Bali WISE empowers marginalized women through skills education as a means to develop sustainable communities. In Bali’s tourism-driven economy, less-educated women often fall through the cracks; and for families living in poverty, priority is commonly given to education for boys. Without skills, women rarely find a path out of poverty and may find themselves at-risk for exploitation and trafficking. Students in the Bali WISE program achieve both classroom and practical experience in their training, and about 90% find skilled, sustainable employment in the hospitality sector after graduation.

Susters4Life, a South African NGO dedicated to empowering and uplifting women, was founded by the four Thompson sisters: Lesley, Reneé, Toni and Nashreen. Their journey began with ad-hoc projects in Worcester and Laingsburg, where poverty and abuse of women and children are pervasive, and has since expanded to other communities in the region. Their work primarily focuses on helping women to develop entrepreneurial skills, capacity building, advocating for gender equality and parity, and women’s rights.