Lauren Battung

Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative mobilizes the women’s sports community to Engage, Inspire, and Empower girls in under-resourced neighborhoods and children with disabilities. BAWSI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2005 by former general manager of the San Jose CyberRays professional women’s soccer team Marlene Bjornsrud and soccer legends Brandi Chastain and Julie Foudy, on the principles of paying it forward. We take pride in our acronym’s pronunciation — BAWSI is pronounced “bossy” — and we are enthusiastic, collaborative and aware of our capacity to improve the world one person at a time. Women in sports who embody these qualities (and more!) make up our community of athletes who choose to matter via authentic and impactful service within their communities. The heartbeat of our work is the understanding that service is reciprocally transformative, positively impacting those serving as well as those served. The reflective component is key; as athletes choose to matter, they become more aware of their capacity to make a difference. Coaches and Athletes: you can realize the powerful impact you have on the world by just being yourself and seeing your potential as a leader. Visit us online and get involved! Individuals and Companies: your thoughtful gift will make a difference in the lives of those served by athletes who engage in service nationwide. For information on how to provide financial support, visit us online.

Worldwide, over a billion people live in slums. If nothing is done to address the growing "urbanization of poverty", the number of worldwide dwellers is projected to rise to about 3 billion by 2050 (UN Habitat). Life in slums is defined by a lack of basic water, sanitation, and energy infrastructure. These conditions fuel rampant social and health problems and accelerate the vicious cycle of extreme poverty. We are pioneering a new model for integrated service delivery, a single platform combining the services and supports needed to thrive. Human Needs Project built and operates its pilot project, an 8,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, the Kibera Town Centre, in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa. The center was designed, built, and is driven by green infrastructure, with sustainable and renewable energy at its core. KTC features a sophisticated water filtration system and a proprietary waste treatment system, including a well with a 20,000-liter per hour generation capacity, supported by a 35kW grid-tied solar-battery system. KTC offers basic needs services such as clean water, dignified toilets and showers, laundry, and food, as well as empowerment opportunities such as digital education, vocational training, and career development in music, photography, and arts. Kibera Town Centre is managed and run entirely by Kiberans who continuously ensure that we only offer services and products demanded by the local community. Before designing and constructing KTC, HNP spent four years engaging community leadership and residents in a multi-faceted needs assessment to foster community ownership. Tackling the problem of poverty from all angles, our solution creates a real path out of poverty. Join us on our journey of empowering individuals living in slums to realize their full potential by providing them with the essential infrastructure and services they need to succeed!