IAAVS is Connected with Rwandan Woman Through Women for Women International

I Am A Visual Statement (IAAVS) has received great news...we were provided information about the woman we sponsor through our monthly contributions. She is from Rwanda and we are honored to have the opportunity to help her reach her goals of self-empowerment and self-sufficiency.

For those of you who are not familiar with the history of Rwanda and the impact on the country's women and children, let us share some horrifying facts with you. It has been estimated that roughly 500,000 women and girls were raped, tortured and physically abused during the genocide that began in 1994. The country's population is 70% female with more than half of the households ran by women; 80% of which are widows.

Over 1/4 million children in Rwanda have been made orphans due to AIDS. "Despite the extreme poverty many Rwandans find room in their hearts to adopt as many as 6 orphaned children, treating every child like their own, a mantra of the country and its President, Paul Kagame" (Women for Women International Website).

Due to the strength of the women in Rwanda their ability to finally speak up and speak out after years of silence has led to the act of rape to be prosecuted as a war crime. In 2003, 49% of parliaments seats were filled by women. But these strides don't mean that women are completely free from the effects of war.

We look forward to sharing with everyone more details concerning our sponsored sister (of course protecting her identity for obvious reasons) and her progress through our financial assistance and the guidance of Women for Women International.

For more information on Women for Women International click here

Be sure to visit IAAVS to make t-shirt purchases so that we can continue to help Women for Women International. If you have questions or would like to invite us to an event please e-mail us at: info@iaavs.com

Please note that the pictures displayed in this blog were retrieved from the Women for Women International website.