The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women Names Becca Colbaugh Director of Media Relations

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 20, 2009 - The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is pleased to announce its newest team member, Becca Colbaugh, into her new role as Director of Media Relations. This addition is particularly exciting, as it is a true sign of the Institute’s continued success and growth.

As Director of Media Relations, Colbaugh will coordinate all of the Institute’s press interactions, launch social media campaigns, manage all media, marketing and informational materials - all in the overall goal and effort to raise local, national and international awareness about the Institute both on and offline.

“Becca brings a great deal of energy and new ideas to the Institute, and we are very privileged to have her,” said Terry Neese, Founder and CEO. “Her background in both television and electronic media opens new avenues for telling our powerful story.”

Colbaugh joins the Institute from Washington, DC, where she worked in the fields of television and interactive media. She previously served as producer for the award-winning, national political talk show, “The McLaughlin Group,” and production coordinator for the creative agency, JESS3. She also worked in multiple capacities at The Daily O’Collegian in Stillwater, where she played a key role in pioneering the expansion of the newspaper’s Web site by introducing video packages and podcasting.

Colbaugh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Oklahoma State University, graduating cum lade with a General Honors Award. She was also named one of 39 OSU Significant Seniors in her graduating class of 2,530. Colbaugh also completed a political journalism program at Georgetown University through The Fund for American Studies.

The Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity dedicated to the economic empowerment of women through education, coaching, and mentorship. Through Peace through Business®, the Institute trains women entrepreneurs in war torn countries in basic business practices, then goes a step further by providing mentorship with American women business owners.

Khalida Dunya is a graduate of the Peace through Business® 2009 In Country training, and has been selected to travel to the US for Leadership Development in August 2009.

Her company “Ball Making Training and Production” is a natural outgrowth of her tailoring business and her association with Amir Taj.

Amir Taj is a Peace through Business® 2007 graduate and mentored Khalida Dunya to help her build a business similar to her own ball making company. Our students are taught to Pay Forward the training they received in the US from their affiliation with IEEW. This is an excellent example of our students taking home their training and empowering other women in their community.

Today Taj buys production from Khalida and continues to mentor her.

It is Khalida Dunya’s wish to continue to grow her business, to become a leader in her community, adding employees and contribute to the economic growth of the region.

IEEW will provide Kahlida with additional tools to accomplish her goal during the Leadership Development and International Women’s Economic Conference in Dallas, TX in August 2009.

Students in both Afghanistan and Rwanda have now completed their course work In-County. IEEW staff and volunteers have evaluated the businesses of each of the women, reviewed the grades and participation during In-Country classes and have chosen the students who will continue to the next phase of Peace through Business® 2009.

The following women will travel to the US for Leadership Development and the International Women’s Summit, which begins August 10, 2009 at Northwood University, Cedar Hills, TX.

Afghanistan: Farghana Alima, Razia Arefi, Ataie Asma, Khalida Dunya, Farzana Ebrahimi, Andeisha Farid, Jamila Ghairat, Hamida Hassan, Frazan Nabiyar Raufi, Shakila Rozbeh, Roqia Sajjadi, Rezai Shahrbanoo, Parween Usufi, Mariam Yousufi.

Rwanda: Saudah Nalule, Joan Twagira, Annette Karenzi, Lydie Hakizimana, Sarah Mukandutiye, Deborah Kagwisagye, Annette Karemera, Josephine Mbabazi, Marlene Nyirubutama, Catherine Bitwayiki, Francoise Uwammwezi, Nadia Kamwenubusa, Joy Kansangire, Jane Natukunda and Immy Abine.

Read about these students and their businesses under our “2009 PtB Students” tab or click here.

After leaving Pakistan, where she was a refugee, Marian traveled to Afghanistan and started a handy craft business under the name Mariam Handy Craft. She eventually created “Mariama Education and Culture Association” which trained 370 women in tailoring and literacy. She now sells the goods made by these women.

* Denotes a student that traveled to the U.S. and participated in Leadership Development at Northwood University.

IEEW and the Honorable Mujuwamariya, Rwanda Minister of Gender

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Today the IEEW delegation to Rwanda met with the Minister of Gender, the Honorable Mujuwamariya. The discussion centered on the work IEEW is doing in Rwanda, the involvement of past Peace through Business® graduates in our work and what work is still needed in this country.

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Pictured (l-r) Lin Weigel, Darcie Harris, Mary Melon The Honorable Mujuwamariya, Martha Parker, Desma Reid Coleman, Holly Hixson.

Martha Parker, Darcie Harris, student Cathy Bitwayiki and Mary Melon

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IEEW is also meeting with Peace through Business®2009 students.

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Peace through Business® 2009 In-Country Afghanistan Graduating Class

Manizha Wafeq, IEEW Instructor in Afghanistan and Peace through Business® 2007 alumni, sent photos and a report of the celebrated graduation of the Peace through Business®2009 In-Country students. Of the original 30 enrolled, 23 completed the curriculum developed by Northwood University.

Guest speakers for the event included the Director General of the Economic Empowerment Department of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Mr. Kabir Haqjo, CEO of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), and Mrs. Guljan Zmarai, CEO of the Afghan Women Business Federation (AWBF) . Peace through Business® 2007 and 2008 graduates Kulsoom Hashimi, Amir Taj Sirat, Mushgan Wafiq, Kobra Zaifi, Soraya Ayoubi and Zainul Arab participated in the event by introducing guest speakers and handing out Certificates of Completion.

Mr. Haqjo awarding graduation certificates

Mr. Haqjo stressed women’s roles in economic, social and political activities as vital for a country because women are over 50% of the country’s population and if half of the population is strengthened and activated, it means economic productivity is increased and ultimately the country’s economic growth is accelerated. He also provided all information about ACCI’s services and membership information to the business owners.

Ms. Guljan Zmerai, CEO of AWBF emphasized women’s participation in the business area and encouraged women to set long-term goals for them to grow from small to large enterprises and provide employment to more men and women of this country and improve their livelihood.

Past graduates spoke to the class of their experiences including the importance of having long term vision when one starts a business (Mushgan); the follow-up by IEEW with graduates, continuing to address problems and provide support (Kulsoom Hashimi) and continuing encouragement and support to inspire graduates to be active (Amir Taj).

The event closed with refreshments. We are so proud of these women who want to be self-sufficient and provide leadership for their family and their country. We look forward to welcoming many of them to the United States in August!

Over the next 5 days, we will receive blogs, pictures and news items from the Peace through Business ® delegation on the ground in Rwanda, Africa. We will pass a “sampling” to you every couple of days. Please find below a combination of messages. Visit these websites and blog sites for additional information daily: www.ieew.org; www.darcieharris.com; and www.journalrecord.com Follow the delegation: Mary Mélon, Martha Parker, Desma Reid-Coleman, Lin Weigel, and Darcie Harris.

Remarks from Chief of Staff Lin Massey-Weigel as she travels with IEEW Board Members to Rwanda for In-Country Graduation:

The land of a ‘thousand hills’ is just as beautiful as when I left in December.

It was a very long trip to get 1/2 way around the world, but the US Peace through Business® delegation to Rwanda arrived in one piece. However,it took Desma Reid-Coleman (IEEW board member) 3 days and 5 countries to get here - but what a trooper she is to arrive and go right into a speech at graduation. It is Sunday night about 11:30 in Rwanda, and the graduation is over. We had a very spirited event with lots of African dancing, good speakers, and excited women. It is very hard to select only 15 out of the 30 to come to the US and leave behind the other 15. However, all of the women are very dedicated to not only growing their businesses, but to helping other women along the way.

Ambassador Symington (US Ambassador to Rwanda) spoke at the graduation with inspiring words and a terrific sense of humor. Other speakers include the IEEW delegation of Desma Reid-Coleman, Darcie Harris, Mary Melon, Martha Parker and yours truly. Rwandan Minister Mujuwamariya (Minister of Gender) was schedule to speak, however had to cancel at the last minute due to a death.

Tomorrow starts an exciting week of visits to the businesses of the selected 15 women and a few political visits. I look forward to sending you information and pictures as we go along. Traveling with Mary, Darcie, Desma, and Martha has been a terrific joy. Watch for links to Mary and Darcie’s websites as well!

From Martha Parker, IEEW Board Member and President of Parker & Associates:

Have arrived! After 30+ hours of travel, the arrival into Rwanda was such a treat. We were met at the airport by many of students bearing flowers. The city of Kigali looks much like San Diego by night - with hills and hills of lights spread out as far as the eye can see. Everywhere people are out on their motor scooters - talking, laughing and enjoying the wonderful mild weather.

My hosts and I stayed up for several hours just talking about the program - the world and the changes in Rwanda. They said how much the program has meant to the women - and to the country as a whole. this program is seen as a major step in building the capabilities for the future of Rwanda.

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Also, visit other members of our delegation Mary Melon, Publisher of the Journal Record who is blogging here and Darcie Harris, President-EWF International is blogging from her site - click here.

GENERAL NEWS

Making business connections

by Heather Caliendo
The Journal Record May 4, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY - A group of businesswomen with the Oklahoma City-based Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women left Friday for Rwanda, Africa, to continue an entrepreneurial exchange.

The delegation will be in Rwanda for one week as part of IEEW’s Peace through Business program. The mission for the trip is to educate, empower and mentor women business owners in Rwanda.

See the article at Journal Record website: Click here

Terry Neese, CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, holds a Rwandan peace basket. Neese hosted a group of Rwandan businesswomen last year. (Photo by Maike Sabolich).

Clinton: job creation is key to Afghan stability

AP via Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling Congress that local job creation is a key purpose of the $980 million in extra funds the State Department is requesting for its work in Afghanistan. Clinton is testifying before a House appropriations subcommittee that is reviewing the administration’s request for $7.1 billion in additional funds for the State Department this budget year. She told the panel that a main goal is to improve security at the local level in Afghanistan by putting more people to work. And she said the Obama administration believes that many in the Taliban insurgency who are fighting against American and Afghan forces are motivated more by money than by ideology. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to our new “networking” tool. We encourage women around the world to connect and unite here.

The purpose of this blog is to allow women entrepreneurs to post business questions, problems or ideas. Then all participants will be able to read advice and recommended solutions from our wide audience of women business owners and supporters.

This is how it works:

1. To read or comment on an existing blog, simply click here, and choose the blog entry you want to read.
2. To post a new question or comment, click here.

You should see a blank form. Enter your name and email, the subject of your question or comment, and then fire away!

For instance, enter for the subject ”need help with internet marketing.”

Then in the body of the form, type in a description of your question.

Example: I don’t understand the terms used in Google such as “key words.”

1. To comment on an existing question or comment, click on the “comment” or “no comment” link. It will bring up a section where you can enter your text.

All questions and submissions have to be approved by IEEW and will appear on the website immediately upon review.

If you have questions, please e-mail us at [email protected]

Happy Blogging!