Primary programs are in East Africa and a new emergency Ukraine Democracy Activist Crisis Fund. Global GAIN is a nonprofit NGO formed to support women leaders and projects in East Africa and engage the incredible network in international women's political representation and leadership. Our programs and contributions focus on gender equality, girls' education, women's leadership programs. We work
to support women in civic life, democracy-building, and esp to encourage women to aspire to run for public office. Our pilot programs have been in Rwanda and Congo - and here in the US. We encourage feminist thought leadership. We fight misogyny, gender-based violence online. We build networks through mentorship, education, and leadership exchanges. Our board leaders are amazing women who do this full work time too. Here at home, we strive to connect women in politics and advocacy with like-minded women in the world to build a real and meaningful genuine relationship. We have several small programs including:
In Rwanda: Intwari Women are a group of self-named courageous young Akilah Institute students and graduates. Our program focused on giving young Rwandan women practical internships. We work to develop confidence, discover professional passions, promote political and civil participation in decision-making positions, create professional networks, and become global citizens. Our first cohort completed, and several members are working to make these sustainable women's leadership programs. They are organizing the second cohort and creating a new local NGO called Global GAIN (Gender Advocacy Initiatives and Network) Rwanda. Several of them will join me for a live event on Tuesday, November 30th, at 8 am ET. It will be recorded for those who wish to watch it later. Global GAIN Rwanda will create a regional hub for global women's leadership that showcases the Rwandan examples. Rwanda has become famous for its commitment and success with gender parity in political life. Ndoto Za K**e will be a physical and virtual center to encourage feminist thought leadership. Ndoto Za K**e will host international leadership retreats and exchanges online and in person. In Congo: Monique's Children is our program to support DRC Home, a group home for single women and orphaned children in Beni Congo at DRC Home. You might wonder how an orphanage, gender equality, and democracy-building are connected. Five years ago, Amy Pritchard had the privilege of working with the McCain Institute in Congo, training women to run for office. This particular group of women ran to bring attention and essential support to abused, abandoned, and indeed orphaned children due to ongoing war … a war few in the world pay attention too closely. Life in Beni Congo is like nothing you could imagine. We don't like to sensationalize things - and more importantly, we don't like to perpetuate negative images of Africa. And we don't want to present as a white/western saviors nor turn any friends into them. For these reasons and more, we're conscientious and cautious about what we post about our work there. But sadly, Beni is worse than most places you can imagine, and the needs of the children there and the women who fight so hard to protect them are massive. Helping feed, house, and educate young children, especially the girls and the women who support them and work to change their circumstances through advocacy and politics, is a core program of Global GAIN. Our pilot programs are focused on East Africa. Still, the Global GAIN network, social media accounts, and other programs/projects are global and engage women "GAINing" both here at home in the world.
