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Displaying 409–420 of 5,102

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WomenSafe

WomenSafe serves people across the gender spectrum who experience sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking Hotline Services – Through a 24-hour hotline, we provide crisis intervention, problem-solving assistance, safety planning and emotional support. Advocacy Services – We offer information and referrals to all community resources over the phone and in person. Advocates offer support, advocacy and referrals related to the Relief from Abuse Order, family and criminal court processes when it’s related to domestic and sexual violence. Advocates will accompany survivors to the hospital to offer support and advocacy when receiving medical attention following an act of sexual or domestic violence. Systems Advocacy – We work to change the multi-system barriers that support violence against women. Our goal is to create systems that support safety, dignity and wholeness in the lives of everyone in our community. We do this through individual advocacy, community collaboration and participation in statewide policy making. Underserved Communities Outreach – WomenSafe provides targeted outreach to the smaller, less populated towns throughout Addison County and Rochester. This includes outreach to migrant workers and other immigrants. Language Line interpretation services are available for hotline callers with limited English proficiency. Language Line provides interpreters for 170+ languages. WomenSafe can also arrange for in-person interpreters. Our advocacy services are free and confidential, regardless of citizenship status. Support Groups – We offer drop-in support groups for survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. Childcare is available with advanced notice. Call our hotline for specific days and times or for more information. Supervised Visitation & Monitored Exchanges – When a partner separates from an abusive partner, it is often a time of increased risk for the parent and children. The Supervised Visitation Program @ WomenSafe (The SVP) provides increased safety for children and parents during supervised visitation and monitored exchanges. Services are provided by a trained monitor in a safe, impartial and child-friendly environment. For more information, please call The SVP directly at 388-6783. Community Education – We offer trainings, presentations and awareness activities on topics related to domestic and sexual violence to schools, community groups, businesses and other organizations and professions. Sample topics are: healthy relationships, sexual harassment versus flirting, effects of domestic violence on children, and child sexual abuse prevention. Presentations are individually tailored to meet the needs of the audience

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Education
Karuna Deutschland e.V.

Karuna Deutschland is committed towards ending caste-based discrimination, dedicating efforts for poverty-alleviation, and ensuring equality in India and Nepal. Our mission is to serve individuals and families of the poorest communities in India and Nepal. The women and children as well as people from lower cast backgrounds come under the most vulnerable population in India and Nepal. The former "untouchable" castes are still suffering from social exclusion and violence and also form the largest chunk of 'ultra-poor' in these countries. It is extremely difficult for them to access healthcare, education, housing and a dignified livelihood. Dalit women and girls particularly are subjected to gender-based violence and exclusion. Although caste-based discrimination has no legal premises, the stigma attached to the lower castes in India and Nepal hinder their dignified participation in all spheres of life. They are pushed further behind by a variety of forces such as existing discrimination, inequality, poverty, illiteracy etc. Therefore, we endeavour to remove the root causes of discrimination, exclusion and poverty. We seek to run our projects and activities based on the principle of inclusion, justice, diversity and equality in order to drive a positive as well as holistic change at the community level. The foundation of our work lies in engendering a dignified life for the people; helping them build a better future for themselves as well as empowering them to take their destiny into their own hands. To elicit lasting solutions to the problems we intend to address, our approach is based upon self-help, self-determination and self-reliance at the community level. The principle of 'leaving no one behind' as mentioned in the Sustainable development goals is enshrined in our core values. Changes often happen at the local level. Creative and innovative solutions are pertinent to reach our goals. Our activities are thus built upon a wealth of local skills and knowledge. We seek to understand the vulnerabilities, strengths and needs of our target groups. Evidence based approach rooted in in-depth analysis, research of ground needs and realities is extremely important for us to promote accountability and responsibility. The four pillars of Karuna Deutschland's work are made of Education, Health, Dignified Livelihoods and Gender Equality. These four pillars are the key focus areas of the work carried out by Karuna Deutschland in India and Nepal. More information about Karuna Deutschland's activities can be found on our website.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Disaster Relief
Fast Rural Development Program

Fast Rural Development Program (FRDP) is a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization registered under the societies Act XXI of 1860, working in the underprivileged areas of Sindh, Pakistan since 2007. The Program is aimed at facilitating the disadvantaged communities in a way that they could be empowered to secure their rights with command over the resources and capabilities to manage the process of sustainable development. FRDP is involved with overall integrated development but its major focus is to promote Water and Sanitation, Health & Hygiene, Emergency Relief, improve Education, SRHR, MNCH, Poverty Alleviation, Promotion of Human Rights (especially the rights of women, children indigenous groups and persons with disabilities), Peace Building and Good Governance. FRDP has well educated, experienced and committed members on its board. FRDP is known for its highly qualified, motivated and experienced staff, quality work, transparent systems and excellent perception among the communities, government and other relevant stakeholders at provincial, national and international level. FRDP has implemented a wide range of projects with its national and international partners including government in the fields as mentioned above. Some prominent partners are Sindh Education Foundation, UNICEF, FAO, IOM, Oxfam, Concern Worldwide, The Asia Foundation, Penny Appeal, Amir Khan Foundation and ActionAid. The organization has up to the mark systems and policies which include Tally ERP Financial Software, Financial Policy, Admin & Logistic Policy, HR & Gender Policy, Internal & External Audit Systems and Complaint Response Mechanism. FRDP seeks the services of topmost auditors for its annual audit. FRDP believes in two-way monitoring system i.e. top to bottom and vice versa. FRDP has its well established and equipped Head Office in Hyderabad and a number of Field Offices in different districts. Vision Peaceful, socio-economically empowered and resilient society with ensured fundamental rights Mission Promote self resilience of communities by organizing and mobilizing them; and contributing in sustainable development through integrated, inclusive, environment friendly approach Objectives 1) Provision of WASH facilities to most disadvantaged communities in its operational areas for improving their current health status along with health and hygiene education. 2) Improve nutritional status of pregnant, neonatal, children and lactating women in the most marginalized and excluded areas of Sindh with special focus on the critical first 1000 days from a woman's pregnancy to that child's second birthday. 3) Assist communities to wrestle with natural calamities being resilient to climate change and emergencies in order to bail out from intricacies of emergency. 4) Render world class education incorporated with latest handy tools with ICT in all FRDP's schools for reaching poorest of poor for developing their future all-encompassing character building and morality 5) Strengthen Livelihood means and ways of communities to reduce their rooted poverty for their development and make them socio- economical self persistent and dependent. 6) Promote human rights especially those of children, women, laborers, PWDs and indigenous communities for their social, political and economic empowerment. Core Values 1) Commitment and Dedication for humanitarian cause 2) Respect and dignity for all 3) Do 'No Harm' 4) Honesty & Transparency 5) Inclusiveness 6) Gender & Cultural Sensitivity 7) Equality and Equity

Impact Stories
Society
Justice Rights
Health
Bethany House Of Northern Virginia

Bethany House of Northern Virginia is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, providing emergency shelter and support services to women and children escaping domestic violence. We help women and their children who have suffered from domestic violence regain health and dignity. We provide women with safe, restorative care while giving them the support and resources they need to transition into independent lives free from abuse. We are non-jurisdictional. We accept women and children from across Northern Virginia, from the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area, from other states and beyond. Once our families are stabilized, we help them get reestablished in their community by providing temporary housing and support. Realizing the vision of our founder Doris Ward, since 1979, BHNV has been a safe haven for women and children suffering the nightmare of domestic violence while also serving as a resource to our community at large. BHNV is funded by grants and donations from businesses, charitable foundations, churches, organizations, and individual community members.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Disaster Relief
Community Health, Housing and Social Education (CHHASE)

COMMUNITY HEALTH, HOUSING AND SOCIAL EDUCATION (CHHASE), TAMIL NADU Background Community health, housing and social education (CHHASE) NGO is involved in social work for Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes, other backwards classes and under privileged. Team of youth, who have passion in social service and compassion towards the sufferings of the disadvantaged sections of the society, came together and formed CHHASE. Our team have clear insight in the socio-economic, education, health and environment issues faced by the downtrodden, under privileged and marginalized segments of the communities. CHHASE NGO India is a non-governmental, non-profit, social service voluntary organization working for an integrated development of women and children of downtrodden segment of the society. CHHASE NGO believes that all human beings are equal and has the right to have good health, shelter, food and minimum standard of living. CHHASE NGO has touched new heights by Regular Activities to fulfil the mission of organization. Our executive committee oversees all the organization's efforts. The committee meets regularly to ensure that all of our teams perform efficiently and to facilitate cross-functional connections. CHHASE NGO have excellent staff, volunteers & members, who are dedicated, are available for any social cause (s) always. They are our real strength to carry the noble cause of uplifting the downtrodden. CHHASE NGO was registered in the year 2001 under TN Societies Registration Act, 25 of 1976. It is also registered under the FCRA, 12A & 80G of Income Tax Exemption Act, 1961. CHHASE NGO is completed due diligence norms and listed with CREDIBILITY ALLIANCE, & GUIDE STAR INDIA. CHHASE NGO has been collaborating with foreign donor agencies, corporate, national donor agencies both governmental and non-governmental towards making meaningful interventions for the cause of poor and needy sections of the society.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Education
MEDRIX

MEDRIX works to save lives and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people in Vietnam by providing Medical, Educational and Development Resources through International eXchange. In 2000, MEDRIX became an official non-profit organization in Washington State and in 2002 MEDRIX received official Non-Government Organization licensure to operate in Vietnam. Prior to this, co-founder and Executive Director LaRelle Catherman was invited to conduct research alongside Vietnamese physicians on home treatment for diarrhea in Hue, Vietnam. It became evident that most children suffered from diarrhea due to lack of safe water. Co-founder of MEDRIX, meteorologist, and businessman Robert Catherman undertook the task of finding a method of providing safe, drinkable water. He, along with many MEDRIX volunteers, began to work with provincial leaders to develop an affordable and sustainable water treatment system. MEDRIX began to grow as a result of these initial project ideas and new programs were put into place to address the greater healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene needs of under-served rural villages. MEDRIX accomplishes its goal of saving lives and improving the quality of life in Vietnam through the following endeavors: -Health and hygiene education for children in hand washing, oral care, and nutrition. -Providing education for women in nutrition, food preparation, food safety, along with health and hygiene during pregnancy. -Autism education training for health workers and community education efforts to ease the burden of autism in children. -Life-saving heart surgeries for disadvantaged children and young adults. -Pediatric education workshops in World Health Organization approved curricula for health workers in rural Vietnam. -Nursing education workshops for professional nurses at National Pediatric Hospital and Hue Central Hospital. -GIS mapping workshops to teach Vietnamese healthcare workers how to gather pertinent health information for epidemiological tracking purposes.

Society
Justice Rights
Education
Fondo Guadalupe Musalem A.C.

Support the educational aspirations of young indigenous Oaxacan women from impoverished rural communities in the state. Support the successful completion of high school studies of our grantees and their ability to continue university level studies. Promote the holistic development of the grantees during their high schools studies enhancing their studies through workshops and courses regarding gender equity, prevention of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD), prevention of violence in dating relationships, environmental stewardship, and reading outside of school assignments. Include in the grant personal physical and mental health care to assure health issues do not impede their development. Encourage grantees who complete high school successfully to continue their studies at the university level through financial assistance, lodging and other support. In 2018 the Fondo is funding 34 young women in high school and 15 studying in university. Note: The high school level grantees live in their communities or a town nearby that offers high school level studies. Each month all the grantees gather at the Fondo office in the capital city for a weekend workshops and courses and receive their stipend for the following month as well as their expenses for travel.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Sustainable Development Association (SDA)

We strive to build & strengthen the capacity of the communities and empower the people particularly poor, marginalized and excluded to address their development needs through integration and coordination at local, provincial and national level. Objectives: 1. Conflict Resolution and Promotion of Peace & tolerance in the society 2. Empower deprived segments of society Women, Minorities, Children, Laborer and peasants to secure their basic rights. 3. To advocate for provision/Improvement of Education, Health, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. 4. To work for promotion of human rights specifically of women, minorities, labor and peasants rights 5. To promote the democratic values and political education and struggle for Empowered Local Governments 6. To work for Climate Resilient society Approach: A participatory approach is followed towards socio- economic and political development of communities. Local knowledge and wisdom is on priority basis and sense of ownership is promoted among the target communities. STRATEGIES: SDA has implemented integrated strategy for the development and empowerment of deprived communities. Following strategies have been adopted for the intervening: Committees of SDA on Thematic Areas to analyze the issues, plan and implement program. Social Mobilization Capacity building Technical and financial support Research and knowledge building Advocacy and Networking Targeting poor and most deprived communities Focusing specially on women, children and farmer's development and empowerment Networking and Cooperation Strengthening local groups and other CSOs through providing capacity building opportunities VALUES: Following values are kept as belief at the centre in all our decisions and functions: Religious and cultural freedom Equal Learning's opportunities for all Peace, tolerance and democracy Gender equality and equity Participatory decision making Transparency and accountability Thematic Focus: Our all programs are scrutinized with the lens of Gender and environment which are the cross cutting theme in all the activities. Organization works in the following thematic area; 1. Democracy, Governance & Social Services 2. Human Rights 3. Peace & Tolerance 4. Environment Protection

Society
Justice Rights
Education
Art
Insan Association

Insan Association is a Lebanese non-profit organization established in 1998 by a group of Human Rights activists. Insan is independent from any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion, and does not support or oppose any government or political system. We act to protect and promote the rights of the most marginalized individuals, families and children living in Lebanon- such as refugees, migrant workers, asylum seekers and non identities - without any discrimination. The different services and activities of Insan Association reach out to include individuals from different nationalities, cultures, religions and social status. Insan's beneficiaries come from different countries such as: Sudan, Iraq, India, Egypt, Jordan, Kurdish Syrians, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Bangladesh, originally Lebanese but not registered (non-IDs) and others, all living in Lebanon in very poor and difficult conditions and their children are deprived of most of their basic human rights. Insan pays close attention to children and offers schooling and other kinds of support to underprivileged children, who are neglected by society and suffer from discrimination, extreme poverty or the lack of legal papers. The Insan School accepts migrant children who are otherwise not able to enrol into regular schools as a result of poverty, discrimination, or the lack of appropriate documentation. With its holistic approach Insan does not only provides education but on a case by case basis, offers psychological and social support to the children as well as their parents and families. The organization believes that children have a right to be free from abuses, exploitation and neglect. Children, who benefit from Insan's services, face discrimination, insecurity and poverty - their lives can be unstable and chaotic. The organization is therefore committed to creating a secure environment for them. Insan aims to empower these communities to help themselves and take control of their lives. Insan has a rights-based approach. It believes in the principles of human rights and that respect for human rights can create lasting changes in people's lives and make them reach their full potential by diminishing the causes of poverty and injustice. All of Insan's programmes aim towards the integration of its beneficiaries into the Lebanese society in every possible way.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Environment
Education
Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society (BREADS)

Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society (BREADS) is a non-governmental organization committed to sustainable development. Founded in the year 1993, it is dedicated to the empowerment of the marginalized poor in Kerala and Karnataka State of India irrespective of their caste, creed, gender or political affiliations. BREADS works through the Partners (Don Bosco Development Offices) working at grass root level. BREADS is more involved in policy matters, Capacity building, fundraising and collaborating with the government and non-government funding agencies, while the development partners concentrates on the implementation of the program, its management and monitoring. Over the past 19 years, BREADS has maintained a strong donor base of supporters, a consistent network of thousands of volunteers, development organizations, developmental and technical professionals and hundreds of grassroots level people's organizations actively involved in the development process. BREADS stands for sustainable community development and development of the youths and children by addressing the basic individual and community needs of the marginalized on a long-term basis. Ever since its origin, BREADS has been in the forefront to fight poverty by assisting the poor to enhance their education and skills to find livelihood and sustainable living conditions. Over the years it has helped more than 75000 youths, children and women through various programs/projects and has been actively involved in community initiatives.

Society
Justice Rights
Environment
Education
Art
Animals
Africa Nature Organization

Who We Are: The need for a grassroots organization that would galvanize communities across Africa to positively contribute towards sustainable management of natural resources was an idea born out of a discussion by a group of environment and natural resource management practitioners gathered in Arusha Tanzania in 2010. The idea was subsequently shared with other like-minded individuals and culminated in the formation and subsequent registration of Africa Nature Organization as Non-Governmental Organization on the World Wetlands Day 2nd February 2012 in Kenya. Our focus has been to promote sustainable environmental and natural resource management best practices among grassroots communities working closely with civil society organizations, private sector actors and Government. Our Vision: A well-managed environment and natural resource base benefiting People and Wildlife. Our Mission: To enhance sustainable management of environment and natural resources by empowering grassroots communities, supporting development of effective natural resource management instruments, promotion of green innovations and the advancement of wise-use practices. Programmes: Our work is organized around three themes. These are conservation, people's organizations and livelihoods. 1. Environmental Education and Awareness Sustained environmental education and awareness campaigns have been known to change the behavior and attitudes of stakeholders towards environment and natural resources. Africa Nature Organization environmental education and awareness campaigns target both the young and the old through targeted campaigns such as the Young People4Nature Initiative, environmental demonstrations, environmental days, cross-site visits, workshops and seminars are some of the activities in this category. 2. Conservation of Species and Habitats With the threat of species extinction and habitat loss aggravated by climate change, Africa Nature Organization has taken a special interest in the conservation of species and habitats through rehabilitation, restoration and protection. Afforestation on terrestrial areas, coral transplant in marine ecosystems, dyke construction, development of management plans, support for community guards to protect and monitor species and habitats are some of the activities undertaken to reduce species and habitat loss. 3. Enterprise-led Conservation (ECO) Communities for ages have depended on natural resources for their livelihoods. However, with dwindling natural resource base due to extraction of natural resources for commercial purposes, population increase and climate changes, communities have trapped in a vicious cycle of destroying environment and natural resources for survival. To stem this downward spiral, Africa Nature Organization works with grassroots communities to empower them with business skills and knowledge to initiate nature-friendly enterprises and link them with markets. 4. Research and Innovation for Conservation (RI-Conserve): Relevant information to undertake important decisions regarding natural resources has been an impediment to sustainable management of environment and natural resources. This has been more profound with grassroots communities and organizations, including government, working to empower them to sustainably manage environment and natural resources. To bridge the information gap, Africa Nature Organization undertakes research and develops innovative ways of overcoming environmental challenges facing communities, civil society organizations, private organizations and governments. Baseline surveys, environmental impact assessments, documentation of indigenous knowledge on biological resources, and innovative mobile technology for conservation are some of the activities undertaken in this category. 5. Conservation Communication (COCO): Communicating conservation information to relevant stakeholders is key in to their engagement and involvement in our conservation effort. Conservation Communication maintains stakeholder interest through: Newsletter, Development and distribution of environmental documentaries, Production of other education, information and communication materials.

Society
Justice Rights
Health
Disaster Relief
Kadin Emegini Degerlendirme Vakfi

Foundation for the Support of Women's Work (FSWW), established in 1986, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. It supports grassroots women's leadership throughout Turkey and empowers them in improving the quality of their lives and of their communities. It works with formal or informal women groups in a principled partnership and collaborates with other sectors. The FSWW has Public interest status and tax exemption. The FSWW believes that women's empowerment is not a sole economic issue. It requires strategies integrating transfer of economic resources and democratic participation at all levels, elimination of gender discrimination and exclusion from cultural, political and social arena. The FSWW adopts an empowerment approach of supporting women's bottom-up organizing efforts around their practical needs and building greater self reliance and confidence to meet their more strategic gender issues. Based on this approach, the main empowerment strategies of FSWW are, Provision of public spaces for grassroots women to operate , Capacity building to support grassroots women's organizing efforts and social and livelihood initiatives, and involvement in local governance, Dialogue and negotiation processes to build strategic partnerships at local and national level for resources and recognition, Dissemination of learnings & experience through Networking and Peer Exchanges and publications. FSWW'S WORKING PRINCIPLES *Recognizes the grassroots women's expertise and their power in struggling with poverty and building their lives and their communities, and their rights to define and solve their problems. *Respects grassroots women's own values and avoids alienating them from themselves and their communities. *Believes that equal participation of women in social, economic and political decision making process can only be realized at community and local level, seeks cooperation of local governments and other actors in the society. * Works with grassroots women groups in solidarity as equal partners and its programs are rooted in synergy of women. FSWW PROGRAMS FSWW works with grassroots women groups at local level and carries out the following programs in cooperation with them: 1- Early Child Care and Education Program FSWW develops alternative ways in expanding early child care and education services to low-income communities, through the leadership and advocacy role of grassroots women. With an educational approach bringing the children, families, educators and the community together, women cooperatively manage high quality early childcare and education programs. This program is accredited by Vanderbilt University (USA). Based on the local needs and the resources, child care and education services are provided through: Parent-managed Day Care Centers: Community mothers establish and run community based child care and education centers for children of 3-6 years and cooperate with public and other relevant agencies. Neighborhood Mothers: Experienced mothers are trained to provide child care and education services to 3-4 young children at their own homes. Play Rooms: Children are provided with collective spaces arranged for learning thoroughly play and creative activities under the control of their mothers. 2- Collective Capacity Building and Organizing Program FSWW's participatory and process oriented approach aims to strengthen grassroots' women's capacity and networking to identify and produce solutions to their common problems, develop self-advocacy skills and become active partners in the local decision making process through such tools; Training :Participatory training programs on such issues as Leadership, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Basic IT Skills, Political Participation, etc) are developed to provide women the skills and knowledge in dealing with the issues they concern. Study Tours: New groups are provided to study and learn about good practices of mature groups dealing with similar issues. Exchange Meetings: Grassroots women groups are brought together in peers to share their experiences and to learn from each other at local, national and international level. Leadership and Organizing support: Through this program, women groups are trained and supported to increase their leadership skills and organize around their strategic needs and turn into independent, registered local organizations. Through this program, the FSWW achieved to create a grassroots women's movement and created more than 110 women cooperatives all around Turkey. It has also brought these cooperatives in a network and established a formal Union of Women Cooperatives, and started a policy advocacy process for more favorable environment for women cooperatives in areas of tax, registration and access to public resources issues, and recognition as social businesses. The FSWW through its Cooperative Support Center provides women cooperatives technical assistance, consultancy and program support including training of trainers for dissemination of FSWW programs, organizational strategic planning, business development, marketing, etc. It also provides networking and knowledge sharing platforms through web portals and peer exchange meetings, regional and national meetings. These cooperatives engaged in providing community based child care services, training and capacity building for community women, running economic enterprises and building negotiation processes with the local decision makers, reaching annually around 100 000 women. Dialogue Building Meetings: FSWW helps local women cooperatives to come together with other sectors (municipalities, public agencies, universities and other NGOs) for information sharing, visibility, recognition and accessing to resources. In this framework, the FSWW piloted a Gender Based Local Budget analysis and provided the grassroots women with a tool based on "rights" to negotiate with the local governments for resource allocation to their priorities. 3- Economic Empowerment Programs FSWW initiated the following programs in order to build women's capacity for economic involvement. Business and Product Development: Training and monitoring support is provided to enable women to develop business ideas by analyzing the existing local economic and market opportunities and their own skills, and new products with market potential are developed and women's skills are improved accordingly. Micro Credit: FSWW has established a micro credit institution, MAYA. As the first micro credit program of Turkey, it provides credit to women to start or improve their small businesses, till now distributed more than 11.700 loans. Marketing/ Shop: FSWW established a shop at the ground floor of its own building in Istanbul, where various kinds of products (handmade accessories, decorations etc.) produced by individual women producers and women cooperatives from all around Turkey. The women's products are also marketed through internet on the shop's web site and other e-commerce sites. FSWW also created second hand bazaar under the same name, with local branches run by women initiatives, the profit of which together with Nahl shop, goes to support collective initiatives to run community based child care services. 4- Women and Disaster Program: From Disaster to Development The FSWW has actively involved in the post disaster efforts after the 17 August 1999 earthquake. It has managed to set up eight Women and Children centers' in the region, which are run by women themselves. FSWW enabled women to move from being victims of disaster to active participants in transferring their communities from disaster areas to development. They organized in 6 registered independent organizations working in issues like governance, housing and reconstruction, economic initiatives/sustainability and child care and other community services, additional to a housing cooperative of women. Since 1999, FSWW is cooperating with other organizations in India, Iran, Indonesia etc. with similar experiences as a part of global working group on "Women and Disaster", in order to influence the policies of governments, multinational development and humanitarian agencies to turn a "disaster" into an opportunity for sustainable community development. Based on its experience in post disaster efforts, the FSWW recently started a piloting project in Istanbul cooperating with Istanbul Technical University, for community disaster preparedness under the leadership of women.