Dr. Leslee Jaeger, an OB/GYN in Minneapolis and a DFW chapter leader, recently returned from a medical training trip to MamaBaby Haiti. There she taught clinic staff how to screen for cervical cancer. She wrote this article about her concerns of the growing risks of cervical cancer for women in the developing world. Details
Indego Africa’s Leadership Program will find and develop 100 emerging leaders to achieve their potential in the organization’s Rwandan artisan cooperatives. Indego Africa is our June 2015 featured program. Details
In December 2013, through the Smiles on Wings program, we invested in the futures of five young women. They are daughters of the Karen tribe in Thailand. The Karen people are outcasts in Thailand and often have little or no access to health care or education. These five girls are studying either nursing or childhood education and will return to work in their villages and improve the lives and health of their community. Here’s a look at the students we are supporting. Details
In August 2009, Dining for Women granted $18,437 to a small non profit providing support to farmers in Rwanda. Today, that program has grown from serving 25,000 farmers in two countries to a projected 305,000 farmers by the end of this year in four countries. We had a conversation with Briehan Lynch of the One Acre Fund to find out how they did it and to talk about the impact of our investment in them. This is the first in a series of Impact Hangouts to re-connect with past programs. Details
With our featured program in Rwanda this month, recipe maven Linda McElroy decided to go old school and pull some different entries from our own Dining for Women Cookbook. The Better-Than-Sex Cake is actually the only one of the collection that Linda didn’t make. So you could call this an un-Proven Platter. You tell us how it works out! Details
Our first Impact Hangout takes us to the One Acre Fund. We’ll reconnect with this program and find out how they’ve grown from serving 25,000 families to more than 300,000 families in Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi in just six years. This is the first of a series of Impact Hangouts for 2015. Details
Eighteen TWR members recently spent a week getting to know the students and staff at the Mariposa DR Foundation. The program brought us all closer to the work this program does to empower girls who are living up to the legacy of their namesakes. Details
We talked with Kay Yoder, director of US Operations for RIPPLE Africa, about the Changu Changu Moto stove program that DFW is funding this month (May 2015). This is a low-tech sustainable solution that addresses multiple issues from health to environmental sustainability. Take a listen. Details
Dining for Women’s grantees are located around the world, but many work in Africa, specifically West Africa. For the past year, the burdens of recovery from war, inadequate infrastructure and the struggle for education, health care and in many cases, survival have been increased by the fight against Ebola. In a three-part series, Dining for Women takes a closer look at this disease. In April, we looked at the basics of the disease and the 2014 – 2015 outbreak. In May, we take a look at how a past Dining for Women grantee played a critical role in containing the outbreak. Finally, in June, we look at the current state of this outbreak. Details
Dining for Women members and friends all share the concern for our programs in Nepal, and for all the residents of the country who have lost so much in the Nepal quake. Details
Who taught you to stand up for yourself and for others? Who showed you that being kind didn’t mean being weak? Who helped you become the woman you are today? For most of us it was our mom, or an aunt, or a sister, teacher or friend. In honor of Mother’s Day, we invited our programs to share stories of strong mothers and confident daughters among the women and girls we’ve supported. These are their stories. Details
Our last day in the DR was a chance for us to process what the trip had meant and what we had learned. Details
We hope that as you review it, you’ll feel the energy and pride that comes from knowing you were a big part of this.
Our story is told through the incredible photos of women and girls around the world, through the stories of how your investment in programs has changed the lives of one woman, one young girl, one family, and through the impressive commitment of our annual appeal donors to keep our organization strong and sustainable.
Throughout the report, you’ll find links to interactive graphics, web pages and videos. We hope you’ll take the time to explore the depth and breadth of what you accomplished last year.
We’re also introducing the first stage of our new donor recognition and fund development plan.
Dining for Women is making donor recognition a bigger priority with a more formalized program that began at the end of 2014. As an organization, we need to recruit, solicit and obtain the higher level gifts that will support the growth and sustainability of the organization for years to come. To help define this, we’ve established a Founders’ Circle where we can recognize and reward those donors who support the organization at higher levels.
Learn more about the Founders’ Circle
As this report clearly illustrates, our strength comes from everyone working together. And we’ll be working on developing a plan for chapter and volunteer recognition as well.
The 2014 Annual Report is an interactive PDF that is designed to be read on a computer or tablet. It is best viewed and printed, if desired, in landscape mode. The report was designed by Jennifer Land.
Other editions available: Read the annual report in the digital magazine format Issuu. Available on all mobile devices as well as online.
We learn that 38 of the girls at the center are recipients of the expansion funded by our grant. That makes the time spent with them even more meaningful. Details
We’ve selected the featured programs to round out the 2nd half of 2015. They focus predominantly on maternal and child health but there are also programs on environmental sustainability and girls’ education. Check out this interactive graphic. Details
Cooking should be one of those activities that makes us feel safe and secure. What’s more comforting than home fires? But in much of the developing world, indoor cooking over open flames results in dangerous household air pollution. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.3 million die each year from its complications.
RIPPLE Africa has developed a low-tech, sustainable and efficient stone cookstove that burns significantly less wood and uses bricks that retain heat as the cooking surface. This is safer than open flames, reduces the indoor air pollution and saves women significant time spent gathering wood for cooking fires. That time can now be used on educational or economic activities in the home.
RIPPLE Africa is our featured program for May 2015. Our $45,000 grant — distributed over two years — will directly effect 3,000 families in the Nkhotakota district of Malawi. The Changu Changu Moto project will build a cookstove in each of 3,000 homes, provide instruction for the families on safe use and include follow up visits for more training and education as well as data collection.
For more information about RIPPLE Africa, review their program page and program fact sheet. You can learn more about Malawi customs and cuisine and review this month’s Proven Platter.
The girls learn in many interactive ways — by doing things, not just reading about them. So our travelers participate in math games, and storytelling. Details
Our group of travelers get hands on and learn how to make the world’s best hot chocolate – starting with the raw cocoa pod. Details
Our 2014 programs represent a strong focus on educating women and girls and building foundations of better health and economic sustainability. Take a look back at the work that you made possible in 2014. Details
The Mariposa DR Foundation takes its name from the Mirabal sisters, revolutionaries knows as “Las Mariposas” (The Butterflies) whose tragic end but courageous fight is a source of enormous pride in the country. Details
Our travelers get their first introduction to the girls of Mariposa and the community they live in. Details
Dining for Women has partnered with eight programs currently operating in Kenya. We checked in on them in the wake of the horrific attack on Garissa University on April 2, 2015. Details
Leah Rashidyan, program director of MBH’s Well Women in Northern Haiti program, joined us for a conversation about the mission, the challenges and the great opportunities. “Health women build healthy families,” Leah says. Take a listen. Details
Mobile credit card payments, marked by the ubiquitous plug-in credit card reader, are growing in popularity. There’s growing interest in using services like Square and others among DFW chapters. But security concerns and administrative support must play into our decisions as well. Here’s an FAQ. Details
Two little words can mean a lot. Just for fun, we took a look back through our hangouts and online presentations in 2014 and found a lot of moments worth noting — thank yous to DFW, recognition of our members’ commitment and support and some calls to action from our programs. We mashed it up in this brief video. Details
A look at some recent events held by DFW chapters and attended by DFW leaders. A busy couple of months marked by fun, camaraderie and purpose. Details
It’s often referred to as “shopping with a purpose”. But in business circles, it’s known as cause marketing, and it can be a win win for nonprofits, companies and consumers. Details
New customized emails let you have the DFW news and information you want delivered to your email as it is posted. Details
Haiti has the highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the Western Hemisphere, and the highest reported rate of cervical cancer in the world. Poverty and lack of education about their health and medical options, as well as a lack of providers, exacerbates the problems. Details
Social media makes it easy to stay in touch with our programs — with stories, activities and ideas. Follow along — and join the conversation —  by bookmarking this page with the live Twitter feed from programs DFW has supported. Details
Marsha Wallace leads DFW group to Oxfam conference for International Womens’ Day. It’s her first event as a Sister on the Planet Ambassador. Details
Judi Aubel, Executive Director of the Grandmother Project, joined us for a conversation about their very unique program targeting grandmothers as agents for change in their communities. Details
Read this dynamic Twitter feed to stay on top of news, information, and activities to celebrate International Women’s Day. Details
A major recipe cleanup is underway on our website. Recipe favorites may go missing. Here’s why. Details
Portland, OR, chapter member Sharon Buckmaster found DFW at a emotionally charged time of her life when she was searching for a way forward. Details
For Dining for Women, everyday is International Women’s Day so here’s a list of ideas to help you celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of women around the world throughout the month of March. Details
CeCe Comacho, chief operating officer of Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), joined us to talk about how the organization is tackling taboos, training teachers and developing innovative solutions to keep girls in school no matter what time of the month it is. Period. Details
Our final day in Burma (Myanmar) includes shopping (what else?) and a final dinner to celebrate our journeys, new experiences and new friends. Details
Travelers experience the art of Burmese cooking — and marketing! Details
A trip along Inle Lake shows us fishermen, women doing chores and a popular market. Details
A long bus trip offers vistas of the countryside and the 8,000 golden Buddhas in Pindaya Cave waiting for our travelers. That, and pizza! Details
Our members get a sense of life in a Burmese village. Details
Travelers go with the flow on an 11-hour ferry trip down the Ayeyarwady River. Details
Burma travelers visit Bagan, home to 3,000 Buddhist temples. Details
The circles of life, learning and empowerment come together for our travelers visiting Girl Determined. Details
Burma (Myanmar) is a country with a troubled and turbulent history. With a woman as its leader and symbol of peaceful resistance, the opposition party is seeking to change that. Details
Chapter Leader and Board of Directors member Anne Capestrain kicks off our “My DFW Story” campaign with her story of empowerment. Watch now. Details
Monica Greco, treasurer of the CRP Board of Directors, joined us on Jan. 9, 2015 to talk about the program, the lives of urban refugees in Jordan and how our grant will help. Details
We invited friends on Facebook to define what Dining for Women does in seven words or less. We got a great list and here it is. Details
Our Oct 2014 trip to Peru had moments of deep meaning, great experiences and one-of-a-kind memories. Traveller Kay Manley paints a picture. Details
RAIN for the Sahel and Sahara takes a look back at the accomplishments of 2014, including what it achieved through its partnership with DFW. RAIN was the July 2014 featured program. Play video Details
Dining for Women’s new executive director outlines the major focuses for the organization in 2015. Details
Although our programs may have more than one impact area, there is always one overarching focus. A look at information on DFW featured programs from 2006 through the first half of 2015 reveals that to be education. Here’s an infographic with a few other key stats about our programs. Details
New content will be coming to our blog in 2015 with a fresh look at Food for Thought and issues we will be talking about. Details
The Daily Star in Oneonta, NY, wrote a lengthy piece on giving circles in the area, profiling Dining for Women’s local chapter among them.
Read Article
Robyn Neitert, founder and president of Women’s Microfinance Initiative joined us for a Google Hangout to talk about why WMI succeeds where other programs may not. WMI is our featured program for December 2014. Details
We invited some of our programs that deal directly with violence against women to share some stories. The stories show the impact these programs are having fighting violence against women, addressing their root causes, and providing support and a way back for its victims. This is the story of a young Kenyan girl who was spared the traditional female genital mutilation and sent instead to study at the Kakenya Center for Excellence. Details
We invited some of our programs that deal directly with violence against women to share some stories. The stories show the impact these programs are having fighting violence against women, addressing their root causes, and providing support and a way back for its victims. This is the story of a young Kenyan girl who knew the horrors of domestic violence at an extremely early age. Her mother was murdered by her father, who then abandoned Naanyu and her five siblings. Taken in by family, she is studying at the Kakenya Center for Excellence where she has learned that her life will not be the same as for others in her village. FGM will not be performed on her. Details
Gender inequality and violence against women walk hand in hand through the world. Dining for Women has supported more than a dozen programs that specifically work to stop violence against women, to help its victims re-enter society and reclaim their lives or to empower girls to have the confidence and the skills to say NO to violent practices like FGM and indentured servitude. Details
The 16 days between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25) and Human Rights Day (Dec. 10) represents a coordinated effort to promote activism and awareness. Violence against women exists in every country and at every income level. So there are many voices talking about the issue this week.
Dining for Women has put together a digital magazine that is curating and aggregating these voices. On Twitter, #16days and #violenceagainstwomen are being used to coordinate the conversation, but there are others. On Facebook, these tags and DFWs #DFW16days are being used as a way to bring all your comments together.
And there are news articles, scholarly articles and posts from the UNWomen, programs and nonprofits.
You can read this magazine on the web just by following this link or by downloading the free Flipboard app for whatever flavor of mobile device you use. If you see a page that just has a hashtag on it, like #16days, that’s a custom search that will bring up a current list of all tweets using that tag.
The magazine will be updated automatically with new content from across the web. You can Follow the magazine to have it added to your Flipboard bookshelf and share it with others. Â Share your insights, observations and thoughts for increasing awareness: post on Facebook or Twitter with the #DFW16days.
Photo: The Empire State Building in New York City lights up orange to support the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The United Nations was also lit up in orange.Â
In 2012, DFW supported Starfish One by One by funding an education and internship program to empower girls in Guatemala. The class graduated in November 2014 and are moving on to start businesses or continue their educations. Read more. Details
Dining for Women co-founders Marsha Wallace and Barb Collins answered questions from members about the 13th month. Watch the Google Hangout.
By Jessie Cronan
Executive Director, Gardens for Health
More than 500 people gathered at the Gardens for Health farm in Rwanda on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, for a very unique Thanksgiving celebration. Families enrolled in our program joined local officials, neighbors, and visitors, for a day of dancing, singing, and – of course – eating. Details
 By Wendy Frattolin
DFW Member and Volunteer Director
Many of our chapters hold special events or activities to raise funds for the 13th Month Campaign. In addition to raising money to support DFW’s operations, local fundraising events can also be a great way to build relationships within your chapter members, spread the word about your local chapter, or encourage new members to join. Details
Jessie Cronan, executive director of Gardens for Health, joined Dr. Veena Khandke, interim program director of DFW, for a conversation about how her program is fighing malnutrition in Rwanda with education and farming techniques. Details
Our Google Hangout with Erin Ryan of Bumi Sehat elicited some follow up questions. Interim Program Director Veena Khandke posed them to Erin and Bumi Sehat. Here are their responses. Details
By Nancy Jacobsen
Those of us who arrived in Lima before the official first day of the DFW 2014 Peru trip, were invited to join the Lima chapter for their October meeting, We had no idea what to expect. We were overwhelmed by the joyous welcome of our hostess Elle Bagnarol and the chapter members. Details
By Kay Manley
We departed Puno on the morning of October 28 to drive through the mesmerizing Altiplano to Cuzco. A visit to Sillustani revealed pre-Incan mysteries and culture as we learned about this burial ground of the nobility of the Colla culture. Details
By Karen Zocchi
We said good-bye to our generous hosts and set off on a walk to the town square of Taquile. The sun was bright, Lake Titicaca a brilliant blue, and the path was amazing. Details
By Lisa Eurich
First off, I really enjoyed the very short but sweet stay we had at Llachon. The food was delicious (especially the fried cheese for lunch) and the families were very hospitable. I would definitely recommend a homestay at Calixtos hospedaje. Our mamacitas gave us little bouqets of geranium flowers and munyo. Details
By Kay Manley
Was there great curiosity as we arrived in Llachon for our first homestay? Absolutely yes! The people in Llachon speak Quechua as their first language with Spanish as the second. But the real language was that of human kindness which needs no translation. Details
By Karen Zocchi
Our loads considerably lightened after distributing baby clothes and supplies, maternity gowns and medical supplies, we spent some time in the town of Pucallpa. We took a boat ride in the lake and saw many vultures, tuki tuki birds and had a wonderful lunch at a floating restaurant with our friends that are beginning to feel like old friends – not strangers that we met five days ago!
We motored by the bathing spot for the vultures. After cleaning in the lake, they stand on the bank and spread their wings to dry. Very impressive! (some of us thought menacing would be a more appropriate adjective!)
There are many small green plants floating on the lake. They were so thick that the tuki tuki bird appeared to walk on water. When the tuki tuki found a promising plant, he would flip it over and eat the insects off the bottom.
We learned an interesting old tale. It was feared that dolphins stole women by impregnating them. No women were allowed to swim in the lake during the time they were fertile!
Tonight we head back to Lima and a few hours later we head to Puno and our home stays.
As we finish off the first part of our trip, I’d like to extend a sincere thanks to everyone who donated and helped us collect supplies. They were very gratefully received!
Day 3: DFW travelers visited Campo Verde, a clinic run by INMED. They brought supplies and shared in the joy of a baby shower. Details
Our travelers spent a day visiting two women’s clinics near Pucallpa. Read More. Details
Fifteen US-based DFW members embarked on a journey to Peru. Their first stop was an very special opportunity to break bread and join with DFW sisters in the Lima, Peru, chapter for a meeting, to share and learn about each other and about our featured program for October – Bumi Sehat. Chapter Leader Eli Bagnarol sends this post on the experience. Details
By Karen Zocchi
Oct. 20, Day 2
Fifteen women.
Thirty large suitcases and duffel bags.
More than 15 backpacks and additional bags.
One very determined tour leader and one very patient airline employee who worked magic math to get everything on the same plane. A short, smooth ride and then…
Loud music, people clapping, putting paper leis around our necks, welcoming us to Pucallpa and inviting us to dance. Right now. In the airport.
All the planning, collecting, buying, packing and schlepping giant suitcases to another continent seemed a distant memory.
Thus begins our adventure with InMed. Tomorrow we will meet the people who are served and supported by InMed. We can’t wait!
Dining for Women is pleased to announce its grant program for the first six months of 2015, which will provide more than $331,000 to grassroots program from Jordan to Haiti. The programs will directly benefit more than 13,500 women and girls, and countless more indirectly.
The programs work toward improved health, increased educational opportunities, training of healthcare workers to return to rural villages and medical care. Details
Marsha Wallace and Barb Collins are awarded the Everyday Freedom Hero award by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Details
Leaders, members and friends of Dining for Women met the weekend of Oct 10-12, 2014 in the Central Region to get to know each other better, to learn more about Dining for Women and to share experiences and information. Details
Educating girls may be the key to changing the world, but it’s not as simple as providing books, pencils and school uniforms. Girls’ education involves safety and security, health and wellness, reproductive education, and even educating parents to value and support their daughter’s education. To celebrate the 2014 Day of the Girl (Oct. 11), Dining for Women sat down with three of our programs to talk about their holistic approaches — what they do, how it’s working and what cultural shifts they are seeing in their parts of the world. Details
Dining for Women was mentioned on a public radio show featuring a discussion of A Path Appears. Listen for it. Details
Beth Ellen Holimon, a resident of San Diego, CA, has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, organization development and executive consulting, most recently as president of Holimon Planning and Coaching, a nationwide nonprofit and board consulting firm. Details
Program Director Dr. Veena Khandke sat down with Bumi Sehat’s Director of International Medical Volunteers Erin Ryan for a conversation about the October 2014 featured program. Watch now. Details
Dining for Women has approved some changes in its funding model that will enable us to put up to another $200K to work in the world each year. Details
The Cascade Life community magazine profiled Jill Peirce, Central Region co-leader and Grand Rapids chapter leader, and her chapter. The linked file is a PDF version of this print-only publication. Go to page 17 for the story.
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Spend an evening with the Liz Qua and her chapter in Zionsville, OH. That is the feel you get in this piece that takes the reader through the meeting from welcome to farewell.
Read Article
The Chestnut Hill Local reprinted a profile of Margaret Guthrie of Mt. Airy, PA, a 77-year-old author of eight published cookbooks. Margaret is a member of the Mt. Airy chapter, a prolific author and a dedicated community volunteer. Great story, great subject.
Read Article
An article in The Coloradan gives a reporter’s personal perspective of a DFW dinner. The video clip shows the group reading the dinner affirmation – a nice moment. And the article is written first person by the reporter.
Read Article
Read our Storify on A Path Appears and our Hangout with Nicholas Kristof. Add to the conversation by posting on Facebook or Twitter #DFWKristof. Details
Marsha Wallace hosted a conversation with “A Path Appears” co-author Nicholas Kristof about the new book, the gains made in reducing extreme poverty and women’s equality — and the distance yet to go. The authors mention Dining for Women in several spots throughout the book. “Sheryl and I are such big fans of what you guys do,” Kristof said during the Hangout. View the on-demand video of this insightful conversation. Details
There are a lot of reasons to check out Dining for Women virtually. You might be out of town on business and miss your regular chapter meeting. You might not have a local chapter but still want to be part of the organization. Or you may just want to see what we’re all about. Find out more about how to get connected with DFW virtually. Details
Many Dining for Women members and constituents raised questions about what would happen to the women supported by the Bond Street Theatre program when they are released from prison or once the US leaves Afghanistan. We posed these questions to Bond St.’s artistic director and founder, Joanna Sherman. Her answers are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Details
Debbie Britt has been leading the Mid-Atlantic region since 2010. In November, she’ll step down after four very successful years. Details
Foundation Rwanda was our featured program in September 2013. This summer, chapter leader Reiko Johnson had an opportunity to visit Rwanda and meet  some of the women during a peer support group session. Details
The Nepal Youth Foundation was our featured program in January 2012. Dining for Women funded the Indentured Daughters Program, which, with the official abolition of kamlari, has become the Empowering Freed Kamlaris program. We recently saw an inspiring television report on their success and asked for an inside look. This update on the organization’s efforts and the photos and success stories show the tremendous impact we can all have. Details
Two leadership changes have been announced by Dining for Women. Dr. Veena Khandke will take over as interim Program Director and Helen Borland will step into the co-leader’s role in the Southeast Region, replacing Alison Lively who is stepping down. Details
Dining for Women is troubled and saddened by the recent allegations swirling around Somaly Mam and her subsequent resignation. The internal and private investigation by her foundation comes after a Newsweek article brought to light gaps and inconsistencies in her story, as well as concerns about her leadership. Details
Marsha Wallace visited Louisville to meet with local chapters, to present at a University of Louisville-sponsored conference and stopped by WHAS11’s Great Day program. Joined by Louisville member Christy Haas, Marsha talked about the important role women play in the world and the power they have to change their communities when they are given a hand up. Take a listen. Details
A video review of the February-March 2014 trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Details
Six new programs that support safe childbirth, re-entry assistance for imprisoned women, microfinance and business training, nutrition and help for grandmothers raising orphaned children have been selected for funding in the second half of 2014.
Dining for Women co-founder Marsha Wallace appeared on the California program WomenNow during a trip to several West Coast chapters Details
Our travelers visiting Cambodia-Vietnam in February 2014 met several women who are beneficiaries of the work of Children of Vietnam and its Empowering Foundations program. Dang Thi Thanh’s story is one of them. Details
The Herald Tribune in Sarasota, FL, has a story about four members of DFW who just returned from the trip to Vietnam.
An article in the Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel gives overview of Dining for Women purpose and activities as the organization gets ready to welcome Marsha Wallace for a March 2013 tour that will include television and radio programs as well as many chapter meetings!
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Marsha Wallace, co-founder of DFW, talks about the organization, its impact and what sets us apart from other organizations in a podcast with Greenville speaker and coach, Deb Sofield. Details
Each of three small groups were guests at a beautiful, bountiful luncheon which had been prepared by single mothers – recipients of DFW micro-loans to Children of Vietnam’s Empowering Foundations for Women & Children (EFWC).
How appropriate that the last line of the DFW Dinner Affirmation reads, “May we all be able to feast together some day.”
(And then, of course, there were the dishes to do!!!)
— Marilyn Murphy
DFW member Ashley Gibb at Children of Vietnam
By Cynthia Sawtell
San Anselmo (CA)
Feb. 22 — Our day started off rainy and cool. We spent most of the morning in the wonderful Ethnographic museum learning about the 53 ethnic minorities which together make up 14 percent of the population. Later, we visited an ancient Confucian university with its lovely gardens and shrine. The rest of the day was deeply meaningful. Details
Karri Hemming, founder of the DFW chapter in Racine, WI, is active in the community’s efforts to create a safe haven for victims of human trafficking – a growing problem in the area. Hemming is executive director of the community’s Womens Resource Center.
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Mary Caroline Mitchell and Rachel Broughton flank Dr. Ha Ngo, who visited their DFW chapter meeting.
By Mary Caroline Mitchell
Springfield, IL-3, Chapter Leader
Dr. Ha Ngo, Ph.D., is the director of a women’s empowerment program in Vietnam. Visiting the US as part of a program sponsored by the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, we were fortunate to have her join us for our February chapter meeting. The State Department program fosters citizen diplomacy and brought Dr. Ngo, the deputy director, Center for Education, Promotion and Empowerment of Women located in Hanoi, Vietnam, to Springfield. Details
By Karen Hasara
Springfield, Illinois
Feb. 21 — Our first full day in Hanoi and what a day it was! Our first venture was a walking tour of the old city and our first lesson was learning how to venture down the sidewalk together and to cross a street and survive! We learned that we had to carefully venture out, never hesitating, never running, and not trying to go back. Details
The Jungle Temple at Ta Prohm
By Cynthia Sawtell
San Anselmo, CA
FEB 19 — At 9AM sharp our group gathered together to finally meet each other and embark on our first day of adventure in Cambodia. We had an entire very warm day of touring the temples at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, the jungle temple. Details
DFW travelers receive blessing at a Buddhist monastery
By Thora Pabst
Greeley, CO
FEB 20 — Our group, perhaps a little worse for the wear, left bright and early for Tonle Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Asia. This area supplies the majority of fish brought to the market. Life on the water can be challenging in so many ways. Homes are generally on stilts to receive the benefit of breezes and protection from rising waters during the rainy season. Modern amenities are virtually non-existent. Though their situations seems cobbled together, the residents appeared undeterred in their pursuit of daily life. Details
Our Decade of Dining Cookbook is the product of 10 years of collaboration with programs around the world and members around the country. And now it’s a national award winner. Details
International Women’s Day is celebrated every day at DFW. Details
Travelers meet a struggling mom and a gifted child and find a way to connect and to help. Details
DFW West Regional Leader Patty Karabatsos, chapter leaders Susan Negrin and Cari Class, and DFW Communications Director Laura Haight in a roundtable chat with San Fran radio personality Smitha Deepak.
By Jamye Cooper
DFW Executive Director
Our education team works hard each month to provide key information to enrich our members’ understanding of our featured program. But occasionally members or leaders have questions that aren’t addressed in our materials.
When that occurs, people may be contacting the program director or staff directly. Some of our funded programs report that they may be answering the same question from more than one DFW member or chapter. These can be time consuming calls for the program. But beyond that, if one program has a question, there’s a good chance others might as well.
By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
There are some amazing things happening in dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms and great rooms across the country. Some of them are newsworthy – perhaps to a DFW audience or sometimes for a more general interest audience.
The most common content is photos – from anniversaries, fundraisers or meetings with special speakers. Social media gives us ways to share a lot of photos that don’t find a home on our website with a large audience every day. While photos tell a story, they do need a little help in the form of captions and descriptions. It’s important for us to know who’s in the photo, what they’re doing, where they are from and why it’s significant. Large group photos of your chapter do not need to identify each person; but photos of five or fewer should include IDs with first and last name, location, title and affiliation, from left to right.
By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
With 8000 members spread out from Bangor to Santa Cruz, DFW uses email as the most efficient way to communicate. These messages include monthly newsletters, donation acknowledgements, tax receipts and other messages.
Dining for Women is very aware of the flood of emails all of us receive on a daily basis. To that end, in 2013 we significantly reduced our communications. Most months, the average member receives one email from us – The Dish; chapter leaders get two with the CL Newsletter. We have consolidated what used to be separate emails for new programs, trips or products into these monthly communications.
By Marcie Christensen
DFW Education Coordinator
The Education Team has developed a slide show template we will use to offer each month’s program in a brief and consistent format, rather than requiring each grantee to develop a PowerPoint presentation. Beginning with our January Featured Program, presenters will have clearer options for sharing the month’s featured program in ways that work best for each chapter.
The Hudson (OH) chapter celebrated it’s first anniversary in November 2013 and an article appeared in the Hudson Hub City Times.
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Annie Johnston (left) and Karen Faunt in the living room of Karen’s new home.
By Patricia Andersson
Chapter leader, Portland
Annie Johnston could never have predicted that getting involved with our Portland Southeast chapter of DFW would allow her to once again visit the home where all her childhood family gatherings took place.
And Karen Faunt, long-time chapter member who’s also on DFW’s Program Selection Committee – as well as being the home’s new owner — would never have guessed that by hosting a DFW potluck, she’d be able to provide a new friend with a cherished walk down memory lane.
In Jacksonville, FL, First Coast News produced a multimedia feature story that aired on the local ABC and NBC affiliated networks in December 2013. Cheryl Tupper, the Jacksonville co-leader, and Michelin Tutein, who is launching a new chapter in the area, were both interviewed.
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By Tina Romenesko
During the afternoon, we headed to the Munda tribal village on the outskirts of Ranchi. The projects in this village are overseen by Matrichaya graduate, Bacchan Devi. Bacchan is a shining example of the ever widening circle of women. When she heard about Matrichaya, she thought because she was uneducated, she wouldn’t qualify. Details
By Laura Haight
Communications Director
Barb Collins, co-founder of Dining for Woman, was elected as chair of the Board of Directors at its fall meeting in Newark, NJ. Barb takes over the chairmanship from acting chair Barbara Wagner. Details
Debbie Britt, right, and Cindy Ariel, left, with the retreat facilitators.
By Laura Haight
Communications Director
Operational retreats are a fairly common practice among big business and this fall two DFW regions employed the practice to bring leaders together to discuss a variety of topics.
Chapter leaders in the Mid-Atlantic and West had regional retreats in October.
Debbie Britt and Cindy Ariel, co-leaders in the Mid-Atlantic, brought in two facilitators – both are professional leadership coaches as well as DFW members – to run the program, which included a discussion of what is working at the chapter level and what could be improved, an idea-sharing discussion that “harvested” ideas from each member. Details
By Donna Shaver
The day began with a visit to the Spoken English and Computer Literacy programs for girls. Each is a three-month program. These are introductory classes, and the current group of students has had only had one week of classes. All of the girls are from impoverished families. Details
By Betsy Dunklin
“My mother believes in self-empowerment,” Archana stated with tears in her eyes as we stood on the rooftop patio of her family home in Ranchi. Details
By Tina Romenesko
Day Two begins at a different Santali tribal school. The children here include both boys and girls, ages 5-15, in red pants or skirts, and matching red gingham short sleeved blouses or shirts. Details
By Tina Romenesko
Early Thursday morning, we are met at our hotel by Ayesha – the director of the next project we are visiting, which lies near Sainthia, about 3 hours west of Kolkata by train. Details
By Donna Shaver
The Pushkar Fair, also known as the Pushkar Cattle Market or the Pushkar Camel Fair, is a world famous event. It is held annually in the month of Kartika (October/November) ten days after the festival of Diwali. The Pushkar Fair is one of the largest cattle markets in all of Asia, and a major attraction for visitors to India. Details
By TIna Romenesko
Today is a day that all of us have been looking forward to since signing up for this Indian adventure. As we enter the Vatsalya building, we are again greeted by the lovely Jaimala. Today is a workshop day, so the women are sitting on the floor, sewing, measuring, and marking fabrics with Executive Director Colleen Cline. Details
By Betsy Dunklin
We spend many hours together in our tourist van, sometimes laughing together, sometimes quietly chatting with our seatmate, other times dozing. Details
By Betsy Dunklin
On Nov. 9, after our visit to the Taj Mahal and on our way to the Agra Fort, we rode through an agricultural area with miles of recently harvested flat land, providing a respite from clamorous and congested Delhi. We saw no villages or houses, just the highway and farm land. In the middle of nowhere, a restaurant appeared, where we had a buffet lunch. Details
By Donna Shaver
The Amber Fort in Rajhastan is yet another architectural marvel. We were all stunned by its beauty, design, and engineering — the result of almost unlimited resources. It was constructed by the Hindu Kachhawaha, who were allied with the powerful Muslim Mughal Empire. It was built in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh I on the remains of an 11th century fort.
By Betsy Dunklin
This morning we drove to the outskirts of Jaipur into the countryside and down a rugged dirt road to the orphanage run by the organization Vatsalya and directed by Jaimala, who has an MPH from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Details
By Donna Shaver
The astonishing white dome, barely visible in the hazy morning sky, rose above the deep red stone wall. Â Just this preliminary glimpse of the iconic Taj Mahal was sufficient to bring a collective gasp of awe from our group. Â We had waited in line for an hour and a half and that moment made it all worthwhile.
We piled into the bus at 6:15am for a short ride to the Taj. Â Our most excellent guide, Sujata, secured our tickets and we joined the already lengthy line. Â We had heard the day before that the sky would be hazy in the morning, but we decided to take our chances, Â As we came at last to the red stone gate, the Taj Mahal was framed in the arch like a mirage. Â I was surprised to find, in spite of the growing crowd, that each of us could capture that moment on our cameras unobstructed.
Now the Taj could be seen in all its splendor.  In the gauzy light, the Taj seemed constructed from the sky itself, floating above the earth.  We spent quite a bit of time photographing the Taj and each other in front of the Taj, interspersed with long moments contemplating its ethereal beauty. We also had a group picture taken before making our way down the steps onto long path to the world’s most famous tomb.
By Tina RomeneskoÂ
We were up and out of the hotel by 6:45 a.m., headed back to Kairali spa for morning yoga in their beautiful garden.  Our instructor, Swami Ganeshanand, is the founder and leader of Ananda (Bliss) Yoga.  Dressed in traditional white guru garb, he moved us through an energetic practice focused on quick repetitive movements synchronized with powerful exhalations to detoxify, energize, and open the body and mind.  The alignment cues were minimal – and as a yoga therapist – I was worried about the members of our group with lumbar and shoulder issues.  My sense is that the acute focus on anatomy in the U.S.  is a point where East and West diverge.  Perhaps the truly integrated practice is a place where the  traditional practice, with its emphasis on spirituality and energetcs, meets the modern view of wellness.
We ended with a lovely guided savasana, listening to the urban birds singing their Delhi morning songs.  As we came to standing – Swami Ji announced that we would be ending with Laughter Yoga, throwing his arms up into the air and releasing the most contagious laugh I have ever heard in my life!  We all joined in, arms extended toward each other with the Swami at the center of our circle.  “It is important every day to laugh”, he said.  “It releases stress and warms the spirit.”  Wise words from our wise teacher.
The News Press in Santa Barbara (CA) did a cover story on Dining for Women’s two local chapters, led by Peggy Welik and Melissa Hansen.
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Travelers on last weekend with their guide – Manuel (center). Back row (L-R): Sue Fernbach, Colleen Blanchfield, Cristina Ramey, Rosemary McGee, Sheila Cook Front row: Lauren McCarthy, Manuel and Lynn McClenahan
By Christine Ramey
Atlanta (GA)
Friday morning, October 11th, we are up for our last day in Panajachel where we have until 10am before our journey to Antigua begins. Some of us head off to a used Huipil Market, others take a walk to Lake Atitlan to enjoy the view one last time and several wander the main streets of Calle Santader for some last minute bargain shopping.
At 10am, we load up our bus with our trusted driver of Four Directions, Noel, and take off. Not too long after taking a final ascent up our favorite windy road of Panajachel, we come to a complete stop amidst a parking lot of traffic. We discover that the local community is protesting the high cost of electricity. This puts a less than desirable kink in our journey, as we make the decision to turn around and head back down into Panajachel to take an alternate route. What would have been a roughly 2.5-3hour trip, quickly turned into a 5 hour ride! But, hey, we can at least say we experienced everything Guatemala has to offer, right! Details
By Tina Romenesko
Our DFW adventure officially began on Nov. 6, Wednesday, with everyone arriving throughout the day.
We met at Grace Home – situated in a trendy area of South Delhi – and a small group of us shared dinner and got to know each other. Â After breakfast on Thursday, we gathered together and shared our experiences with DFW. Taryn Walker, trip leader, also asked that we share an attribute we bring the group, and something we would like to work on personally while traveling in Inda. Details
 The Shriver Report – an online blog – ran a great piece by Marsha Wallace about her journey. It’s a personal transformation that a lot of people seem to connect with.
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After attending a fundraising event in Albany in September, the Albany Times-Union followed up with area chapter leader Rosemary Revoir and published a blog post about DFW’s mission and the camaraderie of our chapters that fuels it.
Read ArticleBy Laura Haight
DFW Communications DirectorÂ
Technology has put incredibly high-end photography features into the hands of everyone with a smartphone, but it hasn’t done a great job of educating this new class of photographer.
This becomes a problem for us when media calls and wants a “high-resolution” photo for print publication. This primer may help you understand some basics of managing digital photos – whether it’s personal or professional.
Las Rosas
By Christine Ramey
Atlanta (GA)
We started our morning leaving our hotel, Utz Jay, which today I discovered means “good home”, to walk over to the Mayan Cultural Center where we would spend time with our third organization, Oxlajuj B’atz’, or Thirteen Threads.
Receiving a warm welcome by the ED Ana Socorro Cumatz, we enter to find a room full of beautiful Mayan women and an altar that has been set up for us to participate in a Mayan ceremony. We were given some background on the altar set before us. Oct. 9 is a particularly special day as the Nawal-Energy is B’eleje’ B’atz’ signifying the female energy of the universe. Details
Mercado Global File Photo
By Lauren McCarthy
Minneapolis (MN)
We visited Mercado Global on Wednesday and saw a different side to traditional Mayan weaving. Mercado Global has 31 cooperatives with about 340 women across Guatemala. It is a fair trade fashion nonprofit that sells wholesale to Anthropologie, Lucky Brand Jeans, Levi’s, Red Envelope, Henri Bendel, Calypso, and some Japanese retailers, among others. Although it is based in New York, the bulk of the staff are in and around Panajachel. Mercado Global’s immediate goal is to double its number of cooperatives/women in the next year but its larger objective is to change how the fashion industry operates, especially since the majority of workers in the industry are low-paid women. Details
By Rosemary McGee
Abington (PA)
We woke to a glorious sunny morning in Pana today and after a quick (but delicious) breakfast of fruit and banana bread headed off to visit with Friendship Bridge located around the corner on Calle Santander.
We were greeted warmly by Marta Ixtuc, Communications Coordinator and all around promoter of Friendship Bridge’s mission. She gave us a quick overview of the Microcredit Plus Loan Program, which received a DFW grant in 2007, and emphasized their dual mission of providing loans as well as education to Guatemalan women since 1998. Details
By Stephanie Sawyer
San Luis Obispo (CA)
After breakfast at our hotel, Utz Jay, this morning we took the one and a half block walk over to Starfish One by One. Melanie was our guide for the day and greeted our group with many hugs and warm welcomes!
After introductions to the staff and volunteers, they gave our ladies an overview of the services which include tutoring and mentorship programs for first generation high school students. Most of the girls are the first in the family to graduate due to many economic and social obstacles. This is where the work of the mentors fits in. Because parents haven’t received formal education, they often don’t understand the opportunities and benefits that can help the whole family after educating their daughters. The girls who are selected enter into a six-year leadership program. There are 220 girls currently enrolled. Since the pilot program in 2008, Starfish One by One has had 13 graduates, 7 of which are in university! For this team, it isn’t about how many, but rather how far one girl can go! Details
View of Volcán Atitlán, Volcán Tomilán & Volcán San Pedro at Lake Atitlán overlook.
By Christine Ramey
Another early day greets us as we wake up in Panajachel for breakfast at 7am. Once our bellies are full and happy, we are all gathered up and ready for our bus ride to Totonicapán, a 100-kilometer ride through very windy mountainous terrain, which left a few of us (me included) a little queasy. We are with our same guide from yesterday, Julio with Four Directions, who starts our morning off with a question, “is your heart happy today?” Which definitely puts one in a great mood! Before we took off officially from Panajachel, we stopped off at an overlook to see the gorgeous view of Lake Atitlán with three of their volcanos set as the backdrop; Volcán Atitlán, Volcán Tomilán & Volcán San Pedro. Some of the ladies even managed to get in some early shopping of jewelry and handmade figurines, as there were street vendors at the stop. Details
By Lauren McCarthy
Minneapolis, MN
We started our tour of five visits to featured organizations at MayaWorks, spending the better part of Thursday and Friday there. MayaWorks uses traditional Mayan weaving techniques to create products for an American market, such as luggage tags and yoga bags. Jeannie Balanda is the director of MayaWorks and accompanied us both days to introduce the women, give background, and translate. We had the wonderful opportunity to meet with several groups of women weavers and seamstresses, as well as some of their students. Details
The Guatemala travelers: Front row L to R- Colleen Blanchfield( Detroit, MI) Sheila Cook (Columbia, SC) Sue Garcia (Erie, CO), Karen Rawley (Weavers Way, PA), Lynn McClenahan (Portland, OR).
Middle Row (L-R): Lauren McCarthy (Minneapolis, MN), Sue Fernbach (Asheville, NC) , Cindy Badocious (OH), Meg Sears (Bowling Green, OH), Cristina Ramey (Atlanta, GA), Rosemary McGee (Abbington, PA), Caarol Huckabee (Danbury, CT), Kira Walker (Atlanta, GA- trip leader). Back row: Barbara Myers (Newton, CT), Stephanie Sawyer (CA), Erica Crawford (Santa Cruz, CA).
By Lauren McCarthy
Minneapolis, MN
We are all here! A few members of our group arrived early, but as of Wednesday at noon we have all made it safe and sound to Guatemala! We have had sunny and warm weather (about 75 degrees) and felt safe, although it is a bit conspicuous being with a group of 17 gringos.
After we got our luggage (and everyone’s arrived) and went through immigration and customs, we met our driver, Noah; tour leader Alfonso, and group leader Kira Walker, who were waiting for us. Details
Marsha Wallace, DFW Co-Founder, in front of our video in Times Square
By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
A 10-second public service announcement for Dining for Women is now appearing on the CBS Superscreen in Times Square.
The video, which will run through Jan. 4, focuses on the future for women that Dining for Women works to secure – strong women, who are skilled and able to support healthy and happy families with hope for a better world for their daughters to grow up in. Details
The Daytona Beach News-Journal has a great article on the Ormond Beach chapter and its leader Rachell Samson.
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A lot of classy ladies (like co-founder Marsha Wallace and Executive Director Jamye Cooper, to name a few) appear in this photo spread in Greenville’s top shelf magazine, Town. They covered a reception hosted by Women of the Peace Center for Marsha and 65 special guests. – October 2013
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By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
Girls are more likely to be left behind, left out, left off – just because they are girls.
This simple fact has been the focus of complex global initiatives undertaken since 2002 that include the Millennium Development Goals and UNESCO’s Education for All campaign. Since then, progress has been made toward parity in educational opportunities at the primary level, but a massive UNESCO global report on gender inequality, notes that those drop off at the secondary and college levels. Details
Editor’s Note: Foundation Rwanda, this month’s featured program, addresses horrific situations that are the result and the legacy of the 1994 civil war. Rape, brutalization, genocide are not pretty and many of our members have been disturbed by some of the images. We provide an array of tools that can be used to learn about our programs – the video is only one. Due diligence – on all of our parts – to make sure we make members aware of sensitive content is important. But equally as important is understanding that there are horrible and ugly things in the world. We can’t help to change them, if we won’t open our eyes to them.
This post looks at the sensitive balancing act we must try to walk.
By Laura Haight
Communications Director, Dining for Women
On the wall in my office there’s a map showing newspapers and periodicals in a portion of the country based on data from the 1880 Census. It is actually one of the first infographics with red triangles showing dailies, blue dots showing weeklies, squares showing periodicals and different colors denoting the number of each in the area. There is hardly a town not covered with dots, triangles and circles.
Today, there are many fewer formal publications and yet probably even more communication channels when one considers blogs, websites, tweeters and more. Nonetheless, when a group, business or non-profit wants to get information out they turn to the established media: newspapers, television stations, magazines and, perhaps, established mainstream blogs.
Often, they find they don’t get the response they expected. So here are five tips to get your press release or information noticed.
Lysa Salsbury wrote a post on the University of Idaho’s Women’s Center blog about her first exposure to Dining for Women when a friend invited her to a meeting. Her article talked in equal parts about the concept of DFW, the featured program (One Heart) and the experience of the meeting. The Women’s Center’s mission – as stated on the blog – dovetails with ours:Â To promote and advocate for gender equity on campus and in the community through programs and services that educate and support all individuals in building an inclusive and compassionate society.
A short but effective article in Delaware Today in July 2013, Â resulted in a spurt of new interest in Delaware chapters.
Read ArticleEditor’s Note: Jeanette is the daughter of DFW co-founder Barb Collins. We asked her to be our roving reporter during the 10th anniversary weekend and record her impressions, special moments and emotions from the event.Â
By Jeanette Collins
I was 13 when I first heard of Dining for Women.
Marsha Wallace and my mom, Barb Collins, have done an amazing thing: They took an idea and made it a reality. I feel honored to have grown up with what began as one small gathering and is now an international organization changing the lives of women and girls. Details
Tara Abrahams delivers Decade of Dreams Keynote
By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
A group of journalists known as The Documentary Group were looking for ways to continue the work of a media icon – Peter Jennings – after his death in 2005. They wanted to do the work that he would have done – telling important stories that can effect change in the world.
Their focus became ending global poverty – a pervasive issue with many causes. But as they researched the topic, reaching out to experts in many different fields including international development, public health, peace and security, economic politics, one message came clear.
Educate girls. Details
By Marcie Christensen
DFW Education Coordinator
Cari Class started her DFW chapter in Santa Cruz, CA, nearly six years ago. “That same passion for what we’re doing as an organization, which just rocks my world and gives me a deep sense of purpose in my life, is no less vibrant today than the day I started,” says Class, whose energetic presentation drew cheers and applause from conference attendees. Details
By Laura Haight
DFW Communications Director
If you talked to your child’s teacher, questioned your doctor or sent a letter to the editor of your paper, then you have acted as an advocate.
“We are each advocating for a host of important community and personal issues every single day,” noted Nancy Delaney, manager of community engagement for Oxfam America. “As members of the Dining for Women community, you’ve each become advocates for the women and girls whose lives and dreams you support.” Details
Food – cooking it and sharing it – is a part of who we are. But it got started that way because co-founder Marsha Wallace, who admits she’s not much of a cook, liked the idea of people bringing food over to her house. For more interesting details, check out this in a Philanthropy Journal story about DFW, Marsha’s contribution to the Women for Women cookbook, and our 10th anniversary #DFW10year this weekend.
Read ArticleThe Greenville Journal covered Dining for Women’s 10 anniversary celebration in Greenville, June 2013
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A very nice web post from Anchal Executive Director Colleen Clines reflecting on her experience at our 10th anniversary conference. We loved having Anchal there – to display the beautiful quilts and scarves and to help us see and understand more about the impact Dining for Women is having.
Read ArticleIt’s nice to see student journalists covering Dining for Women. The St. Rose Chronicle, a student newspaper at The College of St. Rose at Albany, NY, wrote an article about the Albany chapter’s meetings – potluck meets global discussion.
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By Patricia Andersson
Portland, OR, chapter leader
Update #2 from Borneo: Our luck has been continuing on this trip — finding lost cameras, rains not arriving until the completion of a big celebration, and biggest of all — everyone staying happy and healthy. We’ve just wound up three amazing days with ASRI/Health in Harmony in Sukandana, and are heading off tomorrow to visit the orangutans. In Indonesian, the word orang-utan means “person of the forest” and indeed their word for person is orang, which makes it an easy one to remember. As always, I’m trying to learn a bit of the local language, and have down a few phrases, which I trot out much to the amusement of the local “orangs.” Occasionally I unknowingly toss in a little Spanish too, having only one file in my brain called “foreign language.” Big laughs, at my expense. Details
Beth Gaines and Susan Altman, co-chairs of the Cedar City, UT, chapter were interviewed by The Spectrum. The article is substantive and talks about how the pair learned about DFW and decided to start a chapter.
By Tina Yoppolo
Sylvania, OH
We began our day with a walking tour of Old Town Hoi An. Well preserved temples, pagodas and ancient homes line the vibrant narrow streets. UNESCO has named this a World Cultural Heritage Site. Centuries old structures gave us the feeling of walking through 16th century Viet Nam. Our guide bravely took us through the Hoi An market to look, not shop! The bustling market was bursting with exotic fresh fruits, vegetables fish ,and meats. Open kitchens serving fresh local dishes, flowers, and spices all contributed to the visual and aromatic delights. Artisans sold their crafts, vendors offered silk scarves, kitchen utensils and so much more. Details
Kay Smith, chapter leader in Provo, UT, is spotlighted in an article in The Daily Herald. The article notes that there are now three DFW chapters in Utah – that’s pretty exciting. Smith is also one of our international travelers and visited Vietnam in March 2013.
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By Lynn Broadbent
Fairfax, VA chapter member
Since our group split up to visit the women in the Children of Vietnam program, here are a few notes from Group Three’s meetings. The beneficiaries in our group were: Mai, Nhung, Mui, Trang, Chi, Dao, Bich, and Ha.
This is Mai’s story.
Mai has been in the Empowering Women Program since 2009. She is a hairdresser. Details
By Lynn O’Connell
Alexandria, VA chapter member
Living in Washington, DC, I tend to think of a nation or a destination in terms of its monuments and memorials. Â So, during this week in Vietnam, as I have seen 200-foot tall Buddhas, statues, etc., I immediately assume “National Monument” and try to find out what it is in my guidebook or from my Vietnamese contacts at home. Â Finally, one Vietnamese friend texted, “Remember, very few national treasures remain in Vietnam today.” Details
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton applauded the efforts of Dining for Women and its “deep and transformational” impact in a letter sent to the organization and released at an event in Manchester, NH., on Tuesday March 26, 2013. Details
Kay Wynn has written a column in the Sulphur (LA) Daily News about why it is important that we open our eyes to problems that are so far away. She talks about how she became involved with Dining for Women and how her faith influenced her decision to become involved.
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Trip leader Marilyn Murphy
By Katlin Smith
Vancouver, WA chapter leader
Why do we travel? Pico Iyer, the esteemed travel writer, says “We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.” Certainly a Dining for Women trip does just that.
After a full first day, culminating with dinner and a water puppet show with the 13 sweet girls, age 4 to 16, of the Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam foster home, we started the second day slowly with a rickshaw ride. Details
By Lynn Broadbent
Fairfax Station, Virginia chapter member
On March 8, our journey began. My flight out of Washington, DC was 14 hours into Seoul. The first lovely surprise was the flight itself and the delightful Korean Air crew. I watched four movies and enjoyed some authentic Korean dishes, and glimpses out the window of mountains, snow, and eventually the beautiful suspension bridge of Seoul. Details
Read Article Kristi York Wooten, a blogger and women’s advocate, writes on the Huffington Post about 7 ways to celebrate International Women’s Day. She mentions Dining for Women and some other great ideas that we can use every day of the year.
By Tina Romenesko
There was definitely an energy of celebration in the air as we headed toward that hospital in the morning. Mother’s Day in Nicaragua is a national and obligatory holiday. Imagine that! Only the restaurants and stores are open and everyone is shopping for mom! As we passed the market, I saw a large table completely filled with mother´s day cakes, a yellow cake with bright white frosting and lots of red frosting roses with Felicidades a Mamá written across the top. I bet there were 50 of them, monitored by two young boys, towels in hand, swatting at the ubiquitous flies that were trying to land on these masterpieces.  Details
By Tina Romenesko
The chairs were two deep in the hallways when we arrived at the hospital for our second day of the mission.  By 11:00, we had interviewed 30 patients and were well into seeing them in the treatment rooms.  There are usually 4 treatment rooms running at one time – each one lead by one of the four medical professionals on our trip.  Pam, Ilana, Ann, and Karen.  Our mission is to teach the Nicaraguan staff and ideally graduate them to teaching their own staffs in outlying hospitals how to perform the cervical screenings and remove pre-cancerous lesions on their own. Sadly, most of the clinics don´t have the equipment needed to remove the lesions, either by freezing them (cryotherapy) or excising them with a live wire (LEEP).  Training is one issue and funding equipment to do so is another. Details
By Tina Romensko
We began the day on the rooftop of the Hotel San Francisco, connecting our DFW hearts and minds with a gentle yoga practice overlooking the city of Granada. It felt so good to move and breathe together. Â I taught the group Trimurti and Yoni mudras (hand gestures associated with the feminine body, mind, and spirit), uniting our intention of women helping women, as we headed for Leon and the beginning of our true meaning for being in Nicaragua, our medical mission with PINCC, or Prevention International: Â No Cervical Cancer. Details
By Tina Romenesko
Manuel, our guide, and the lovely Flavia met us at 8:00 for our kayaking excursion on Lake Nicaragua. The double kayaks offered us a stable entry into the second largest fresh water lake in Latin America. We began our journey exploring the calm estuaries of the Peninsula de Asese. Surrounded by water lilies and mangroves, we wove in and out and around small islands that are most likely the result of volcanic activity from 10,000 years ago. Details
By Tina Romenesko
OK. We’re heading for Jubilee House – part of the Center for Development in Central America – and there is some confusion going on in the front seat. I hear jubilado which means ” retired” and I’m wondering if we might be somewhat off target, when we arrive, after numerous twists and turns, at the old folks home! Hardly the fair trade, conscious community we were hoping for. Details
By Tina Romenesko
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. -Lau Tzu
Headed for Nicaragua TODAY – for a medical mission – my first! The opportunity is part of the Dining for Women program – thanks to Jill Haas for inviting me to be a part of the Milwaukee chapter. I will have the opportunity to visit numerous projects funded by this group – including a completely independent women’s sewing cooperative in Managua. Details
By Cherie Ackman
Fontana, WI
Today, we began our last day together in El Salvador. As we climbed into the van I found myself feeling a bit sad, as we have made such wonderful friendships in such a short period of time. We traveled to a local clinic not too far from our bed and breakfast, in San Miguelito. Details
By Patricia Spross
Today, Christy from CIS took us to the wall with the names of civilians who were killed or are missing from the war. Thousands of names appeared. Families arrived to remember their loved ones.
Then we met the Maryknoll sisters and travelled to Chalatenango. Sister Mary Annel is a humble woman with a regal presence. Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Portland, OR
Today was our second clinical day with PINCC, in a location they have yet to have the opportunity to work. We traveled to Soyapango, a distance outside of San Salvador, to work in another clinic that strongly served women´s and community health and was an urgent care facility at night, thus giving 24 hour care. Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Portland, OR
An early start to our first day with the PINCC team included a hearty breakfast at 6:30 and filling two vans that headed out of San Salvador to the town of Nejapa. There we joined 33 doctors and nurses for a day of training. The nurses and some of the doctors (this week known as students) learned about the disease process of cervical cancer and the visual inspection procedure with acetic acid (AKA common kitchen vinegar) known as VIA. This is the low cost, very transportable, visual screening that PINCC takes on the road to low-resource countries. Details
By Patricia Spross
Today is Wednesday and I woke with a migraine.  So I stayed home to sleep in my dark room until it passed. Waking in the early afternoon, I take this time to reflect on my first day at the clinic. Nearly 60 women were treated in an energetic setting of Salvadorean doctors whom PINCC has trained to teach the screening procedure (maestras). Also present were about 15 to 20 doctors and nurses being trained by the maestras to perform the vinegar procedure.  Details
By Patricia Spross
Today we worked at the clinic in San Jacinto, about 45 minutes outside of San Salvador. The doctors saw about 45 women. Once again, I was given the opportunity to do interviews.  Nearly half of the women I interviewed had experienced some form of sexual abuse. They never included those experiences when they gave the number of their sex partners. There were psychologists on hand to counsel these women. Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Portland, OR
Our first day in action with PINCC sped by! Severe traffic delayed our start which added to the frenzy. We worked at a Pro Vida clinic in Nejapa, where women had already been screened for the services offered today. There was an entire courtyard of women waiting when we arrived! Work stations were established, rooms were stocked, paperwork was stacked and patients were seen. Details
By Patricia Spross
 Today we hiked around the perimeter of the volcano. On the hike the contrasts of the beautiful country of El Salvador were once more in evidence. Wizened bare chested men carried lush calla lilies and colorful tropical blooms on their bent backs. A woman in her thirties did not smile for the camera because her front teeth were missing. We pondered why they were missing from her mouthful of healthy teeth. Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Today our travels took us northwest of San Salvador to visit two different archaeological sites. One was discovered in 1976 by accident, as land was being cleared for construction. It has since led to the unearthing of several homes from the year 590 AD, when an explosion of the Laguna Caldera covered the indigenous people and their homes with molten lava.
Typically there were three buildings in a housing complex: one for storage, one that served as a kitchen and one was for sleeping. However, after seeing the hard bed platforms in the dormitories, it was a far cry from what we know as beds today! Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Oregon
Visiting the women of Pajaro Flor in Suchitoto today was like visiting a success story that is written in Dining for Women language. Although not a program supported by DFW, it is a clear example of strong women taking a stand for their rights and empowering women in their community to better themselves and their families.
This group was founded in 1991 near the end of the Civil War in El Salvador when it was seen as an important time for women in the history of their country. The founders of Pajaro Flor seized the opportunity to help women access land of their own, increase the awareness of domestic violence and strongly denounce it, and encourage women to participate in their local communities and governments. Details
By Cheryl Ackman
Wisconsin
Yet another whirlwind day, filled with history and brutal truths of the Salvadorians’ not so distant past. We visited Arch Bishop Romero’s home and the chapel he was shot in while giving a mass to the people. He was killed by a sniper in March, 1980. He was so admired by the people of the country that 1 million attended his funeral in the central town square. Sadly, more snipers used this as an opportunity to kill 60 people on that Easter Sunday.   Details
By Cheryl Ackman
Wisconsin
Today we traveled for an hour to San Luis Ranchos, along narrow and winding mountainous roads. We stared in awe at the vistas and gorges of tropical green forests along the way.
Arriving in a remote village, we were so excited to meet the women at the small center, made of metal walls and roof, which is supported by CIS and SEW (Salvadorean Enterprises for Women).  We were greeted with open arms and huge smiles by Delmy, the community women’s organizer, and her team of four other mothers from the local area. Also, with them were two scholarship students who are in the process of attending university through the generosity of CIS. The women shared their stories and told us what their participation in the co-op (dying Indigo and sewing school uniforms for government contracts) has given them. Details
By Ruthann Marquis
Oregon
After months of correspondence and anticipation I finally got to meet our team outside the San Salvadorian airport in a humid 84 degrees. Although we came from all corners of the US, we speak DFW and instantly connected as sisters!!! Details
By Angie Maddox
It’s hard to believe almost a month has passed since my return from Kenya. I think of the people and landscape everyday – constantly throughout the day. I’m often asked about the experience and my response remains the same – Amazing!  Incredibly kind people, gorgeous landscape, and I’m still very much processing the experience. Details
By Angie Maddox
This morning I sit watching wildlife from the Mountain Lodge, our home (with WiFi) for a few hours before we begin our journey toward Maasai Mara. In my last post I mentioned visiting communities. One of the communities we visited a couple of days ago in the Samburu region is a community funded through The Boma Project. It’s difficult to express in words the experience and the feeling of being greeted and welcomed into this community – there were so many senses stimulated. Details
Over the past few days our group has been on a number of game drives in the Samburu region in addition to visiting local communities that are served by programs funded by Dining for Women. Details
By Tina Romenesko
Before heading for the hospital, Patricia and Carol worked together to assemble the group, in full scrubs, for a photo. These two groups have melded seamlessly into one over the past 5 days. In our group meeting, the PINCC volunteers admitted they were skeptical about the  “Dining for Women” volunteers when we came in on Sunday. They´d already had a full week together and were very close, but the lines have completely blurred now and I can sense a gratitude that flows beautifully both ways between all of us.  Ann and Karen have even expressed an interest in joining a DFW group when they get home. Another full circle. Details
Julio, our guide, arrived at 8:00 sharp for our walking tour of Leon. After a few short blocks, he conscientiously sat us in the shade in front of a large mural that related the history of Nicaragua from its indigenous roots to the current president, Daniel Ortega. Interspersed with our history lesson, Julio encouraged members of our group to read aloud pieces of literature in English, merging sentiment and imagery with fact. Lezli and I took turns reading A Roosevelt by RubĂ©n DarĂo, which speaks directly and frankly to the bullying of Latin America by the U.S. government. Details
By Tina Romenesko
Friday morning. Our last day with the medical mission. The workload was lighter than expected as a group of 19 women, that we were hoping would arrive from a distant village, were unfortunately not going to be able to make the trip to the clinic. The interpreters were sent into the hallways to do patient education and do interviews assessing the level of knowledge patients had about health issues in general, and cervical cancer, specifically. Details
By Tina Romenesko
By 8:00 a.m, we were in the hotel lobby, wearing our scrubs and ready to go. Â We each made a name tag that could be easily pronounced by our Nicaraguan patients. Lezli, Catarina, Daniela, Lina… then made some adjustments. Â The hospital was crowded, inside and out, packed with people waiting to be seen. Â We moved through the non-air conditioned hallways, heading toward the air conditioned conference room to meet the Nicaraguan doctors, nurses, and residents. Â This is a teaching hospital, and some of the medical staff has worked with PINCC in the past three years, practicing to gain proficiency with the procedures to prevent cervical cancer. Â Details
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