Women's Dignity School Emergency Fundraiser for Children Displaced by ICE

Here is the PayPal donation link:

https://www.paypal.biz/womensdignityschool

 

For physical donations in Bremerton, items can be dropped off at: 639 Callow St, Bremerton, WA 98312

 

Here is our story: Women’s Dignity School, originally known as Muso Danbé, meaning women’s dignity in Bambara, was founded in 1998 in Kayes, Mali, West Africa by Mariam Sidibé (my mom). She was born in Kayes in 1965, Mariam believed deeply that “it is not right for women to cross their arms and believe their salvation will come from men.” From that conviction, she built a life-skills center for orphaned and disabled girls who were often excluded from education, marriage, and economic opportunity.

 

At Muso Danbé, young women learned practical trades, cloth dyeing, tailoring, soap making, cooking, and literacy, skills that allowed them to earn income and live with independence and self-respect. Mariam’s vision was never charity alone; it was dignity, self-reliance, and leadership. She often reminded her students that no one is ever too old to learn, especially when knowledge can create economic freedom.

 

In recognition of her grassroots peace-building and women’s empowerment work, Mariam was nominated in 2005 for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the global initiative led by PeaceWomen Across the Globe, an internationally active feminist peace organization based in Bern, Switzerland. The initiative sought to nominate 1,000 women peacebuilders worldwide whose work advanced peace, justice, and community resilience in contexts affected by conflict. That historic nomination helped lay the foundation for PeaceWomen Across the Globe as a global network connecting and amplifying women’s leadership in peace processes.

 

Today, that same vision lives on in Washington State. As our family and community put down roots here, Women’s Dignity School expanded to serve BIPOC immigrant and refugee women facing isolation, cultural barriers, and limited access to leadership opportunities. Locally, we focus on leadership training, community-building, and empowerment to create spaces where women connect, build confidence, and support one another as leaders in their families and communities.

 

From Kayes to Washington, Women’s Dignity School remains grounded in the same belief: when women are empowered with skills, voice, and community, dignity follows, and so does lasting change.