The organization’s founder will also launch their GLOW mentoring program in the West African city
March, 18, 2014- On Friday, March 21, Women Empowering Nations (WEN) will host their first international screening of The World They Knew, an inspiring documentary that follows the journey of three girls from Tulsa, Oklahoma through North and West Africa. The screening will take place at the Alliance Franco Gambienne in Banjul, Gambia and will happen fresh off the heels of the Tulsa, Oklahoma screening which welcomed over approximately 100 friends, supporters and young girls impacted by Women Empowering Nations and its programs.
“Our Tulsa screening was a huge success and I look forward to sharing it with some of the young women across the globe, who have inspired us daily at WEN,” said Carlisha Williams, Founder and Executive Director of WEN. “Our film is important because it addresses issues that young girls from all over the world can relate to. We touch on colorism, domestic violence, self-esteem issues and the daily challenges of being a girl in modern society.”
Last summer, a diverse group of 8th grade girls from North Tulsa traveled to Casa Blanca, Morocco and Banjul, Gambia to explore North and West African cultures, tour historic sites, and participate in a girls’ leadership conference with local Gambian girls. The conference included sessions on education, social and economic justice, and global women’s empowerment. The experience was captured in The World They Knew directed by Jason Lemon, featuring the stories, following the journey and dreams of three seminar participants.
In addition to the private screening, WEN will also introduce their GLOW mentoring program to girls ages 13 to 18 in the Gambia. The purpose of GLOW is to help girls identify solutions for academic and social development and to build life skills for important choices in their daily lives. This program provides participants with life changing opportunities to travel internationally with WEN for service trips. Trained WEN mentors are partnered with the girls for a year to facilitate holistic education sessions and build lasting relationships.
Click here to watch the four-minute documentary teaser of The World They Knew. To learn more about WEN, visit and see images from their 2013 GLOW conference in North and West Africa, visit www.WENations.org.
To schedule an interview with Carlisha Williams (Tulsa, OK) or Dawn Harrison (Houston, TX) please contact Ashley Small at ashley@medley-inc.com or 281.827.3419.