2009 Rwandan and Afghan In-Country PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Graduating Class
Women throughout the world are embracing the philosophy that a country that is economically sound has a much greater capacity for peace, and one non-profit is putting that philosophy into action. The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) is bringing its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program for the first time to the Dallas area this year in partnership with Northwood University at its Cedar Hill campus.
Terry Neese, founder of IEEW, believes the best way to develop economic stability is to build a solid middle class through the largest population demographic – women.
"When you educate a woman, you educate a village, you educate a country, and you educate the world," Neese said.
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS is a training program designed to provide long-term business education to women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Through private partners, government agencies and American women business owners, the program is divided into three phases: In-Country Education, Leadership Development/
Since its creation in 2007, the program has trained more than 100 women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. This August, 30 selected women business owners from both countries will arrive in Dallas, Texas, and spend three weeks learning how to become leaders in their country. The students will engage in a series of in-depth discussions with leading experts on specific business topics through Leadership Development (Aug. 10- 14) and an International Women's Economic Summit (Aug. 17- 18) hosted at Northwood University.
The Summit will be a platform for more than 50 speakers, including Ambassador Karen Hughes, Ambassador Steve Steiner from the U.S. State Department, Newsweek journalist Eleanor Clift to name a few.
Neese said the Summit will be an excellent forum to provide a truly international experience for this year’s students.
"This year, we partnered with Northwood University in Cedar Hill to bring the women from each of the countries together,” Neese said. "This provides an excellent opportunity for the women to learn from each other and become true international partners.”
After Leadership Development and the Summit, the students will enter the Mentorship phase Aug. 19-23. Each student has been matched with an American woman business owner, who they will live and work with her and her family for a total of five days. This year's 30 mentors includes women business owners from all across the United States, from coast to coast.
Philadelphia business woman, Dr. Donna Skerry, described her excitement about mentoring an Afghan woman this year. Her student, Frozan, runs a medical clinic in Kabul.
“Helping other people has always been my focus, and I believe that the empowerment of women and the philosophy behind IEEW is the answer,” Skerry said. “I do believe we hold the power to peace.”
The purpose of mentorship is to take all of the information the students have learned and apply it to real life scenarios. A secondary benefit is to develop relationships with women who may become long-term mentors and potential business contemporaries and allies. Despite today's economy, women business owners from all over the United States, including four from Texas, have volunteered their time, talent and resources as mentors for this year's program.
Former First Lady Laura Bush has supported the program, and she gave remarks to the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Afghan graduation in 2008 via DVD. Neese and Mrs. Bush first became acquainted through the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, when a council member recommended Neese in 2007 to Mrs. Bush as the No. 1 woman in the United States who could design and implement a meaningful and successful mentorship program for Afghan women. Other IEEW supporters and sponsors include the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation, the T. Boone Pickens Foundation, Paul Singer, AT&T and Office Depot.
Dr. Kevin Fegan, provost of Northwood University's Texas campus, said it is a privilege for Northwood to host these women and help them develop entrepreneurial skills.
"The way the IEEW empowers women and educates them so they can educate others is admirable – and it all complements Northwood's distinguished history of developing entrepreneurs,"
Once the students return to their countries, they are tasked through the program to "Pay Forward" their knowledge to other women in their countries.
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