Solidarity Women’s Programme


With women for a more inclusive society

Our aim is to help civil society initiatives representing women’s perspectives to operate safely and sustainably, and to build a supportive community of solidarity around them.

WHY WOMEN?

We believe that empowering women’s perspectives and interests is good for society as a whole. If it’s better for women, everyone wins. By representing less visible, marginalised groups of women, we can highlight important social issues and problems. Through the communities we support, we can strengthen the relationship between people – women and men – and create space for equality. Participants will experience being part of sustaining communities and expanding their social networks.

WHY IS THE SOLIDARITY WOMEN’S PROGRAMME UNIQUE?

Women’s NGOs are trying to survive in a shrinking, resource-constrained environment, planning for the short term, and are characterised by uncertainty and exhaustion. Through the Roots and Wings Foundation’s Women’s Programme, we offer a new approach to resource mobilisation and the expansion of channels for organisations working on women’s issues. We work to increase the visibility of new actors and access to new types of resources, and we also support activities for which resources are not usually available, such as the activities of non-formal organisations and the well-being of those working and volunteering within organisations.

WHO DO WE SUPPORT AND HOW?

Organisations working on women’s issues differ in their themes, professional backgrounds and scope of activities, and their needs and problems. What they have in common is a strong need to connect with each other and to learn about innovative models of action. Through our responsive support we provide expertise and funding to organisations and groups working on women’s equality. We shape the way people think about giving through building donor circles and organising fundraising events. We also create opportunities to build relationships, trust and knowledge by creating a solidarity network of supporters. Our programme supports:

  • organisations, even informal groups, working on women’s issues that are less visible and under the radar;
  • women-focused initiatives by non-women’s organisations;
  • programmes to maintain the physical and mental well-being of women’s organisation staff and volunteers, to counterbalance the emotional strain of their work and to prevent burnout.

OUR SUCCESSES SO FAR

Through the 2023 Women’s Day Live Giving, we have supported four organisations financially and professionally from the donations of nearly 145 donors. Their themes include: supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, empowering marginalised and disadvantaged women and girls through sociodrama, supporting women in prison in mental health groups, and building a community to support women’s career transition and entrepreneurship.

We set up the first Hungarian Women’s Giving Circle, where 13 participants met regularly for a year, learning about women’s life situations. They went on to support three other important women’s causes: community-building for a professional group for young girls and women using sociodramatic methods, a language course and women’s club for immigrant women to help them integrate, and the expansion of women’s circles to support each other during childbirth.

Our strategic media partner, nlc, produced four reports on the Szívhangok Troupe, the Support Network for Detainees and their Families, the Női Váltó Foundation and the Emma Association, as well as two video reports on the Women’s Giving Circle and the Women’s Day Live Crowdfunding Night.

OUR GRANTEES SAID

The RWF has provided a community and a support. A partner in the common fight for the causes that matter.

For me, RWF is the white dandelion that spreads in many places, is carried by the wind, sows seeds in many places, where it grows again; and that is because, in my eyes, this is how the foundation “sows seeds”: it tries to lay the foundations for the future of NGOs, to build a culture of support and cooperation in Hungary.

We have received support – not only material support, but more than that, because we never thought before that we would be able to reach so many people with our topic.

The financial support we received through Live Crowdfunding Night was a lifesaver for us at a critical moment and the feedback, encouragement and guidance we received through the programme gave us the strength to continue, for which we are very grateful.

OUR GRANTEES

Ha szeretnél többet megtudni a programról vagy szívesen együttműködnél,
keresd munkatársunkat, Szegő Dórit!