“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”

1 Peter 4:10

Women empowerment is one of WOD Initiatives that is facilitated by the Projects Coordination team. One of the founding goals of WOD is to engage in community service in some capacity with a focus on communities in Zimbabwe. We think of this work as a process that facilitates communication, involvement, and exchange with communities for social and spiritual development. To date, WOD contributes to projects in support of people living with Albinism, students in rural areas and grandmothers who take on caretaker roles in families affected by disease such as HIV/Aids. The projects coordination team is composed of project management process groups that assure the execution of various projects aimed to benefit vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe. WOD is in the process of organizing the first annual mission trip to Zimbabwe that will give volunteers an opportunity to participate in these projects and give back. Please consider making a financial donation to support this work. In addition, you may contact our projects team to learn more about other ways to get involved.

You can reach our team at: info@womenofdominioninternational.org

WOD PROJECTS

1. Grandmothers who are caregivers (GWAC)

Grandmothers (or as we say in our native Shona, vanaGogo) are an integral part of society, yet they are often underserved and their stories untold. Death due to HIV/AIDS has left many Gogos to care for their grandchildren. WOD is committed to supporting these Gogos who are living below the poverty line and yet do not have a strong financial support system. We are currently running a needs assessment exercise that will provide guidance for what is most useful for these hard-working members of our communities.

2. Students In Rural Areas (SIRA)

Students are the future and in the developing world, most students reside and are enrolled in academic institutions that are in rural communities. We are aware that students in primary and secondary schools in the rural districts of Zimbabwe are often underserved and at WOD, we are committed to identifying students who can benefit from our philanthropic projects. We strive to provide students with much needed school supplies such as school supplies, back-packs, and personal hygiene items. Our team overseeing this project is arranging to better assess needs on the ground and then run some fundraising campaigns to support the work. The goal is to have some tangible outcomes that reveal how meaningful our contributions are.

3. People Living With Albinism (PLWA)

Prevalence of albinism suggests the existence of tens of thousands of people living with albinism in Africa, some of them in Zimbabwe. Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetically inherited autosomal recessive condition and due to the lack of melanin, people with albinism are more susceptible to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure. This population must deal with issues such as photophobia, decreased visual acuity, extreme sun sensitivity and skin cancer. People living with albinism (PLWA) also face social discrimination as a result of their difference in appearance and the World Health Organization is currently investigating the issues concerning this vulnerable population. WOD recognizes the medical, psychological and social needs of this vulnerable population and is committed to contributing to ease the challenges of PLWA in Zimbabwe. WOD donates sun-barriers such as sunglasses, sunscreen and sunhats. The team spearheading this project is working to better understand how to provide meaningful support in terms of resources and social and spiritual empowerment.

Projects Coordination Team