Women’s Education Initiative
Through our "Leah's Dream" project, we pay for tuition, fees, uniforms and books for select young women who desire a university education but lack the financial resources to pursue it.
In honor and celebration of Women's History Month 2025, we share this video by Kazeneza Didacienne of her success story
An Update from Kaze!
After graduating and receiving her Advanced (A1) Diploma in electronics and electrical engineering, WEI agreed to continue to support Kaze in going back school to get her bachelor’s degree in IT/ Information Management at the University of Kigali. She graduated on May 31, 2024.
Excerpt from a Dec. 24, 2025 letter from Kaze:
“As we approach the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to convey my heartfelt gratitude for everything you’ve done for me. This year has been truly wonderful for me, thanks to your tremendous support. As you know, I’ve finished my bachelor’s degree! This feat would not be possible without your generosity, encouragement and financial assistance during my academic career.
Looking ahead, I’ve got some exciting news to share: I plan to start a small business that teaches children STEM. I’ve always wanted to help youngsters study these fields, and I believe they are a crucial area of development in today’s environment.
I want to thank you again for all your help. Your confidence in me has meant more than words can say.”
Meet Our Scholars
Kaze
Kaze graduated in 2020 with her Advanced (A1) Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She then returned to school and graduated again in 2024 with her bachelor’s degree in IT/Information Management. Based in Rwanda, Kaze has big dreams of starting her own business repairing electronics, as well as helping people understand how to use computers and other technology like irrigation systems for cultivation. She also wants to empower women to study IT electronics, and telecommunication, and help students who don’t have opportunities to continue their education learn hands-on technology skills. Read More —>
Davidetta
In 2017, we started sponsoring then sophomore Davidetta to complete her education. She graduated in 2021 with a degree in social work at the Mother Patern College in Monrovia, Liberia. “I am so happy to have received a scholarship from your organization,” Davidetta wrote in a letter to the board, “I promise to perform to the best of my abilities in order to maintain this scholarship.” Board President Cheryl Hatch connected with the school when Hatch was in Liberia covering the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015. Read More —>
MaryJoy
In 2015, Leah, one of our scholars and now a liaison in the Philippines found us a new scholarship candidate. MaryJoy studied at Governor Alfonso D. Tan College in Tangub City. Women’s Education Initiative was able to pay for Mary Joy’s tuition fees, and she and her mother covered the boarding. The tuition is about U.S. $450, and we sponsored her through four years of school. She graduated in 2019 with a degree in office administration. Read More —>
Our Latest Updates
Meet Our Board
Cheryl Hatch (She/Her), President
Cheryl Hatch is a writer, photographer and educator. As a photojournalist, she covered conflict in the Middle East and Africa for nearly a decade. She is the founder of a journalism conference and multimedia workshop. Cheryl is an avid scuba diver and open-water swimmer.
Alice Anderson (She/Her)
Alice is a proud Oregonian who fell in love with Maine and has lived there since 2008. She is an audio engineer at Acadia Recording Company and loves empowering people through audio learning and storytelling. When she’s not in audio land, she enjoys sewing, tending to her community garden plot and beating people at cribbage.
Amanda Spadaro (She/Her), Secretary
Born and raised near Pittsburgh, Amanda graduated Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Science in biology. After graduation in 2015, she embarked on a career in journalism before returning to graduate school in 2018. She now teaches biology and health at a high school in New York City. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading and baking; she is currently on a mission to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Jeanene Louden (She/Her), Treasurer
Jeanene Louden, a fifth generation Oregonian, graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services in 1973. Jeanene’s career began picking crops at age eight and ended as the president and majority shareholder of a business she founded that defined itself as “experts in the operation, maintenance, repair, renovation and construction of research laboratories.” She has served on the boards of half a dozen nonprofits over the years. Now a retired grandmother and recent breast cancer survivor, she is reinventing how she celebrates her love of family, friends and social justice.
Nancy Raskauskas-Coons (She/Her)
Nancy works as a Public Information Officer and Grants Writer for a small school district on the South Coast of Oregon. Her previous work includes communication and public relations for nonprofits, marketing and comms for a large university department, and work as a journalist and salmon researcher. She is currently pursing her doctorate. Outside of work and school, Nancy loves the water, and she lives in the perfect place with her husband and kids by the ocean and between four incredible wild and scenic rivers: Rogue, Chetco, Smith and Klamath.
Contact
If you are interested in supporting our efforts in any way, we would love to hear from you. Do you have a contact overseas who could be a liaison to connect us with future scholars to support? Are you great at setting up fundraisers and want to help us build up our scholarship fund? Do you want to support our mission and apply to be part of our board? Do you know of someone else who should know about us?
Please reach out so we can continue to expand Leah’s Dream.