My Nonprofit Reviews
VickyW
Review for Alliance For International Women's Rights, , WA, USA
The Alliance for International Women's Rights helps to empower women through its outreach programs. I am most familiar with the AIWR English Program as I have voluntarily coordinated classes for the better part of the past 3.5 years. It's a tremendously successful program that matches professional female English teachers from around the globe with Afghan girls and women so they can work together online via Skype. This experience is often deeply rewarding for both parties. It gives the girls/women additional skills which can lead to better employment opportunities. The teachers have an experience that is unique and educational. They definitely gain insight into the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan. The students get to work with a teacher who has Native or near-Native proficiency. This is a rare opportunity for the students. The teacher gets to hone her patience, her ability to work online in a very tough and sporadic situation, and she gets to assist a young woman working to fulfill her educational goals. The teachers and students are all very enthusiastic. It's a wonderful way for women to reach out and empower one another. The Alliance exists because there is a need and an overwhelming desire to learn. It is successful because so many amazing women are willing to make a commitment to share their skills and knowledge. There is nothing in the world quite as sweet as working with women as they achieve their dreams.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing that young women are getting the jobs they need to feed their families. Others go on to university and some get scholarships based partially on their ability to communicate in English. What we do has an impact that will be felt for many years to come. I've seen the development of a student over time and the changes that this can make in her life.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
fund it completely and buy a satellite, classrooms and equipment for all the students and teachers who want to participate.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
I'm not sure that the group needs to change. Sometimes I need to change! We have the odd bump...but that is the nature of the situation. The group manages about 99% of the time. It's mostly because the students are very eager and the teachers are committed and patient. Together, we've all done something that we can feel positively about.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
It certainly taught me to have more patience (though sometimes I cannot find them!). It also taught me to always think about where the students are and what they are coping with on a daily basis. I'm also aware that our fabulous volunteers are living in difficult situations and have busy lives - we've all got something going on.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
Sometimes it breaks my heart...but that's life and certainly that's life in war. We all work together to make this work - and that makes me feel really pleased. I believe what we do is meaningful and that's about as good as it gets!
