Muslim Women's Fund
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About Us:
Islam and women are in the news constantly -- but there are many stories you aren't hearing:
- In Egypt, midwives who practiced female genital mutiliation are now advocating against it.
- In Pakistan, a gang-raped woman uses her court settlement to establish a school open to all -- even to her attacker's children -- because she believes education is the key to a society's advancement.
- In the U.S., President Obama appoints an orthodox Muslim-American woman as an adviser.
All these situations have one thing in common: women who bravely embraced their Islamic rights and responsibilities to fight back against cultural, patriarchal and misogynistic practices stemming from ignorance about true Islam.
Muslim Women's Fund supports women who are empowered to live with dignity and security who are helping to create peace as they engage with their Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors.
Why Now?
There are 600 million Muslim women in the world -- a tenth of humanity -- yet there is not a single foundation focused solely on their well-being and development. The Muslim Women's Fund was established to fill that gap. The Fund supports women in reclaiming the dignity, access to education and security that are embedded as human rights in the Islamic faith.
Who Inspired Us?
In 2006, 200 Muslim women from 25 countries -- non-profit leaders, activists, politicians, doctors, scholars, poets, writers, filmmakers and musicians -- convened for the Women's Islamic Initiative for Spirituality and Equality (WISE) and told us three things they required to advance:
- An elevation of scripturally based women-positive interpretations and practices of Islam;
- Media that reflects the diverse, pioneering and creative solutions by Muslim women to the challenges they face;
- A funding source that understands the cultural and religious context of these innovative projects.
In July 2009, Muslim Women's Fund will launch in Malaysia at teh second convening of WISE Muslim women leaders from around the world. The needs and dreams identified in 2006 are now realities:
- The first ever all-female religious council of scholars will issue a collection of fatwas (legal opinions) entitled Jihad Against Violence;
- A Website will showcase inspiring leaders and innovative projects led by Muslim women globally and server as a vital resource for journalists and researchers; and
- The launch of Muslim Women's Fund and its first round of grantmaking in the U.S., Egypt and Pakistan.
Muslim Women's Fund raises funds for grassroots non-governmental organizations in countries with Muslim populations. Our goal is to support the secular and scriptural education of women and girls to claim their rights and responsibilities, and to provide them with the training necessary for their economic security. Muslim Women's Fund knows that when women are strong, so are their families, communities and nations.
Our pilot projects include:
- An Egyptian nonprofit eradicating female genital mutilation through a dual strategy: religious re-education and economic training for the barbers and midwives who perform genital mutilation.
- A Pakistani nonprofit providing a transformative human rights curriculum for teachers at girls' madrassas.
- A U.S.-based nonprofit providing Muslim immigrant and refugee women with the skills to start their own micro-enterprises, using cutting-edge visual business trainings that cross language barriers.
