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Award-winning advocate for refugees available for interviews, media opportunities Samira Harnish, founder of Women of the World, and winner of the United Nations Refugee Agency’s Americas Nansen Refugee Award, offers insight on the plight of refugees and more. Salt Lake City – (March 25, 2019) Refugees and immigration are in the news daily. However, what it feels like to be in these people’s shoes is something that is rarely touched upon. Even when a refugee is granted asylum

WoW Executive Director Samira Harnish speaks with podcast producer Emily Means about Harnish’s recent recognition by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Harnish was honored as a 2018 Nansen Refugee Award finalist, representing the Americas region. They discuss what it means for the organization to be recognized at the international level; how to continue to support refugees in the community; and the annual celebration on December 8. #successstories #NansenRefug

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

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

The resistance against the moral failings of the current administration has begun. Immigrants, native Utahns, Mormons, and Muslims all marched together to protest the vile ban on refugees and immigrants.Women of the World led in the march. Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, gave the below speech, which is published in its entirety with a video linked below. SLC Voices on YouTube Refugees Welcome Speech Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Samira Harnish and I am the

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

Women of the World Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, gave a Women of the Mountains Speech on the exploitation of refugee women at each stage of their journey to Utah: escaping from war and violence, refugee camps, and resettlement. In addition to the devastating physical and mental trauma that occurs as a result of war and time in refugee camps, refugee women in Utah continue to face exploitation in their new lives in Utah. Refugees are exploited as their childr

This morning, the Salt Lake City Public radio station KRCL aired a brief interview with Women of the World Founder and Executive Director, Samira Harnish, on the “Return on Investment” that support for the refugee women population can have on the community.The women refugees that make up part of our new neighbor populations here in America have overcome great adversity to start at the bottom in our system, but Women of the World believes that like many immigrants before them,

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

Women of the World is thrilled to have its introductory documentary film nominated for a 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. Online Awards site. Festival Description The Online Awards is a film festival that takes place in Salt Lake C

A great article and interview about women who inspire by 3Plus co-founder Dorothy Dalton featured Women of the World Founder Samira Harnish on their newsletter in September.  Samira gives us plenty of great wisdom in this Women Who Inspire article and still manages to have plenty of fun. If you could give one piece of advice to any woman about their professional choices what would it be? Follow your heart and your mind, step forward and don’t look back, get out from underneat

Women of the World needs your support!Supporting refugee women in achieving their dreams! On Thursday, March 20, 2014, Women of the World (WoW) is participating in Love Utah, Give Utah 2014, a statewide event raising funds for non-profits that make our state great!WoW has been very successful in helping refugee women reach self-sufficiency since its beginnings in 2010.  Refugees flee war and genocide and are saved by communities like South Salt Lake City.  There are over 40,0

We are excited to announce our Ladies Night Out event in April. A donation through Love UT Give UT or our ticketing website gets you and your lady friends night of fun, drinks and treats! Get your tickets early, we have limited space in this beautiful lounge for you and your guests! Thursday, April 24, 2014 5:30pm until 7:30pm Celtic Bank 268 South State Street, Suite 300 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Get Tickets (wow2014.brownpapertickets.com) Facebook Event Community Women of

Tonight on the campus of the University of Utah, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office of Diversity and Human Rights honored Women of the World with the Salt Lake City Human Rights Award for its work in advocating on behalf of women refugees in Salt Lake City.Today, 10 December 2013, is a special day for human rights, as it marks the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Mayor Ralph Becker dedicated Salt Lake City to continue to advocate for human rights

Women of the World is very pleased to announce that two of its staff have been recognized by The Community Foundation of Utah for its 2013 Enlightened 50 Award.  Samira Harnish and Ruth Arevalo both received recognition for their work in support of women in Utah.  Women of the World is proud to be the recipient of such a prestigious award and to receive two in the same year is truly terrific.  Congratulations to Samira and Ruth, Women of the World and the One Billion Rising o

This week Women of the World was the guest on Cultural Connections with Nkoyo Iyamba on KSL Radio.  Nkoyo is a great friend of Women of the World and continues to broadcast women refugee issues in Utah through her weekly radio program.  In this installation, parenting in the refugee community was reviewed with its unique struggles and important benefits.  Women of the World President, Samira Harnish, feels strongly about these issues, working to enable women refugees to not o

On 5 March 2013, Women of World Founder and President, Samira Harnish, interviewed on KTalk AM Radio program “Celebrating Women” with Cate Allen.  Women of the World programs that support refugee women and anecdotes about them in this heartfelt interview. What is the objective of the organization? Women of the World strives to support women of all nations to achieve their dreams. In order to do this, we must develop women’s skills (in English, employment, and as the head of t

For twenty-three years, Students for International Development has worked with the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, the International Development Minor, the Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance, and BYU Dining Services to host an annual Hunger Banquet to raise awareness within the BYU community about global poverty and wealth inequality.This year’s Hunger Banquet will take place Saturday, 16 March 2013 in the ballroom of the Wilkinson Student Center. We

Leonardo Museum in downtown Salt Lake City, during the program for the rededication of Salt Lake City’s commitment to human rights.  Aside from Samira’s speech, the program contained the dedication of Salt Lake City’s commitment to Human Rights by Mayor Ralph Becker, the granting of two awards for Human Rights commitment including a group award to Utah Health and Human Rights and an individual award given posthumously to Civil Rights Attorney Brian Barnard.Samira’s comments s