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Samira Harnish, Founder and Executive Director, Women of the World spoke at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute on March 28, 2019 regarding the building of community around self-reliance and trust: concepts that WoW holds deeply important as its mission. Utah communities are diversifying with new neighbors from around the globe. Learn the best ways to bring together self-reliant, displaced women and their new communities with founder and executive director of Women of

Every year, the Fashion show is an opportunity to highlight something displaced women can teach us. Last year we highlighted the harms of barriers and the benefits of community, this year we move with momentum forward to restore hope. A hope–we are reminded–that is also the object of a journey we take together. The hope we are restoring is at once audacious and an incentive to act. The endless anger that ‘we the people’ hear on TV and read 280 characters at a time is not the

The 2018 Nansen Award Ceremony hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees This last week marked a milestone for Women of the World Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, the awarding by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of the 2018 Americas Region Nansen Award Finalist. The award ceremony was held on October 1st in Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva serves as the European headquarters for the United Nations and as the global headquar

“Affecting and utterly eye-opening, The Girl Who Smiled Beads is a powerful reminder of just how strong and indomitable the human spirit can be.” — Bustle Women of the World believes in the power of stories: to heal, to detail our humanity, and to hope. In Clemantine Wamariya’s story of seeking refuge (she fled Rwanda at age six with her elder sister) and resettlement (eventually in Chicago), we get all of this and more, a courageous voice that is a force to be reckoned with.

Women of the World loves Utah, gives in Utah! We are so happy to be a part of this community that is so neighborly, that helps our ladies feel at home. WoW knows that Utahns give generously — of their time and from their hearts — so we participate in the one day per year crowdfunding event Love Utah, Give Utah. According to the Community Foundation of Utah which coordinates Love UT Give UT, this event is an annual giving day to support Utah’s nonprofit sector. Using Razoo, an

One of the members of the Canyon Singers, Nan McEntire, shares her impressions of the experience of singing in the Women of Courage Concerts On March 17th and 18th Women of Courage, the musical creation of Patty Willis and Mary Lou Prince, came to life in Salt Lake City. Although there was no admission fee, donations were plentiful, and half of the amount collected at the door went to Women of the World. As one of the singers in the choir, I realized that Women of the World w

In the concert “Women of Courage” there is an unveiling of a monument of words and song. We dedicate our transcendental selves to reverence for those that nurtured our better future. A friend has dedicated a wall of her living room to her heroes. Each time she walks by, she feels infused by their courage. Wanting to honor and remember the courage of their own heroes, two Salt Lake artists, composer Mary Lou Prince and lyricist Patty Willis, have created a monument of words an

“We Are All in this Together” Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski’s key note speech to the Women of the World Sixth Annual Celebration of Women Refugee Success. “Thank you for inviting me today to help celebrate so many powerful women and to honor your accomplishments. And thank you to Women of the World and to Samira Harnish, the founder of the organization. Samira experienced the challenges of resettlement herself when coming to Salt Lake City. She was also an engineer—a

Celebrating the success of our refugee ladies feels great and motivates the rest of the refugee community. For our 6th Annual Celebration of Refugee Women’s Success “Awards Ceremony,” the community filled every seat and stood in every nook to welcome their new neighbors home.” Instead of calling 9-1-1, I call Women of the World!” said Syntishe as she accepted her achievement award, stepping into her mother’s place in using our customized service approach after her mother had

In the coming weeks, Women of the World will be featured on KBYU’s (Channel 11 locally) Community Connections program. Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, speaks about the needs of the female refugee population, the programs and successes of Women of the World, and the upcoming event entitled the 6th Annual Celebration of Refugee Women’s Success. Below is KBYU’s YouTube Channel interview with Samira Harnish. Women of the World is proud of both our ladies and of ou

Keep up to date on all of our activities… Learn more and Subscribe Module 1: Identity Self-Identity Social Justice Roots “My Story” Module 2: Understanding Understanding Gender Healthy Relationships Communication Dating Module 3: Experience What breaks your heart? Voice Expression Community Module 4: Opportunity, Structure, Mentor Sense of belonging Path Through Higher Education Balance Mindfulness Practices What happens when you put young women leaders in a room for twelve w

The customized solutions and the impact they are having on empowering refugee women were awarded today with a Ruby Award, by the Soroptimist Club of Salt Lake City. The Ruby Award is given each year to a woman of distinction who has been helping women in our community. This year Samira Harnish received the award at the Soroptimist’s Annual Ruby Award Gala on the 24th of March. The Soroptimist Club is a worldwide organization with clubs in over 132 countries and 80,000 members

Mothers share a bond, whether they are mothers from Utah or from a war-torn country seeking refugee status. Women of the World and The Leonardo Museum are excited to announce that together we will be celebrating “Mothers of the World” by unveiling an art installation of the same name. All of this will happen as part of The Leonardo’s Community Connections program and Women of the World’s Annual Celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, 8 May 2016. When: Sunday, 8 May 2016. Doors

This year the 4th Annual Fashion Show was themed around the popular meme “Stepping Up.” Women of the World is constantly looking for ways to highlight the progress that our ladies are making in overcoming the odds and integrating into their communities in Salt Lake City. The life of a newly resettled refugee is an active engagement. It starts trying to make a small apartment into a home. There are many large and small details that go into just this simple task: from ensuring

Women of the World is excited to announce our Fifth Annual Celebration of Refugee Success WHEN: 12 December from 2 – 5 p.m. WHERE: The Atrium of the Salt Lake County South Building (2100 South State Street in Salt Lake City). Free to the public. For more information call (801) 953 – 0008 or email info@womenofworld.org. Watch as Women of the World’s Founder, Samira Harnish, discusses this event with Mary Dickson on KUED’s Contact that highlights non-profits across the state of

The celebration of those that brought us into the world and that nurture and care for us throughout our lives is a key rite preserved in most cultures.  In America, this rite is celebrated on the most important holiday of all – Mother’s Day.  Many of our new neighbors taking refuge in Utah have a streak of celebrating mothers and grandmothers, even promoting them to the head of the household, but these celebrations do not fall on a specific day.  As WoW has constantly said, w

Women of the World’s 3rd Annual Refugee Fashion show was a resounding success!!! Women from all over the world modeled in this celebration of the beauty and courage of our new neighbors. Burundi, Congolese, Burmese, Iranian, Iraqi, Nepalese, Ethiopian, Rwandan, Sudanese, and Afghani women graced the stage at Pierpont Place on Thursday evening in to show their native country’s fashions. A sample of the photos that were taken are on Women of the World’s Flickr page on the album

Founder and President of Women of the World was featured this evening on the KUTV program “Inside the Story” with Dan Rascon — The Iraqi Samaritan. The interview is an upbeat look at the sacrifices that Women of the World makes for refugees and the impact that WoW makes — “one hug at a time.” Samira and our new refugee neighbors’ story is compellingly told in the TV story and in the article on the KUTV website. While Women of the World has recently had some great press, Sam

The 2015 Momentum Continues Women of the World’s media momentum continues into 2015 with Nkoyo Iyamba’s piece on KSL entitled “Follow Your Passion” in which she highlights Utah citizens that have left careers to pursue something they are passionate about. Nkoyo led off this series with Women of the World’s Founder and President Samira Harnish’s story which involves the choice of following her passion to serve and enable women refugees to a level of success like she enjoyed b

introductory documentary film won the Short Documentary Film Category at the 17 January Workman Productions Online Award in the Documentary Category. Ana Breton, Breton Films, deserves this award for her dedication to the project and how she helped the refugee struggles come to life in her documentary shot ‘about town’ with WoW President and Founder, Samira Harnish. A special mention goes out to all of the refugee ladies and gentlemen and the staff that assisted them who op