Lasallian Women of Hope (LWH) fosters educational access, empowers girls and women, and creates sustainable change.
Mission
The mission of Lasallian Women of Hope is to ensure girls and women enjoy full access to Lasallian education. A project of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools’ Solidarity and Development Secretariat, LWH began as a small project providing grassroots female empowerment while developing sustainable solutions to mitigate obstacles impeding educational access. Through its grants, LWH delivers creative, effective and durable solutions to educational inequities for girls and women.
History
LWH started in 2016 with the Pad Project at Mwangaza College in Nakuru, Kenya. It resulted from the discovery that young women would engage in “situational prostitution” to purchase personal hygiene products needed to attend classes during their menstrual periods. “Period poverty” is one of many gender-specific obstacles girls and young women confront in accessing quality education.
Proposed Projects for 2024
LWH hopes to support several projects in 2024 that will empower young women in India, Madagascar, South Africa and Kenya through projects such as the Pad Project, sewing, a women’s retreat and more. Donations are needed to make these dreams reality. Learn more about the projects.
March 2024 Update: Funded Projects to Date
The Pad Project: Menstrual Education and Personal Hygiene Items
- Child Discovery Center, Kenya
- Mwangaza College, Kenya
- Lasallian Women of Madagascar
- Hygiene Project for Young Women in Tsholofelo, South Africa
Learn More about LWH
- “Lasallian Women of Hope: Removing Obstacles to Education,” De La Salle Today, Spring-Autumn 2020
- LWH held a virtual celebration, themed “Streams of Hope: Creating New Pathways,” on October 1, 2022, hosted at various locations throughout the world, including Chicago, Illinois; Nairobi, Kenya; New York, New York; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Oxford, England; Rome, Italy; and San Francisco, California. Watch the recording.
Current and Planned Projects
Mwangaza College, Nakuru, Kenya
Pad Project • Programming for the Advancement of Women
Learn more >
Lasallian Family of Papua New Guinea
Pad Project • Hygiene Hampers • 2022 Women’s Symposium • Lasallian Women Advocates for Change
Learn more >
Tumba Community, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pad Project • Programming for the Advancement of Women
Learn more >
Collège Saint Jean Baptist de La Salle, Port au Prince, Haiti
Pad Project • Menstrual and Hygiene Education
Learn more >
Puthu Vasantham Girls Village, Dindigul, India
Health Awareness Camp • Pad Project • Naturopathy Treatments • Medical Check-Ups • Guest Speakers on Health and Well-being
Learn more >
FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIP WITH FAIRTRADE CARAVANS
A fundraising partnership with FairTrade Caravans will help support projects of Lasallian Women of Hope (LWH) around the world. Beginning in October 2021, LWH is one of three projects to receive 25% of proceeds from FairTrade Caravans product sales. Fair-trade products such as jewelry, coffee, chocolate and more are available online. Learn more and shop >
Get in Touch!
Online: La Salle International Foundation
Email: LasallianWomenofHope@gmail.com
Facebook: @LasallianWomenofHope