At Asante Africa Foundation, we know that breaking systemic barriers to education demands bold, collaborative solutions. Our partnership with Together Women Rise exemplifies how strategic alliances with mission-aligned organizations can create transformative change for young girls and women across East Africa. By combining our grassroots educational expertise with Together Women Rise’s powerful model of collective giving and advocacy, we’re addressing the intersecting challenges of gender inequality, poverty, and access to quality education.

This collaboration enables us to go beyond traditional classroom support by tackling the root causes that keep girls from learning – whether lack of menstrual health resources, cultural biases, or economic barriers. Together, we’re not just keeping girls in school; we’re empowering them to become leaders in their communities. Through Together Women Rise’s network of engaged chapters and our on-the-ground programs, we’re creating sustainable solutions that help girls thrive academically while challenging the systemic inequities that have held them back for generations.

We’re proud to highlight this alliance as a model for how organizations can work in complementary ways to create lasting change – proving that when women and girls are given equal opportunities, entire communities rise.

SUMMARY OF PARTNERSHIP 

In rural Kenya, single mothers face a triple threat: scarce economic opportunities, entrenched gender norms, and a digital divide that locks them out of 21st-century jobs. The EmpowerHer Initiative—a partnership between Asante Africa Foundation and Together Women Rise—is changing that narrative.

Through a $50,000 grant, we’re transforming lives by providing young mothers (18-24) with certified digital literacy and STEM training – skills that open doors to male-dominated fields while rewriting societal expectations. Our holistic model tackles three critical barriers: first, by closing the technical skills gap through hands-on training from basic computing to advanced STEM; second, by confronting limiting gender norms through empowerment workshops; and third, by disrupting cycles of poverty through income-generating opportunities.

The results have been remarkable. Within six months, 85% of graduates secure employment, and we’re seeing younger sisters inspired to pursue STEM paths they never previously imagined. We’re building on this success by expanding to Tanzania, integrating childcare support to remove participation barriers, and partnering with employers to hire graduates. To quote one of our graduates: “This program didn’t just teach me to code – it taught my village I could.”

SUMMARY OF TOGETHER WOMEN RISE

Founded in 2003, Together Women Rise has grown from a simple birthday potluck initiative into a powerful US-based nonprofit movement driving global gender equality. Through its network of hundreds of local chapters, the organization creates impact through three core pillars: educating members about gender inequality and solutions, funding vetted women-led organizations tackling poverty and health challenges in low-income countries, and building inclusive communities that foster advocacy and connection.

The organization champions fundamental beliefs in equal economic power, leadership representation for women, and the elimination of gender-based violence worldwide. Its work has created tangible change through partnerships with major organizations like UNICEF and Let Girls Learn, reaching thousands of women annually with life-changing opportunities. This transformative impact earned Together Women Rise the prestigious Everyday Freedom Heroes Award in 2014, recognizing its innovative approach to mobilizing collective action for gender equality.