2021–2027)
Country: Cameroun and Togo
Partner organization: International Alliance of Women (IAW), Switzerland
The project’s key focus lies on youth education days addressing health, menstruation, women’s sexual and reproductive rights, and gender equality. Young women as well as men are welcome to attend these education events.
For women refugees
Project duration: 6 years (2021–2026)
Country: Greece
Partner organization: SAO Association, Switzerland
Female refugees are more often exposed to gender-specific violence. SAO operates two sanctuar-ies for particularly vulnerable women refugees: one on Lesbos (Bashira Center) and another in Athens (Amina Center). The women are provided with legal counselling, psychosocial support, and medical care.
Women’s power for Lima
Project duration: 6 years (2020–2025)
Country: Peru
Partner organizations: emp’Act, Switzerland and DESCO, Peru
The project called “Ciudad Mujer” (“A city for women”) uses further education events to strength-en 80 women’s organizations and enable them to participate more strongly in governmental and decision-making processes, as well as to defend their interests successfully.
Project duration: 3 years (2022–2024)
Country: Morocco
Partner organizations: Frieda - The Feminist Peace Organisation, Switzerland, and INSAF, Morocco
The project “Karamtna – our dignity” was created in Casablanca by the Frieda’s partner organization INSAF. Its aim is to help improve the socio-economic position of unmarried mothers who live in precarious conditions. A vast range of offers includes medical and legal advice, as well as training opportunities.
The long road to financial independence
Project duration: 4 years (2022–2025)
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Partner organizations: IAMANEH, Switzerland, and Budućnost, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Many women victims of gender-specific violence remain trapped in their domestic environment because they are economically dependent. The program implemented by Budućnost and IAMANEH aims at enabling affected women to break out of this vicious circle with the help of psychological counselling and legal advice.
With a further education program, they can improve their chances on the labour market.
“Trabajo Digno” – dignity at work
Project duration: 6 years (2020–2025)
Country: Honduras
Partner organizations: Brücke Le Pont, Switzerland, and Centro de Estudios de la Mujer, Honduras
In Honduras, approximately 100 000 girls and women aged between 15 and 25 work as house-maids. They do not know their rights and are therefore often exploited by their employers. Many of them also experience sexual violence. The “Trabajo Digno” project initiated by Brücke Le Pont helps women to stand up for themselves and to claim their right to having a dignified job. To achieve this, the organization uses further education, an expansion of the existing network of do-mestic staff, as well as initiatives at legislative level.
Prevention of violence in Jerusalem’s Arab communities
Project duration: 3 years (06/22–05/25)
Country: Israel
Partner organizations: Jerusalem Rape Crisis Centre (JRCC), Israel, and Surgir Foundation, Switzerland
JRCC provides legal and psychosocial help for victims of sexual violence. Until now, the institution’s services were used mainly by the Jewish population of Jerusalem. With the aim of improving access for Arab women, the center wants to counter sexual violence against women by implementing an information program dedicated to the Arab communities in the city, as well as to offer legal support to affected women.
Independent Girls
Project duration: 2 years (2023—2024)
Country: Lebanon, Beqaa Valley
Partner organization: Zeltschule e.V., Germany
In Syria, millions of people have become refugees from the civil war. Through an education offer for refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon, the German organization Zeltschule e.V. helps young people to gain a perspective for their future. The project supported by focus women enables teenage girls to attend a secondary school or to receive vocational training by attending one of the association’s workshops.
LAS PIONERAS – a self-aid group that sets an example
Project duration: 2 years (2023–2024)
Country: Peru (Lima)
Partner organizations: ECO SOLIDAR, Switzerland, and IDEMNNA, Peru
IDEMNNA helps women to put their own business ideas into practice. Issues such as violence, self-esteem and personal development are addressed in workshops, with the aim of combating poverty and violence and strengthening the women’s position.
Supporting formerly imprisoned women
Project duration: 3 years (2023–2025)
Country: El Salvador
Partner organizations: Women’s collective “Mujeres libres”, El Salvador, and medico international, Switzerland
In El Salvador, abortion is a serious offence. This applies even when a pregnancy puts the woman’s health at risk or is the result of rape. The “Mujeres Libres” collective is committed to help women who were imprisoned for abortion, many of them for years, and supports them in their first steps to reintegrate society. “Mujeres libres” also advocates women’s sexual and reproductive rights.
Not alone
Project duration: 2 years (2023–2024)
Country: various
Partner organization: Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV), Switzerland
The Society for Threatened Peoples campaigns for the rights of indigenous peoples. With this project, the STP supports indigenous women in setting up a network. This provides them with a platform where they can exchange experiences on the cultural, social and economic development of their communities.