Why We Were Founded

WEI was founded in 1999 by two women: an American, leveraging a successful business career that included seven years as a Microsoft executive; and a Kenyan, capitalizing on 16 years of community development experience across Sub Saharan Africa – two women who shared a dream of equipping women and girls to overcome poverty.  Encouraged and supported by a staff of dedicated volunteers, the dream to educate girls, equip women to break the cycle of poverty, and empower both to grow into leaders in their communities, came to life.  Since then WEI has directed over $1.7 million to scholarship programs in Guatemala, Kenya and Benin, to micro-enterprise programs in Bolivia, Kenya and Indonesia and to water projects in Kenya.  Through these programs WEI has, directly and indirectly, served over 7,600 women and children.

Over the past nine years, WEI has methodically grown to encompass a Seattle-based Board of Directors, a fulltime Director, one part-time contract worker, many dedicated volunteers, and hundreds of donors supporting our programs.  In the field, WEI programs are delivered by an experienced indigenous Country Director supported by local field workers, all women who have emerged as leaders from within a WEI program that benefitted them.

The Role of Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of WEI.  Until mid-2008, WEI was solely a volunteer led and run organization.  WEI’s foundation and the explosive growth of our programs and donor base were built by a small team of visionary leaders here and abroad, and a larger team of committed volunteers serving as program coordinators, fund raisers and administrative staff.  Today, six dedicated program coordinators, an accountant, marketing specialist, WEI Founder/ President and several Board members are the volunteer core of the leadership team.  A faithful community of over 40 “volunteers at large” extends the capacity of the organization working as IT specialists, newsletter stuffers, event coordinators, fundraising partners, and administrative support.  WEI’s volunteer leadership team and Board extend the capacity of our small staff by over 200%, contributing the work of over three fulltime equivalent employees.