Empowered Women International

Cause Area

  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Literacy
  • Employment
  • Immigrants & Refugees
  • Women

Location

320 S. Henry StAlexandria, VA 22314 United States
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Organization Information

Mission Statement

A dynamic women’s entrepreneurial development organization, Empowered Women International creates social empowerment and economic opportunity for immigrant, refugee and American-born women who face challenging economic and personal circumstances in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

We offer a holistic model of empowerment through entrepreneurship and workforce training, mentoring, access to markets and capital, and highly individualized support services that remove women from unemployment and isolation, restore their lives and livelihoods and help them reach their fullest potential.

Since its inception in 2002, EWI has helped more than 3500 women overcome the barriers to meaningful employment, transform their own lives and contribute to their communities. The organization has launched more than 220 women’s micro-enterprises of which 70% are still in existence. Each year EWI serves more than 300 women. This investment in women results in a powerful multiplier effect. Each woman graduate of our program pays it forward through her own business networking, community engagement and volunteer work, impacting the lives of many others in the community and around the world.

Description

What We Do

Launch and grow women-run micro-businesses through entrepreneurship training, mentorship, business support services, loans applications and market access

Help women integrate, act as agents of change and improve their lives and livelihoods through community participation, civic engagement and cultural programs and events

EWI’s Goals


Create economic, market, and career opportunities for immigrant, refugee and low-income women;
Realize long-term community impact and economic benefit by supporting and investing in women graduates' businesses and connecting them with a wider network of businesses, professionals and community programs;
Raise awareness and increase appreciation for the cultural contributions that immigrant and refugee women, along with their families, make to our country.

Programs:

Through "Entrepreneur Pathways for Women" (EWP), EWI offers clients training programs and support services, collectively designed to take a holistic approach to each woman’s economic mobility and personal growth.

EWI currently offers two training programs as part of EPW:

Entrepreneur Training for Success (ETS) - A three-month, 60-hour course in business, workforce, life and leadership skills. ETS strongly emphasizes the fundamentals of micro-entrepreneurship, combined with the basics of financial literacy.

Grow My Business (GMB) - A six-month business development program designed for ETS graduates and other women who have already initiated their own startup micro-businesses.

In addition, Entrepreneur Support Services (ESS) offers year-round personalized business assistance, referrals for support services, and workshops aimed to address the multiple needs women face while embarking on the path to entrepreneurship.

Women not only succeed by gaining targeted business knowledge and skills, but receive support in overcoming barriers towards personal and professional growth.

EWI entrepreneurs integrate in the community and develop a sense of belonging, engage with other businesses and community members, form new bonds and social networks, and bring their lives and micro-enterprises into the life of their communities.

Reviews

Would you recommend Empowered Women International?
2 reviews Write a review
by hiba y. from SD (2011-09-22 15:16:49.0)
cause you heling international women , I am one of them,and i like to help others.
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by Juliana K. from VA (2009-10-22 18:38:19.0)
Empowered Women International is truly unique and the only organization of its kind in the region. They work on a combination of issues concerning immigrants and refugees, female empowerment, and the arts and one can truly see the difference they make in their beneficiaries' lives. EWI is small, which for a volunteer is a definite plus in my opinion, because that makes it very hands-on and rewarding, you are able to meet and work alongside the organization's artist members, and get to see the impact that your involvement has. I contacted Empowered Women International almost a month ago about volunteering and shortly thereafter started an internship with them. I have been looking for work since I graduated in August; the economy has made it difficult, which is why I'm glad that in the meanwhile I'm able to work with an organization like EWI. I've become a huge fan and feel very lucky that I chanced upon them.
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