“Inspiration is our secret sauce. It is like handing someone
a candle so they can leave a cave.” - Zainab Salbi

Just last night Siiri Morley, our Executive Director, had the privilege to hear Zainab Salbi at the Former United States Ambassador Swanee Hunt’s home. Siiri also presented Zainab with one of our candles - a travel tin candle for her to take on her journeys. (See the gallery below for photos.)

Zainab Salbi, an inspiration to us all, is the founder of our partner Women for Women International (WfWI). Originally from Iraq, Zainab has authored books documenting her life while growing up in Iraq and her work has been featured in major media outlets like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” CNN, and the New York Times, etc. Under Zainab’s vision, WfWI has emerged into a remarkable organization dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. Last night, Zainab also talked about her latest book, ‘If You Knew Me You Would Care,’ a collaboration with photographer Rennio Maifredi documenting lives of women who survived wars, violence and poverty.

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with WfWI before. Our sister organization, Prosperity Candle, first piloted the model of candle-making in Baghdad with women from WfWl’s program. Prosperity Candle (PC) started by training WfWI’s staff, who subsequently taught the first 4 Iraqi “chandler-entrepreneurs” how to make candles using PC’s equipment and guide. These pioneer “chandler-entrepreneurs” field-tested the kits and then became our trainers for 50 more women entrepreneurs. Click here to learn more about the 2009 pilot program.

We are thrilled that Zainab Salbi believes in the power of candles as much as we do! =)