CWI: College Women Initiative/1st Generation College student

When our girls graduate from H.S, the expectation is that they will become empowered as 1st generation college women who are ready to pursue higher education. We ensure they are prepared academically, financially, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Thanks to their H.S experience, we believe they will adjust and thrive in their new college environment. Through our college women initiative, we expect that their only true worries and challenges will be finding a “nice” roommate, succeeding academically, and having enriching experiences while also having fun.

You’re accepted into a great college (Congratulations!!!), and as a 1st generation college woman, perhaps you’ve been offered a full scholarship (including room & board). This is absolutely wonderful!!!! Your hard work has really paid off! You arrive on campus and the reality of this transition starts to set in… The environment (in every sense) is totally different than where & how you grew up and what you envisioned, but as part of the college women initiative, you’ll find opportunities for women empowerment that can help you navigate this new chapter.

What if we told you that many 1st generation college women attending great schools often go to class hungry and experience food insecurity frequently? When the food services or food pantries on campus are closed, or they can’t afford to buy food, these young ladies face even more challenging situations. What if we told you that basic personal items aren’t affordable for most students? Moreover, there are college women who have experienced homelessness or live at or below the poverty line with their families and still manage to attend class every day. What if we told you that many of these college women are embarrassed to ask for assistance, which is crucial for their success? They often suffer in silence, trying to thrive despite the odds stacked against them, embodying the very essence of women empowerment. What would you do?