Resuming and Strengthening Women Circles

The WLEH team is actively working to reengage and deepen the Women Circles model, building on the cohort of facilitators trained in 2025 who are piloting their circles this year.

Another priority of work this year is to demonstrate how adapting this approach can align with country-level realities and partnerships.

This renewed effort includes reconnecting with Women Circles leads across multiple countries, including Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia and beyond, to better understand the progress made to date, identify opportunities for more localized support, and assess how these spaces can be sustainably embedded within ongoing Orbis and Seva programming.

Particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening in-country coordination and supporting both in-person and hybrid engagement models where feasible.

This important stream of work is currently being supported by Orbis' Clare Szalay Timbo in close coordination with Women Circle focal points based in countries, including Njoki Wachira from Seva Foundation. The intention is to shape the next phase of Women Circles as a key platform and approach for peer connection and locally driven gender-transformative action.

The training taught me to be in touch with my inner self; to own my experiences, my emotions, my strengths and weaknesses and use these as fuel to be better and help others to be better women and leaders as well.”

- WLEH facilitator from training last fall
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Learn more about WLEH's Women Circles here.
Listen and learn from the WLEH Kenya’s Women Circle event here.

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