 Zainab Salbi, a survivor of war, has a passion: rebuilding communities after war, one woman at a time. Tens of thousands have responded to Salbi's call, helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives through Salbi's organization, Women for Women International.
Salbi will speak at Sleeping Lady Retreat Center January 8 at 7:00 p.m, with a book-signing following the program. Proceeds from ticket sales, and 10% of book sales, will benefit the YWCA's Homeless Women's Program. Contact Sleeping Lady for ticket information.
"Women who survive war are strong, resilient and courageous - they just need some support dealing with the aftermath of conflict," Ms. Salbi says. "So, we give them the tools they need to help themselves and their families, while providing them with the education to be leaders and advocates in their communities."
Since Ms. Salbi founded Women for Women International in 1993, tens of thousands of women have joined a quiet but strong movement to help women survivors of war and civil strife to rebuild their lives. One by one, Women for Women International has helped 93,000 women survivors of war begin to contribute to the political and economic health of their societies. Salbi has dedicated her life to the belief that stronger women build stronger nations.
 Ms. Salbi writes about her own terrifying war experiences under Saddam Hussein in her memoir, Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam. After she escaped Iraq, Salbi devoted herself to helping other women whose lives had been torn apart by war. Her most recent book, The Other Side of War: Women's Stories of Survival and Hope chronicles the stories of women who overcome the horrors of war and rebuild their families and countries.
Ms. Salbi is "a recognized force for women's rights and self-sufficiency," says the San Francisco Chronicle. The Washington Post says "Salbi's vision is that by strengthening women, her organization can help rebuild communities and nations." Time calls Women for Women International "a lifeline for women in war-torn countries" and named Ms. Salbi "innovator of the month" for her pioneering work as philanthropist.
Ms. Salbi and Women for Women International have received many honors, including the 2006 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world's largest humanitarian award, and the Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award. In addition, Ms. Salbi has been honored at a White House Ceremony, and has been named a 2007 Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum), and received the 2006 Lives of Commitment Award (Auburn Theological Seminary's highest honor), the 2005 Trailblazer Award (Forbes) the 2005 Human Security Award (U. of California) and 2004 Communicator of the Year (Alverno College).
Every once in a while a new voice emerges with the power to change the world. Zainab Salbi, activist and social entrepreneur, is such a voice. Ms. Salbi inspires and moves audiences with the passion of her personal experience as a survivor of war and her dedication to rebuilding communities after war, one woman at a time.
About the Author
Ms. Salbi writes and lectures extensively on the themes of the status of women and violence against them during and after war. Ms. Salbi serves on the advisory boards of Tällberg Foundation International Advisory Council, the Peter Gruber Foundation Women's Rights Prize, World Pulse Magazine and the International Museum of Women. Ms. Salbi also serves as a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum and is a member of the International Women's Forum. Ms. Salbi earned a Masters Degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2001 and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Women's Studies from George Mason University in 1996.
Ms. Salbi is regularly interviewed in the national and international media including the BBC, NPR, ABC News Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Fox News, PBS, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Newsweek, among others. The Oprah Winfrey Show has featured Ms. Salbi and her organization seven times.
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