EMPOWERING WIDOWED AND VULNERABLE WOMEN IN THE MENA REGION
CHANGING THE JOURNEY
ARISE is a Christ-centered initiative dedicated to restoring livelihoods, building resilience, and reflecting God’s love to widowed and vulnerable women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
A Calling Born from Personal Loss and Compassion
Founded from personal experience of loss, ARISE was born out of a deep understanding of grief and the immense challenges faced by women raising children alone. By God’s grace, our founder was able to provide for her family after losing her husband – but many women in marginalized communities do not have that support.
This reality inspired the launch of ARISE: a ministry committed to ensuring that no widow or single mother walks her journey alone.
The Challenge
Conflict, displacement, and instability have left millions of women across the MENA region widowed, impoverished, and isolated. The number of widows continues to rise, with over 38 million worldwide living in extreme poverty and the majority facing ongoing economic hardship.
With limited access to education, resources, or opportunity, many must rebuild their lives from nothing. Yet even amid trauma and exclusion, extraordinary resilience emerges. Like Ruth in Scripture, countless women press forward in faith and determination, refusing to let loss define their future.
Our Mission
ARISE exists to see women who have experienced loss move toward resilience, self-sufficiency, and renewed hope in the Lord.
Rooted in the calling of James 1:27 to “look after orphans and widows in their distress,” we are dedicated to empowering widows and single female households to overcome poverty, rebuild their lives, and achieve lasting stability, dignity, and purpose.
Your generosity helps women rebuild their lives with dignity and lasting hope.
Every gift you give directly supports practical skills training, sustainable income opportunities, education for children, and holistic care for widows and their families. Together, we help women move beyond survival toward stability, resilience, and a future filled with renewed purpose.
Lives Transformed
Across our work in the MENA region, we have witnessed both devastating hardship and extraordinary resilience. Zara’s story is one of many.
Her husband was killed by a stray bullet. Years later, a missile destroyed her home. Fleeing with seven children, she endured months of terror – sleeping in deserts, surviving on wild grass, and escaping captivity after courageously seizing a weapon from her captor to save her family.
Eventually reaching a refugee camp, Zara’s struggles continued. Her children were denied schooling. Her medical needs went untreated. When their papers were stolen, hope of resettlement disappeared.
In the midst of despair, Zara dreamed of Christ reaching out to heal her – and awoke free of pain.
While her homeland remains unsafe, Zara now holds onto hope for her children’s future. Through ARISE, she received a sewing machine to help rebuild her independence, and support was provided to ensure her son returned to school after experiencing abuse.
Zara’s story reflects the staggering reality faced by thousands of widows and mothers across the region – women fighting for survival with no safety net. Yet it also reveals what is possible when compassion, faith, and practical support come together.
For every Zara, many more are waiting for the opportunity to rebuild their lives. ARISE exists to answer that call – to restore dignity, renew hope, and stand beside widows and vulnerable women as they rise again.
Our Approach
Women who have lost their husbands, particularly through persecution or conflict, face profound grief alongside practical challenges of survival and isolation. ARISE responds through a threefold model:
Tailored Support
Providing access to essential resources, practical training, and income-generating opportunities to restore dignity and stability.
Education and Holistic Care
Equipping women with business, literacy, and life skills, alongside emotional and spiritual support grounded in biblical principles.
Partnership and Best Practice
Collaborating with trusted local churches and organizations to deliver effective, sustainable programs that meet real community needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does ARISE International do?
ARISE International is a Christ-centered initiative that empowers widowed and vulnerable women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We provide practical support, skills training, education, and holistic care to help women rebuild their lives with dignity, resilience, and renewed hope.
Who does ARISE support?
We primarily support widows and single female-headed households affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, or persecution. Many of the women we serve are raising children alone and lack access to stable income, education, or community support.
How does ARISE help women rebuild their lives?
We work through a threefold approach:
- Tailored support and income-generating opportunities
- Education, business skills, and holistic care grounded in biblical principles
- Partnerships with trusted local churches and organizations
This model helps women move toward long-term stability, independence, and sustainable livelihoods.
How can I support ARISE International?
You can support ARISE by making a donation, partnering with us in prayer, or sharing our mission with your church or community. Every gift helps provide practical resources, training, and hope to widows and vulnerable women across the MENA region.