I am celebrating my 5th year as a mentor with the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women.  I will be posting and reposting stories of the wonderful women who have become a part of my family. The Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW)  Peace Through Business has become a part of my life. IEEW provides in country and United States business training for women in Afghanistan and Rwanda. It all started with an email forwarded to me by my sister and best friend Vicki Meek on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. IEEW was looking for mentors in the Dallas area and I responded.  By Friday, June 5, 2009 I was sent mentor application and this profile of a woman from Rwanda who "does event planning and feeds students at two schools.  She wants to open a hotel in Rwanda that would have an event center and catering business".  Meet Anne Karemera.

Peace Through Business
The Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women

This is the third year I have been fortunate and humbled to host a businesswoman from Rwanda through the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (www.ieew.org). I have learned in this life that you must help others. It is my passion to help others and women in particular. This project is a part of my international effort to help women from places we cannot imagine the challenges they face. The visit this year was from July 17 -24, 2011.

Meet Chantal Mazimpaka. Chantal is an event planner in Kigali, Rwanda. She owns the year old Guilgal Creations Company an events management company. She began as a wedding planner and her vision is to become the premier provider of event organization for private and corporate events. Weddings are a large segment of her business. Her sister was an IEEW participant last year who owns a boutique hotel and conference center where Chantal manages all of the events. I have included several photos and the names of sponsors and event professional who visited with Chantal.

Thanks to our gracious sponors:
Becky, Monica and the South Side on Lamar family- www.southsideonlamar.com.

Thanks to the following gracious event professionals who invited Chantal to their businesses.
Leigh Stem - AFR Event Furnishings
Maggie Rios and Jay Cooper - Ducky Bob's
Jennifer Sprinkle- Waxpaper Design House
International Special Events Society - All of the vendors who attended the June new officers installation in at eM.


The Cedars Social Gathering




The South Dallas Cultural Center
Printmaking Workshop






AFR Event Furnishings





Party City




The roof at South Side on Lamar




International Special Event Society
New Officers Installation





Jenn Sprinkle
Waxpaper Design House




Resource One Credit Union




Ducky Bob's Event Specialist
Maggie Rios and Jay Cooper





Fasclampitt Papers





Wedding