The FAWCO Target Program began in partnership with The FAWCO Foundation in 2009, with the goal of focusing on a critical global issue. The Target Program runs in three-year cycles: one year for awareness and education and two years of fundraising for the selected project. FAUSA has been an enthusiastic and generous supporter of the Target Projects both financially and with members nominating the projects. More information about past FAWCO Target Programs and Projects can be found here.
Target Program Environment 2022-2025
Our Natural Environment: Empowering Women and Girls to Ensure a Sustainable Future
With the successful completion of our past Target Program in March 2022 entitled “Health Matters!” we undertook a year of study and education on the Environment and how we can make a difference. This Target Program aims to bring an awareness to Environmental Issues that affect us all.
The FAWCO Foundation announced at the biennial meeting in Bratislava in March 2023 that FAWCO member clubs selected AWESOME BLOSSOMS, an Urban Farming Project, (AB) as FAWCO’s Target Project for 2022-2025: Environment. FAUSA is excited that as of September 30, 2023, it has donated $9008 to the 2022-2025 Target Project, including $3,000 raised through the recent LUNAFEST®.
The Project
Awesome Blossoms is the latest evolution of a community-based organization, Safe Spaces, created by Mrs. Peninah Nthenya Musyimi. This project features organic, water-efficient urban farms with 500 gardens in each farm to support girls’ education and empowerment programs and with 75 women in partnership with three primary schools located in the Mathare slum area of Nairobi.
Background:
Founder/Director Peninah Nthenya Musyimi is the first woman from Nairobi’s slums to work her way through university to qualify as a lawyer. She realized that a systematic, integrated approach is needed to address root causes of poverty and violence. In 2008, she returned to the slums to establish Safe Spaces.
Find lots more information about Awesome Blossoms and the Target Project on FAWCO's website here and in FAWCO's Blog.
For additional questions, please contact FAWCO's Target Project Chair Amanda Drollinger.
Tharien van Eck
Target Project Selection Chair
AWC Antwerp
target-application@fawco.org
2020-2022 Past Successful Target Project
The 2019-2022 Target Program is Health Matters!, and the related 2020-2022 Target Project is S.A.F.E. (Safe Alternatives for FGM Elimination), Hope for Girls & Women. FAUSA earned the Topaz medallion with its initial donation of $4000 toward the two-year goal. FAUSA later achieved the rank of Diamond Donor for their donation of a total of $9468.
- Supported women and girls in the Mara region of Tanzania.
- Was a safe-haven for 500 at-risk girls coupled with family counseling services to ensure their safe return home, free from the threat of female genital mutilation (FGM).
- Provided healthcare and psychosocial counseling to 200 women and 300 girl survivors of FGM.
- Created community sensitization through outreach programs and introduction of Alternative Rites of Passage as an alternative to FGM, with a potential reach of 25,000 individuals.
- Created income-generating opportunities for 50 women and 50 girls and access to the National Health Insurance Fund plan.
Hope for Girls and Women’s Founder and Director, Rhobi Samwelly, was selected by France’s President Macron for a prestigious Marianne Human Rights Defenders Award. She traveled to Paris to accept the award in March 2022.
Past Target Projects nominated by FAUSA members
The first Target Project, selected in November 2010, and nominated by FAUSA member Yolanda Henry. “Tabitha-Cambodia, Wells for Clean Water”, raised $162,590 for improving access to safe drinking water and through participation of FAWACO clubs, over 1500 families now have clean water.
The 2017-2019 Target Project, “Hope Beyond Displacement,” was nominated by FAUSA member Therese Hartwell. The project, an initiative of Collateral Repair Project, focuses on education for women and girls living as refugees in Jordan. This Project exceeded the fundraising goal, with $198,000 raised over the two-year period. An update on this project can be found in the FAUSA Philanthropy News here.
