Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca McDonald.
Rebecca, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Women At Risk, International (WAR) was founded in 2010. The programs of WAR, Int’l began however 3 decades ago from my kitchen table as I lived in third world countries doing humanitarian work and addressed whatever risk issues fell in my pathway. In addition, I grew up as an American overseas in lands steeped in traditions of the Taliban. I learned about risk at an early age. By the age of 14, my American family had lived through 2 wars and I went to boarding school in Pakistan. At age 14, it was the civil war where E. Pakistan got its independence from W. Pakistan and became Bangladesh. My 14 yr. old girlfriend was raped and fought back. To teach her she “had no voice, no right to fight back” they poured acid down her throat to take away her vocal chords forever. That experience and many others set me on the pathway of being the voice of the silenced. Today WAR, Int’l is in 51 countries with over 200 programs addressing 14 risk issues such as domestic violence, rape, acid attacks and more. We are most known for our fight against this century’s fastest growing arm of crime…. human sexual slavery. All our product sold before in our Naperville WAR Chest Boutique and now in pop up stores and home parties is anti-trafficking and made by either rescued men and women or those at risk of trafficking. Over 40 of our 51 countries make high quality international gifts of distinction in order for those rescued to make a living with dignity and avoid being re-scammed and enslaved. We rescue in the “land of the free” also and train women to make a living with dignity. Our mission is to create circles of protection and whisper worth and dignity into lives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Dealing with brokenness, torture, abuse and pain beyond description is never a “smooth road.” But it is the most rewarding road imaginable. There is no greater joy than seeing a man, woman or child set free, lifted to dignity and allowed to dream, hope, restore and flourish. Seeing the forgotten but unforgettable rescued and empowered to live with worth and dignity and dream is the greatest privilege. These survivors are my heroes. It is because of them that I keep going. Their determination, resilience and courage drives me on in the light of day and the darkest night.
We are a non-profit that also sells the beautiful product made by our precious rescued adults. It has been a challenge to learn the world of “retail” after years of being a “humanitarian.” But there is a direct link between helping a woman step from the gutter to dignity by helping her support herself. She deserves to be paid for the work of her hands. It is not a hand out. It is a hand up. When General’s wives at Quantico where I spoke fought over the jewelry made by our women, it delighted me to return home to say, “The most powerful wives in the Marines were fighting over the work of YOUR hands.” This wipes out their broken past. They jumped up and sang with joy and told their babies, “Your momma is an artisan.” The brokenness is blotted out. An artist, a survivor on a journey toward wholeness emerges with strength and dignity! I could do this over and over million times & have for decades.
Please tell us about Women At Risk, International.
We rescue men, women and children from 14 risk issues. We are most known for our rescue and fight against this century’s fastest growing crime…human sexual slavery. We are intentional in not only rescue but aftercare. We believe in not just helping escape but in empowering the rescued to support themselves with dignity. If you give $25 to a domestic abuse shelter you help a woman running from death. If you give to a sustainable domestic abuse shelter…we are teaching that woman how to turn that $25 into $50, $80 and more so that when she steps outside our doors, she has options…a way to support herself, choices. We don’t just cuddle the wounded & tortured but rebuild their lives so they are forever in our circle of community and protection but learning to stand alone financially and emotionally. Giving to these programs is a multiplier. The dirty little secret of international work is that it has created a gigantic welfare system and hostility dependency. We want survivors to become independent from us. We have some partners that today are worth more than we ever will be and we delight in that! We are different also in that we provide holistic services. We do not “just do one thing” but we become the family, the community, the support system pulling together all the needs of the individual. We become family. Our goal is not a destination of 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years. It is a journey for life. We commit to walk together forever and be that circle of protection. Most programs give up on wounded people. We are known too for our incredible product sold on line, in home parties that cost the hostess nothing and in stores. We want our women to be proud of the work of their hands. It is not the “usual fare” but real pearls, real stones, real quality. We do not want you to buy out of pity. We want you to buy it because you’d have bought it anyway at some fancy store and now you will buy it for all your stockings, graduations, gifts and more. Once we committed to carrying and making product, we committed to excellence. We also adjust our programs globally to be culturally sensitive and fit in. You do not see us exporting American culture to a Muslim, Hindu or other land. We believe in respecting the cultures we are in, earning their trust and embracing healing in a way that does not offend. If we were to simply export one way of doing things, we would not be successful. We have identified 8 ways we are different from most non-profits but those are a few.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory as a child was growing up in the lush, tropical, golden land of Bengal then called East Pakistan now Bangladesh. I was an American child of humanitarian medical parents. My brothers and I played barefoot side by side with our dark eyed Bengali playmates. We had no electricity at first, no tv, no stores…but the Bay of Bengal was out our back door. My brothers hunted tigers if they became man eaters. The green parrots that flew against the setting sun were our daily reminder that it was dinner time and we had to run home. We found old WWII bunkers and hoarded old shrapnel and helmets imagining ourselves fighting evil. We raised monkeys, talking birds, mongoose, clouded leopards and every animal imaginable. We swam in the warm salt ocean on untouched beaches and drank sweet chai squatting by the hour. We traveled the world on our way to and from Bangladesh seeing operas in Europe, virgin goddess’ in Nepal, Mt. Everest at dawn, riding horseback in the Himalayan and played soccer. We played with the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich. All came to get medical care from the American hospital in a needy land. Power elite flew their helicopters to the hospital for care and their kids became our friends and are to this day. We had sleep overs in poor mud huts and called it home considering ourselves the most privileged of all campers. Into this daily came the brokenness of poverty and many other risk issues. But as children, except for war times we lived an idyllic life where the world was our oyster. Home for 6th grade, I remember Baskin Robbins….I couldn’t choose ice cream…I’d never seen so much. We had to make our own ice cream and churn it by hand! I think I had the greatest childhood imaginable and delighted in giving a similar one to my 4 who grew up overseas for part of their childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: warinternational.org
- Phone: 1-877-END SLAVERY or 1-616-855-0796
- Email: info@warinternational.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/the_war_chest_boutique/
- Facebook: facebook.com/WARCHESTBOUTIQUE/
Image Credit:
Rebecca McDonald, Founder & President
Women At Risk, International
WAR CHEST BOUTIQUE
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