Hello all,

I would like to tell you about my two projects – The Women Worldwide Initiative, and most recently, Notebooks for Peace. Please take a moment to read this brief description, and, who knows, maybe you will want to get involved!

In July 2009, as a result of my experiences mentoring inner-city teenage girls in Brooklyn and working with the Chicago Advisory Council on Women, I created The Women Worldwide Initiative, an online social network to connect, inspire and educate women and girls. The initiative provides women and girls with resources, relevant and engaging content, and a safe forum for dialogue and expression.

In an age where young girls and women are being ever more influenced by everything but a positive role model, the importance of a safe portal for women to express themselves, connect with others and reach out for resources has become essential. Thus, alongside its dynamic and day-to-day positive content, the site includes a SpeakUp forum for discussion and extensive resources on the following topics: violence against women, self-esteem, stereotypes and identity, future options, health relationships, sexual health, emergency preparedness and a list of hotlines and emergency numbers. The Women Worldwide

Initiative is now a network of 200 women and girls from all over the globe with over 2,000 supporters online, numbers that continue to grow each day.

This past week I launched my latest project, Notebooks for Peace, part of The Women Worldwide Initiative’s “LET’S GET FREE” Campaign to inspire and lift up youth experiencing hardship. The idea for Notebooks for Peace came to me in the middle of the night during Ramadan this past summer. It definitely seemed to me to be my Ramadan blessing. Notebooks for Peace provides inspirational, customized composition books to marginalized and vulnerable youth, particularly in conflict zones, through youth empowerment-focused NGOs. The children in these areas have endured much trauma in their lives, yet they exhibit resilience and appreciation for life - this has always inspired me about children.

Each notebook is a gift for a young person. I designed the cover of the notebook to illustrate of a young girl holding a flower in front of a backdrop of what appears to be conflict or war – a painting made by a friend of mine – Kenneth

Cruz. The inside page of the notebook includes a poem I have written called, “Growth.” The notebooks allow youth in unstable environments to express themselves and collaborate - an outlet for artistic expression, and a tool in the struggle for social change and justice. The first shipment of notebooks (my goal is to send 100) will be to City of Refuge, an NGO in Ghana that rescues children from slavery. My friend from New York University has worked with them and passionately explained to me the benefit for these “forgotten children of West Africa” to see that people care about them from afar. Imagine how their faces will light up!

My first large hurdle is fundraising. Each shipment of notebooks costs $1,000 - $1,500, taking into account number of books and location of delivery. I want to fundraise the entire project through contributions made by the global community (you!) and other community fundraising efforts once I gather a strong group of volunteers to help me in New York.

I invite you to look at the Notebooks for Peace blog and our donation site with IndieGoGo to learn more about the project and to consider helping me fund it with a contribution of any amount. I know that people often need an extra push to donate to a cause (beside it being a wonderful initiative), so I offer rewards for each pledge of $1 or more!

With love and gratitude,Uraidah Hassani

Links:Notebooks for Peace donation site: http://igg.me/p/47850?a=291785&i=shlk

Notebooks for Peace blog: http://womenworldwideinitiative.wordpress.com/

The Women Worldwide Initiative: http://womenworldwideinitiative.org/

The Women Worldwide Initiative: Twitter: http://twitter.com/women_worldwide

The Women Worldwide Initiative: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Women-Worldwide-Initiative/101605773225635

Notebooks for Peace -- IndieGoGo www.indiegogo.comDonating inspirational, customized notebooks to children in conflict zones!