Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment

In Girls Getting Ahead in Leadership (GGAL), the immigrant and refugee high school girls that we serve are at a significant socio-economic and educational disadvantage. The inability to speak, read, and write the English language is a a definte barrier to educational success. Our GGAL program helps break down the barriers to educational success for these girls. We have a 95% success rate in getting the girls who participate in GGAL into college! GGAL was recently designated Changemaker 2011 by the Minnesota Women's Press for promoting equality, justice, and self-determination for women and girls.

These girls are truly an inspiration to everyone they meet! Sahra Gane came to the United States from Africa in July, 2006 and started participating in Girls Getting Ahead in Leadership in October of 2006 as a junior in high school. Sahra graduated in June, 2009 from Burnsville High School. Sahra is currently attending North Dakota State University. Sahra received the Diversity Scholarship at North Dakota State University, which will cover all tuition costs for five years and will be studying nursing.

Sahra believes "that GGAL was where everything began in my life with regard to education. It has played an important role in my life. I met many good women and made my best friends through GGAL, who I consider my sisters. I met women who inspired me, like Laura, Wilhelmina, Mai Lee, and my mentor, Angie. Young immigrant women should take advantage of this program. Many times, immigrants don’t think they can ever go to college."

Your support will help further the mission of WISE to empower immigrant and refugee women and girls to succeed. There are over 1,600 immigrant and refugee girls in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who are not served by a program like GGAL. These girls have been through so much in their life. GGAL provides a way for them to create a quality life. GGAL provides mentoring, career guidance, academic tutoring, English language development, and assistance with college visits and application preparation. Also, the girls learn about their cultural identities now that they live in the United States. They learn how the same issues can affect girls from different countries.

The collaboration promoted by the multiculturalism of GGAL is very powerful and uplifting. As one of the program participants said, "I like talking about different issues minorities face, because it helps me to see that many people around the world face the same things that I do and that I'm not alone in my struggle to make a difference." One of our GGAL participants, who is a refugee from Burma, told WISE, "I will teach my people who don't know how to read and write...I will be a big tree with them as part of my branches. It is my dream for the future."

Given the chance and support, immigrant and refugee women and girls show great resiliency, optimism, and success. Oghassu Xassan is a nurse from Somalia who came to the United States in 2001 and relocated to Minnesota in 2008. After enrolling in WISE's Foreign Trained Professional program in August 2008, Oghassu received a scholarship to help her prepare for her licensure process. As a participant in the program, she also actively participated in the advocacy, outreach, and mentorship activities in the program. In February 2009, Oghassu passed her licensure exams and is currently working as a nurse.

Please consider partnering with WISE in the good work that we do. Your support will have a meaningful impact on the lives of others.