Welcome to the Peace through Business® 2009 information section. Whether you are just looking, learning, thinking about becoming contributor to IEEW or you are considering applying to become a mentor to our 2009 students, this page contains important facts you’ll want to know!
If you decide that you want to explore mentorship further, go to the Programs tab and click on Mentor Application.
Women all over the world are embracing the philosophy that a country that is economically sound has a much greater capacity for peace. The best way to develop economic stability is to build a solid middle class through the largest population demographic –WOMEN!
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) understands that financial stability is a slow process, but through the mentorship of those that ‘have’, you can be a part of something very spectacular - the transformation of those that ‘have not’. We are seeking a pool of mentors to participate in the 2009 Peace through Business® program.
Peace through Business® is a training program designed to provide long term business education to women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. Through our private partners, government agencies, and IEEW staff, we will provide a business education program in three phases: In-Country Education, Leadership Development/International Summit/Mentorship, and Pay it Forward. At the bottom of this email, I will explain more fully what we are asking of you as a potential Mentor.
In-Country Education
March 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009
Rwanda and Afghanistan
Basic business education will be taught to approximately 30 - 45 women in Rwanda and 30 - 45 women in Afghanistan, which will result in the completion of an in-depth business plan over a period of 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the In-Country Education, each of the participants will be invited to apply for Leadership Development. Attendees will be selected based on the performance of their work in class, the evaluation of their business, and the likeliness to return home and Pay Forward.
Leadership Development and International Women’s Economic Summit
August 10-14, 2009 and
August 17-18, 2009
Dallas, TX
The women who are chosen to come to the U.S. will engage in a series of in-depth discussions with leading experts on specific business topics. The discussions at Leadership Development are designed to not only enhance the business of the individual participants, but also to teach the participants to be leaders in their community and their country.
Leaders from many NGOs and government agencies around the country will be invited to attend and participate in conversations on economic development in Afghanistan and Rwanda, and how these women can contribute to the attainment of their country’s economic goals. At the conclusion of the International Women’s Economic Summit, the participants will present a document to their country’s ambassadors outlining their commitment to the top 3 economic issues.
Mentorship
August 19-23, 2009
The participants will be matched with an American woman business owner and will live/work with that WBO for a total of 4 days. The purpose is to take all of the information the participants have learned and apply it in real life scenarios. A secondary purpose is to develop a network of women who may become long-term mentors and potential business contemporaries and allies. It is our hope that both student and mentor will mutually benefit and that the relationship will continue long after the commitment to Peace through Business® is satisfied.
Pay it Forward
The sustainability of this program lies in the desire and ability of each participant to PAY FORWARD their education to other women in their country. We will assist each participant to fulfill this phase through various educational programs established in each country.
We invite you to participate!
It’s important to receive the formal business education and engage in high level discussions, but implementing all of that information to real life scenarios is some times tricky. Managing the Work/Life balance while building a business is an art – and you have the opportunity to assist these young women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda to grow their business and build their country.
