The first Board decided to support 3 substantial projects: a welcome and reintegration programme for women who are victims of trafficking, run by the Cambodian NGO AFESIP*; a training course of trainers by Women for Women to assist women, who are victims of the war in East Africa, towards professional integration; the renovation of accommodation centres for victims of spousal violence, with “Médecins du Monde”in Pakistan.

The Selection committee, which selects and decides on the support accorded, has, in turn, shortlisted 8 of the 20 projects presented during its 1st meeting on the 10 March last year, at a global cost of 165,300 euros.

4 projets were selected in the ‘Northern countries’: the training of members of the ‘Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes’ (National Federation for women’s solidarity), which welcomes and advises women who are victims of violence in France; the psychological support of women who are victims of rape with CAVAS** in Spain; the development of online legal information tools for women from Latin America in the USA with the Women Justice Center; and finally support for short professional training periods for Chechnyan women who wish to develop an economic business due to the assistance provided by SOFT (a French NGO).

In the Southern countries, the committee selected projects which reinforce women’s position in society as a result of training and the creation of revenue generating activities: in rural zones, with ‘Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières’ in Nicaragua; and, in Mali with the ‘Secours populaire français’; with women who are victims of rape as a weapon of war in Congo with OLAME, or from low casts in India with ‘Aide et Action’.

Support from the Foundation is shown through funding, but also through on-site monitoring missions to help the projects progress.

*AFESIP: Agir pour les Femmes En Situation Précaire (Action for Women in Precarious Situations)
**CAVAS: Centro de Asistencia a Victimas de Agresiones Sexuales (The Centre for Victims of Sexual Abuse)