Written by: Admin_SheEvo
My name is Aisha Abdulraheem Bamidele, and I am based in Kano State, Nigeria. I am the founder of the Aisha Women’s Rise Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering young girls, women, and even boys with skills that can help them achieve financial independence. Over the years, I have had the privilege of visiting 34 schools—both junior and senior secondary schools—and 17 local government areas, including Gezawa, Kura, and Gwarzo. My mission is to equip these communities with practical skills like baking and tie-dye, so they can stand on their own feet and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.
To date, we’ve reached over 5,000 individuals. Initially, our focus was solely on empowering young girls and women, but during a visit to the Mariri IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp, we discovered a pressing need among boys as well. While visiting with the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Kano, we taught the boys how to do tie-dye, and they were incredibly attentive and eager to learn. This experience inspired us to include boys in our empowerment programs, realizing that financial independence is something everyone—regardless of gender—deserves.
Our work also extends to the grassroots level, because that’s where the real change starts. Many girls in these areas are forced into early marriages, and we want to help them break the cycle by equipping them with the tools for self-sufficiency. In addition to teaching skills, my foundation distributes sanitary pads to girls in the schools we visit. It’s heartbreaking to discover that many of these girls don’t even know how to use pads and resort to using makeshift alternatives like cut cloths due to the high cost of sanitary products. This is a dire issue, and I feel compelled to do something about it.
Some of our most committed participants have even gone on to practice the skills they’ve learned, sharing pictures of their progress and sending heartfelt prayers in return. It is incredibly rewarding to see them thrive, and it drives me to continue this work.
However, I believe the impact of this work could be far greater if more support were available. I call on the government and other organizations to collaborate with us, as there is a real need for assistance, especially in empowering these women and children who are striving for better futures.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of many more, helping them rise above the challenges they face and unlock the full potential within them. Every effort, no matter how small, counts in building a brighter, more self-sufficient future for these communities.
