We reach around the world to educate and empower

In Guatemala, 76 girls have a chance at an education and a job thanks to the Starfish One by One program. Global Grassroots in Rwanda is able to start three new programs helping educate and empower girls to work toward significant cultural change. And in El Salvador and Nicaragua, Prevention International, No Cervical Cancer provides education and builds awareness as well as health exams and screenings for young women at risk.

These are just a few of the programs, Dining for Women has funded in our effort to change the developing world from one that oppresses and objectifies women to one where women have access to education, are empowered and economically self-sufficient.

2013 is our tenth year and we are so proud to have grown from one chapter to more than 400. And to have raised more than $2.3 million. But we aren't just raising money - although that is our mission. And the developing world isn't the only one that we hope to change. Here in the U.S., among our 8000 active members, we are effecting change as well.

Our selection committee - made up of involved and committed volunteers, follows a rigorous selection process to make sure that our funds go to strong programs with boots on the ground and the best chance of success. Our program and education committees, also member-driven, research the country, the issues, the solutions, the economy and the culture and educate our members each month.

Through the camaraderie of friends getting together for dinner and conversation, we are increasing awareness of issues and providing a channel to advocate for change.

Through the purposeful passion of our members, our donors and the organizations we fund, we are a circle of support, striving to be one of hope and working to be one of action and change.

Dining for Women is pleased to announce the funding of six new programs

for the remainder of 2013. From Mexico to Thailand, we will be supporting more than 1450 women directly and countless more indirectly through the granting of more than $325,000.

The programs we are supporting work toward improved health, increased education opportunities, training of healthcare workers to return to rural villages and dental care.

The programs are:

One Heart World-Wide in Nepal is our featured program for July. The program works to build a network of safety and life-saving support and care for women and their newborns, reducing the high rate of infant and maternal mortality.


StoveTeam International in Mexico manufactures and provides fuel efficient and safe cook stoves. Because cooking shouldn't kill; and yet it does - fumes from indoor cooking fires are the leading cause of death for children under 5 in the developing world. This program will be featured in August.


Foundation Rwanda
helps women and children still struggling to cope with the impact of the 1994 genocide and the thousands of children born from rape. The program provides education and support for both children and their mothers who struggle to deal with isolation and loneliness. Foundation Rwanda will be funded in September.


The Unforgotten Fund
In Pune, India, thousands of women and children live in trash dumps. They eat contaminated scraps of food scrounged from the garbage. This program, featured in October, seeks to help women find better ways to support their families with occupational training, education and
microloans.


ASSET in Uganda seeks to identify promising young women, mentor them, support them and provide scholarships so they can get an education. Featured in November, this program also runs a program that trains and helps to market artisan beadwork as a method to fund scholarships.


Smiles On Wings in Thailand works to improve the overall health of the rural population in Thai villages through dental care, humanitarian aid and education. To build capacity in these villages, Smiles On Wings identifies young refugee women with the potential to become healthcare providers and educators. It provides scholarships and support to these women, who return to their villages to work after graduation.

Sustained Programs

We have also granted $60,000 to four programs that receive sustained funding for three years. INMED in Peru for a program to improve maternal and neonatal health in remote jungle communities; Thirteen Threads in Guatemala helps women and girls develop artisan businesses and bring woven products to market; Rubia in Afghanistan works to empower women and girls to greater decision making in their communities; and Lotus Outreach in Cambodia, which provides assistance to the victims of human trafficking and rape.

Download the program flyer.

This Month's Sustained Program

Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer (PINCC), May 2013

Sustained Program Summary

PINCC is a non-profit, volunteer medical service organization whose mission is to create sustainable programs that prevent cervical cancer. The program educates and treats women, trains medical personnel, and equips facilities in developing countries, utilizing proven, low cost, low technology methods.

With sustained funding of $45,000 over 3 years from Dining for Women, PINCC’s objective in India is to initiate and complete three programs in Bangalore (Karnataka Province), Siliguri (Darjeeling District, West Bengal) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh Province).  The total impact of the training program over three years is estimated to affect the lives of 12,000 Indian women. It is expected 10 to 13% women examined will be found to have pre-cancerous lesions and will be treated; about 1,500 women will be prevented from developing invasive cancer.

click the title to read all about this month's sustained program