Women’s Empowerment Movement East Africa
From struggle
to strength.
to strength.
GDP’s Women’s Empowerment Movement reaches thousands of women across East Africa each year — through summits, trauma recovery, vocational training, and leadership development that creates lasting change.
5,500+
women reached
annually
annually
35+
years of
service in Kenya
service in Kenya
4×
annual summits
held each year
held each year
GDP Women’s Empowerment Summit — Mombasa, Kenya
5,500+
women reached by GDP
across Kenya annually
across Kenya annually
40%
lower wages women earn
vs. men in East Africa
vs. men in East Africa
<25%
of formal jobs held
by women in the region
by women in the region
35+
years GDP has served
Kenya’s communities
Kenya’s communities
The challenge — and our response
Women in East Africa carry an unequal burden. GDP is changing that.
The numbers behind the need are stark. But behind every statistic is a real woman — and GDP’s programs are designed to reach her.
The challenge women face
40%
Women in East Africa earn up to 40% less than men, limiting their economic independence and their families’ stability.
<25%
Fewer than 25% of formal jobs in the region are held by women, despite women making up nearly half the population.
~40%
Nearly 40% of women experience gender-based violence, impacting their physical health, mental well-being, and economic participation.
GDP’s answer
4×
Quarterly Women’s Empowerment Summits bring hundreds of women together for entrepreneurship, leadership, financial literacy, and peer mentorship.
100s
Hundreds of women complete trauma training programs annually — learning tools to heal, grow stronger, and become advocates within their communities.
∞
Ongoing women’s meetings create safe spaces for mentorship, collaboration, and collective problem-solving that extend long after each summit ends.
Our programs
Three pillars of women's empowerment
GDP’s holistic approach ensures that empowerment is not just a moment but a sustained movement — fueling confidence, resilience, and community change across East Africa.
Flagship program · Quarterly
Women’s Empowerment Summits
Four times a year, hundreds of women gather for GDP’s signature empowerment summits — gaining practical skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial literacy while building lasting networks of support and inspiration. These summits are a catalyst for economic independence and community leadership.
Held 4× per year across Kenya
Healing & resilience · Ongoing
Trauma Training & Recovery Programs
In environments where gender-based violence and trauma are all too common, GDP’s trauma training programs provide essential tools for self-care, healing, and advocacy. Women learn strategies to grow stronger and become forces for change in their communities — transforming personal pain into collective power.
Hundreds complete training annually
Community · Regular meetings
Women’s Mentorship & Community Meetings
Regular women’s meetings create safe, trusted spaces for ongoing mentorship, collaboration, and collective problem-solving. These gatherings extend the impact of the quarterly summits — creating a sustained movement that builds confidence and community beyond any single event or program cycle.
Ongoing safe spaces for women
Grace came to GDP’s women’s center as a survivor of domestic violence with no income. Two years later, she runs her own tailoring business and employs three other women from the program.
— Participant story · GDP Women’s Empowerment Program · Nairobi, Kenya
After years of carrying deep emotional scars from trauma, I arrived at GDP’s women’s center feeling broken and alone. The support I received helped me begin healing, regain my confidence, and believe that my life still had purpose. Today, I have found peace, strength, and a future I never thought was possible.
— Participant story · GDP Women’s Empowerment Program · Nairobi, Kenya
From the field
Real stories from GDP’s Women’s Empowerment Movement
Behind every percentage point is a woman whose life changed direction. From survivors of gender-based violence who became community advocates, to entrepreneurs who now employ other women from the program — GDP’s impact is measured in transformed lives, not statistics alone.
These stories are what sustain the movement. They are also what sustain GDP’s donors — the people who make these stories possible.
5,500+ women reached last year. Help us reach more.
Candid Platinum 2026 · 100% of gifts reach Kenya · Tax-deductible 501(c)(3)Quarterly gatherings
What happens at a Women's Empowerment Summit
Four times a year, hundreds of women gather at GDP’s Women’s Empowerment Summits — events that are part conference, part community, and part celebration of resilience.
Practical entrepreneurship training — starting and growing a business with limited resources
Financial literacy — budgeting, saving, and accessing micro-finance opportunities
Leadership development — communication, advocacy, and community organizing skills
Trauma-informed support — integrated healing alongside skills development
Peer networks — connections that outlast the summit and build a community of support
Mombasa Multiplex Center
GDP’s Women’s Empowerment Conferences are hosted at the GDP Multiplex Center in Mombasa — a permanent facility with an auditorium, classrooms, and dormitories that GDP owns and operates year-round.
Related program
St. Rita Evergreen Girls School — where empowerment begins earliest
St. Rita Project · Nyahururu, Kenya
East Africa’s first trauma-informed school for girls who have survived gender-based violence
Opened in March 2025 in Nyahururu, Kenya, St. Rita Evergreen Girls School is the foundation of GDP’s women’s empowerment continuum — reaching girls as young as 12 with education, trauma recovery, and safety before they enter adulthood. Over 2,000 girls are currently on the active waiting list.
Three ways to help
Join the movement from wherever you are
There is a role for everyone in GDP’s Women’s Empowerment Movement — whether you give, go, or share.
Give to women’s programs
$50 funds a summit seat. $150 covers trauma training materials for three women. Every gift is verified by Candid Platinum 2026 and goes directly to programs in Kenya.
Donate now →
Join a missions trip
Come to Kenya and attend a Women’s Empowerment Summit in person. April and December 2027 trips include summit participation. All departures from Jacksonville.
See 2027 trips →
Share this movement
Share GDP’s women’s story with one person who cares. Every share reaches a potential donor, volunteer, or advocate — and GDP’s story is compelling enough to do the rest.
Read & share stories →
