Dear Friends and Family,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I wanted to do something different for my birthday this year (23rd January) to set the intention for a year of giving, but also being surrounded by like-minded, well-intentioned people.

Instead of buying me any gifts, a card or even a drink, I would love you to make a donation of any amount to one of my charities of choice this year, Women for Women. A few years ago Deborah Maxwell, Emeritus Trustee for Women for Women International invited me into a WFW Board Meeting where I came face to face with the Leadership Circle  - looking back I was foolishly unprepared for that meeting. Up until then being an entrepreneur had felt like enough of a super power but I left feeling de-caped because the real superwomen, were not only people like Brita Fernandez Schmidt, the Executive Director of Women for Women International UK, but also the women survivors themselves. In 2007 I visited Sierra Leone and will never forget meeting a woman with long sleeves, a cruel practise of rebel soldiers - giving victims the 'choice' of deciding at which point on their arms they would 'like' to be amputated - for this woman no longer being able to cook for her family and provide love in this way had been the equivalent of almost being neutered without the fig leaf of anonymity, her scars were there for all to see.

Since 1993, Women for Women International has helped over 400,000 women survivors in countries affected by war and conflict, by providing them with much needed support, tools, and access to life-changing skills. In this way WFW empower these women to move from a place of distress, trauma and vulnerability to one of emotional stability and economic self-sufficiency.

Find out more about them here: http://www.womenforwomen.org.uk

I believe in all that they represent on the ground, across the world, helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. I have lots of strong women in my life as friends and mentors so this seemed a fitting birthday gift. Really, I really don't need any more things, I have more than I could wish for so this would mean a lot to me. If you don't feel comfortable doing that I understand, but either way, please don't buy me anything.

Thanks,

Samata

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.