Search Nonprofits

The Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) is a non-government, non-profit organization established in 1996 to assist distressed women migrants from Japan, as well as their Japanese-Filipino children, in the promotion and protection of their rights and welfare. In 2011, DAWN expanded its programs to include Filipino migrant domestic workers and their families. Its mission is to live in hope with the Filipino people, especially with the returning distressed migrant women and their children, through programs and services that enable them and their families to regain and strengthen their sense of dignity and self-worth, reclaim their wholeness and attain total development. Up to the mid-1980s, the vast majority of migrant workers were men. By the late 1980s, when the demand for service grew in the international arena, more women workers started to join the migrant workforce. This era marked the feminization of migration. There was a rapid increase in the number of women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Most of them are domestic workers and entertainers. In the 1970's, the Philippines starts sending Overseas Performing Artists (OPAs). About 98% of OPAs go to Japan for work, where 95% are composed of women. The 1990s and 2004 saw a huge increase in the number of Filipino women who were deployed abroad as OPAs. Although the figure declined in 1996 with the implementation of stricter laws after the cases of Maricris Sioson in 1991 and Flor Contemplacion in 1995, there was an increase in the number of OPA deployment in 1997. The deployment reached 74,000 in 2003, and about 71,000 in 2004. It has long been accepted that women constitute the more vulnerable sector among OFWs. The Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) believes that women entertainers, particularly those who work in Japan, are more vulnerable to exploitation with the nature of their work. With the increase of women working in Japan as entertainers in Japan, problems arose, including the issue of Japanese-Filipino Children (JFC). The burden suffered by some of the women who worked in Japan as entertainers is likewise borne by their children. Given such scenario, six concerned individuals with different backgrounds but with a common passion for helping migrant women, met at a nun's residence in Quezon City, the Philippines, to minister to the birth of a new organization that would serve the cause. The six individuals are Aurora Zambrano, an Immaculati Cordis Mariae (ICM) sister; Carmelita Nuqui, who had extensive experience in helping woen overseas workers; Pearl Domingo-Flores, a health worker; Julia Racquel Rimando, a Medical Doctor; Leonardo Morada, a pastor; and Corazon Valdez-Fabros, a lawyer. Thus, on February 6, 1996, DAWN was registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a non-stock, non-profit organization. DAWN was set-up in 1996 to address the growing number and concerns of distressed Filipina migrants from Japan as well as the growing number of JFC abandoned by their Japanese fathers. Its aim is to protect and promote the rights and welfare of Filipina migrants and the JFC, help them regain and enhance their sense of dignity and self-worth, and reclaim their wholeness in the process of their reintegration into their families and the larger Philippine society. Immediately after DAWN was set-up, Sr. Auring Zambrano and Ms. Mel Nuqui were invited for a series of meetings in Japan to explore possible areas of cooperation with different Japanese organizations. During their trips, Sr. Auring says that she learned a lot about the problems of migrants in Japan. One of the biggest problems is the overstaying of women who continue to work despite the lack of proper visas. Sr. Auring also says that she is saddened by the fact that a lot of women "are forced to go into prostitution in order to remain in Japan and survive." Other problems they noted were divorce and complicated relationships with Japanese men or other Filipinos with families in the Philippines, wife battering and abandonment. With all these problems and more, DAWN actively sought out partners who could assist them in helping these women, including their children, rebuild their lives. DAWN worked hand-in-hand with the Citizens' Network for Japanese-Filipino Children in Tokyo, the Japan International Center for the Rights of the Child of Osaka, the Lawyers for Japanese-Filipino Children based in Japan, the Kitami Maligaya in Hokkaido, JICHIRO (AllJapan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union), the Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center, and some Philippine-based organizations. At the onset, DAWN had to rely on its Board members and incorporators for the implementation of its programs and services. Donations from Filipino and Japanese friends provided the initial funds for DAWN's programs. Volunteers also lend their hands in the running of the programs. It has four core programs: 1. SOCIAL SERVICES 2. ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD 3. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY 4. EDUCATION And two support programs: 1. INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2. NETWORKING

Mission: Hope Foundation for African Women (HFAW) is a nonpartisan not for profit national grassroots organization committed to women and girls empowerment, their sexual and reproductive health and human rights as well as elimination of gender disparities in all our communities. We work for the empowerment of grassroots women and girls through income generating activities and education about their rights. We address gender inequalities through raising awareness, trainings, motivating, inspiring and mentoring the women and organizations we work with. Our identity statement: We have firm believe in the power of ordinary people to change their situation and seek to unveil it Guiding Principle: To promote gender equality and equity for all Core Strategies: HFAW has adopted the strategies in addressing gender inequalities. We work with grassroots women and women's organizations to facilitate women's empowerment. We do this through various means: Engaging them in economic growth through individual and group projects Providing skills to address sexual and reproductive health knowledge and services Involving them in innovative strategies to total eradication of female genital mutilation (FGM) Supporting them to question gender based violence and use whatever formal or informal means available to them to end this vice in their community We mentor women with self-advocacy skills and motivate them to be leaders in their families and communities Educate women on their rights as guaranteed in the 2010 constitution We build the capacity of women to promoters of health, safe environment and other rights Our Core Values -To fight against marginalization of individuals -To be professional, confidential and respectful -Commitment to women's empowerment and seek respectful teamwork with individuals and groups and to uphold every person's human dignity and to do our work with utmost integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability -We have passion, calm and logic in our work to eliminate gender disparities Our History: HFAW was started in August 2011 by Dr. Grace B. Mose Okong'o and Mrs. Hellen Njoroge as a response to debates in our country that suggest that Kenya's women are not ready or willing to take up political leadership positions to fill the one third constitutional mandate. Currently only a few seats in the National Assembly are occupied by women, we have not met the 1/3 mandate. HFAW leaders see the problem as originating from our extreme patriarchal society which discriminates against women. Advancing women's participation in leadership has to start with addressing the whole spectrum of inequalities at the grassroots. We must address economic and educational inequalities. Women have to be economically empowered and educated about their constitutional and women's human rights. HFAW leaders are engaging women in civic education, women's rights, violence against women, reproductive health and services, and total eradication of FGM.We have started with two marginalized communities of Kisii and Maasai where FGM practice is universal with nearly 97% girls undergoing it. This practice is so detrimental physically but also mentally as it socializes women to accept their poverty and low status position in their families, communities and nation. The overall goal of this project is to improve economic and health of poor and vulnerable women,and advance human rights of Kenyan women and families through education, leadership training and the development of community health teams. One of our current objective is to adopt popular education model as implemented by EPES Foundation in South America to train 30 health and human rights promoters to work in rural villages in Nyamira. We will use the model to eradicate FGM in these communities; advance reproductive health, economic prosperity and human rights. Ultimately these women will lead much higher quality life and participate in their families and nation as full human beings.

Our mission is to end patriarchal violence against women in our society, to strengthen the position of women and to promote the empowerment of women. We believe that violence against women is a consequence of unequal distribution of gender power. Our work is based on belief that the intervention of civil society organizations in the area of WAV should work to achieve the empowerment for all women.

Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to providing food and clothing to women and their young children, and offering educational and other opportunities to help women compete in today's marketplace. 

Our Mission is to provide a healthy, safe environment for homeless women and children that offers opportunities and encouragement for achieving self-sufficiency. By providing shelter and resource options through a partnership of providers, UP for Women and Children is where homeless women are empowered to find hope, help, and refuge

Suit Yourself – Wardrobe for Women Association helps low-income, disadvantaged women make transitions into and within the workforce by offering quality business apparel appropriate for job interviews and work opportunities. This clothing is provided free of charge and trained volunteers assist each client individually by providing image consulting and fitting advice appropriate to the type of work environment the client is entering. Women are encouraged to return after obtaining a position so that they may choose additional outfits to wear to their new job. Women are referred to Suit Yourself by more than 40 pre-employment training programs and other organizations assisting low income women in their employment search. These agencies operate throughout the Greater Edmonton region.

Nellie's helps women and children who are in crisis due to violence, poverty and homelessness. This is done through a 36 bed emergency shelter and community support programs that help to save and rebuild the lives of hundreds of women and children every year.

Asian University for Women seeks to graduate women who will be skilled and innovative professionals, service-oriented leaders in the businesses and communities in which they work and live, and promoters of intercultural understanding and sustainable human and economic development in Asia and throughout the world.

The mission of Rainbow Place is to provide women emergency overnight shelter during the hypothermia season and assist them as they transition to a better quality of life.

Here is the list of the free and confidential services SASS is offering: - Crisis line: One in French and one in English, which operate 24/7 days per week; - Accompaniment to the police station, hospital, court or anywhere else according to the woman’s need; - Public Education community groups, schools agencies, workplaces in an effort to increase the awareness and prevent sexual violence; - Support in defending the rights by writing letter of support, helping to fill out official paperwork etc; - Counselling one on one to help women understand the effects of sexual violence; - Information/support groups for women and younger women on different topics; - Referral in the community.