The association „Women help women“ was founded in Lingen in 1992. Since then, about 80 members have raised more than 40.000 €, through donations as well as membership fees, and put this money into various projects in Germany and abroad. The annual membership fee is 15,00 €.

The work of “Women help women is based on the following considerations:

Economical distress affects women and children particularly heavy. They are usually responsible for themselves and their families. “Women help women” tries to help through small projects in different regions of the world, to relieve the distress, to open up new vistas and thus give support and encouragement. A focal point in this regard is helping women to help themselves by providing a supporting framework of educational opportunites on site. By improving their education and learning how to manage themselves they are put into the postion of leading an independent life.

Here are some activities:

Mozambique:

In the north of Mozambique, in the town Chimoio, “Women help women” supports the Women’s initiative “LE MUSICA” (“Woman, get up and cut your own path!”). Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and after many years of civil war and numerous natural disasters it is now on it’s way to democracy. Education and social work for families suffering from AIDS are focal points of our aid.

Berlin:

Since 1996 we keep in touch with the “In Via Center” in the east of Berlin. This educational institution has become a meeting place for many women and girls. The “In Via Center” offers educational courses, social advisory service and a second-hand-shop. Once a year “Women help women” collect clothes and toys, that are sold in this shop at low prices. The revenues are used to pay for the the work in the girls’ groups.

Lithuania:

Since 2001 we have links to the women’s network “Vilties Tiltas” and other groups in the middle of Lithuania. These groups in rural areas try to help women to develop future prospects. Primarily “Women help women” supports educational courses for women to enable them to earn their living.

Poland:

In 2006 we have established contact with two groups in Poland, who committed themselves to the development of their villages, the association “Stovawrzyszenie Wspierajace Rozwoy Wsi” and a group of the female rural population in Blanki. The contact was made because of the partnership between the counties Emsland and Lidzbark Warminski in the north of Poland. We support the groups in the area of education and have already provided school furniture and computers for adult education courses. This was possible with the aid of the county Emsland and our friends in the Dutch township Losser.

By offering further education, particularly in the range of culture and tourism, “Women help women” wants to give an outlook especially to women and children.

In the Emsland the association calls attention to his work through the following activities:

• Lectures on the partners in school and societies
• Sales of speciality bread – combined with information on the partners
• Christmas markets in Lingen and the vicinity – bread and information
• Sales of greeting-cards created by female artists from Lingen
• Cookbook: “Men cook ...”

Due to the international cooperation in November 2006 a crossborder cookbook with recipes from the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Lithuania was published in the languages of the four countries. It is meant to introduce the cuisine of the neighbouring countries and the revenues are intended for the educational work in the rural areas of Poland and Lithuania.

For further information please contact the chairpersons:

Ursula Feldmann, Vorsitzende, 0049 (0)5906 – 813

Karin Ulrich, stellv. Vorsitzende 0049 (0)591 - 2732

Internet: http://www.fhf-emsland.de