FEM International was born from the passion of an inspirational woman, a socially implicated entrepreneur, and a previous international volunteer. And the 3-D story started! It regroups the following components: Women, people helping people and social entrepreneurship. They are the reasons behind the cause...

All three components are equally decisive to pursue our venture mission "to help women of the world to become self-sufficient and fully aware of their possibilities, through the stimulation of income generation activities".

FEM International was conceived as a response to the current way and methods through which women in emerging communities are helped by international aid. FEM International believes that women themselves should be in charge of their future. If they are given the right tools they will be able to fight their way out of poverty, help their families, and the communities to which they belong.

1-D Why women? Our inspiration

Women of this generation have been able to see fundamental changes. In less than 50 years we have gone from being ignored, to being able to claim our rights and dignity. We have been treated as a minority group for so long even though we account for more than half of the whole world population. Women's roles in our society have become increasingly important. Our voice matters! There is indeed a long way to go, but we are now walking the right road towards it.

Gandhi said it once and it could not be more relevant in today's context "Educate a man and you will educate a man, educate a woman and you will educate a whole family".

FEM International’s approach doesn't see women's situations as only a need to address, but more as an opportunity for a deep transformation. FEM International sees women as the providers, the nurturers, the caregivers, the comforting shadows and the sunshine in every situation.

FEM International sees the creativity, the resourcefulness; the commitment women have inherent to our condition and in every cell of our humanity. FEM International acknowledges this essence. We women work inspired by causes that move our hearts. Ask women what they understand as realization and more often you will get as an answer such as “having my family in a good situation”; or “having a job that allows me to enjoy family time”; or “a job that allows an opportunity to give back”.

We are more motivated by family, community and general well-being than by money.

2-D Regular people choosing to participate in International Development... the trend

It either seems the world is growing wilder or we've become more sensitive to its conditions. In either case there seems to be a trend in our generations, to move toward a more socially responsible society, to put some thought and soul to the economic formula of "supply and demand". More clear now than ever is the fact that if one is not part of the solution, then one is part of the problem. The choice is ours, and it seems people are choosing to become part of the solution by getting actively involved in creating a better world.

During the last decade and especially in the last five years there has been an explosion of work overseas to help out actively in countries in ways of development. International voluntary work has become the new trend for young people and older individuals to participate in an active way to re-shape a more sustainable world. International organizations have sent in the last 4 years more volunteers than what they sent in the past decade all combined.

Local people will happily take the free help. But because there is not a system or a proper infrastructure developed to support this help, it often brings a short term-relief, but not a long-term solution. For local people, international volunteers are faces seen once, and then forgotten. Few of those initiatives have had a truely sustainable impact through time.

A lot has been done, yes, but a whole lot could have been done if there was a system to effectively use that time, that valuable know-how and devotion the volunteers are putting into their work; A system that empowers local women and girls to their best capacity through the commitment and energy of short-term volunteers; A system in which local women can get substantial, on-going help in where they really need it, especially to cover their basic needs; A system that allows them to maximize their potential as individuals, as community leaders, as micro entrepreneurs.

And it is in this last particular point where development through short-term voluntarism faces a barrier. Current dynamics are well placed, but they fall shorter in their expectations because they don't stimulate the individual further or deeper, or in conjunction with their support system.

3-D   Social entrepreneurship and International development,  the synergy.

Surprisingly, in the same decade, local communities in developing countries haven't quite become more "developed as a whole". They've received relief support for the most part; schools have been created, and more people have access to food; health and education. Not a whole lot of people have a clearer future for themselves or their families, but there are at least a few with the thought on their minds, and in the development field we know a few it's already a lot. Definitely something has been achieved. People are getting trained in a profession, in a vocation, and in a way, it has stimulated development to some extent.

We believe that sustainable development can be reached in an efficient way by the stimulation of the micro-enterprise segment of the society. But the right system needs to be in place.

FEM International aims to canalize the conjunction of all these 3 elements (people’s active involvement, development of micro-enterprises and women’s role) to promote a more sustainable positive impact. Our system is overall an empowerment system, based on three modules: a basic business training course, a social-responsible marketing channel and a financial assistance program. Empowerment can teach us to rediscover
ourselves, our potential, and our roles in our community and in our society. It makes us aware and makes us responsible of our situation and our possibilities.

FEM International’s model goes back to the essence of a business-venture with the goal of becoming self-sufficient, and NOT as an end per-say. Our system is basic in its conception. Thus, it is easy to understand, easy to teach, easy to replicate and therefore useful enough to guarantee sustainability reducing dependability in the long term for communities in need.

FEM International has found in this development need, an opportunity for women of the world. For those who really want to give back, for those who need some inspiration, and for those who will inspire others.