Community Empowerment
At SHEisIPA, our community stands at the heart of meaningful change. Through our empowerment projects, we unite purpose-driven women to lead and support humanitarian initiatives that uplift vulnerable communities, respond to real-world challenges, and inspire collective action. We are more than a community. We are a movement for good.
This year, the Community Empowerment Project team was part of the April seminar. The team presented an exhibition of products produced by HOME MARIJA-OUR HOPE in Široki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The center cares for people with special needs, and produces and packages products: candles, lavender bags and makes greeting cards for family events.
HOME MARIJA- OUR HOPE
(https://www.marijanasanada.com/; https://www.instagram.com/centar_marija_nasa_nada/ )
Project objectives:
– Providing support to children with developmental disabilities through the sale of their souvenirs and thank-you notes and enabling them to create a sense of success and self-confidence, while raising awareness of their needs and rights.
– Connecting the community, promoting solidarity and well-being.
As part of the April seminar held at IBZ Gimborn, the team organized an exhibition of items made by the children of the center themselves, magnets and candles with angels, paintings and lavender bags. A sale of pictures drawn by children on various topics, for example: police officers, etc. was held in the house.
The participants bought items from the exhibition and auction. The donated money will be transferred to the director of the center to enable children to participate in excursions or competitions (such as the Paralympic bowling competition in Malmö, Sweden).
Details of the amount of money donated during the seminar:
91 gifts (lavender in a bag, angel magnets and candles) gift sale 189 euros,
auction – 9 drawings and greeting cards 369 euros,
sale of SHEisIPA mugs and badges and other personal donations 678 euros.
Total 1,236 euros.
LITTLE BLUE HEROES FOUNDATION
At the SHEisIPA ‘Empowering Female Leaders in the IPA and Beyond’ seminar taking place at IBZ Gimborn between 12-17 April 2026, the project will be raising money to support Section Ireland’s Lille Blue Heros Foundation.
Little Blue Heroes Foundation is a not-for-profit charity operated entirely by volunteers (no paid staff) made up of Garda members/staff, retired Garda members, their families, friends and civic minded people from communities. It aims to support families of children with serious illnesses while empowering the lives of children.
An auction of art created by the young people of Maria Our Hope will take place and all money raised will support the on-going work of the Little Blue Heros. This represents a wonderful opportunity for the young people in Bosnia Herzegovina to support other young people in Ireland, and theme of friendship and solidarity that strikes to the core of the IPA values.
https://www.littleblueheroes.org/haven-4-heroes
https://www.facebook.com/reel/359156933907171
To View more photographs of this Community project please go to the #SHEisIPA Galleries.
Photo Galleries