We helped Maria José escape a cycle of poverty and violence.

2,500+ women broke the cycle

95% in secure jobs and running businesses

XtraOrdinary Women is an award-winning not-for-profit organisation founded in 2009 in Nicaragua, Central America. Our sole purpose is to empower disadvantaged women to achieve financial and emotional independence.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

We work with extraordinary women between the ages of 18 – 55, living in marginalised areas; these women and their families survive on an average monthly income of $40. They live in cycles of poverty and violence; physical, psychological and financial. Many did not have the chance to finish school and have little or no work experience. We created job skills programs to empower women from marginalized communities with the skills and psychosocial support they need to get a job or build a business, to become financially independent and transform their, and their children’s lives.

5+ years on an XOW graduate still has a stable income, sends her kids to school, and has built herself a house. We achieve sustainable change through our deep understanding of the basic needs of these women, our proximity to the communities, and the personal relationship we develop with each participant.

Since 2009

Over 2,500 women have graduated from our courses and they in turn have lifted 13,000+ family members out of poverty

95% of Job Skills graduates remain in stable employment

85% of our entrepreneur graduates triple their business income

What We Do

5+ years on an XOW graduate still has a stable income, sends her kids to school, and has built herself a house. We achieve sustainable change through our deep understanding of the basic needs of these women, our proximity to the communities, and the personal relationship we develop with each participant.

Learn more about our programs

01

We provide them with our cost-free programs and resources: Job Skills Training, Entrepreneurship Bootcamps, mentoring, and tailored learning materials to equip them with knowledge, confidence, support and income-generating skills.

Our programs aim to equip women, who have had little or no formal education or work expereince, with the basic, vital skills to start a small business of find a job. Most of all to understand her situation, and gain the confidence to flip her odds.

The topics include life-planning, visualising goals, understanding home and personal finances, budgeting, psycho-social support, self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution, how to budget (at home), and more. Our 3 pronged teaching approach (groups, online, and one-to-one) results in high retention rates and offers realistic goals.

02

They receive psychosocial support, personalised life coaching and we connect them to supportive communities

They receive personalized support during and after taking part in a program. This includes their families receiving mentoring to ease the transition of her starting to work. The psychologist and coordinator do home visits, get to know the families, to understand the relationships and any socio-economic barriers they experience to help them overcome and work with them.

03

Later on, we connect them with local employment opportunities, to get a stable job, or grow a small home based business

Success rate is still 95%; upon graduating our programs. They get a stable job, or run a small home based business, and become financially independent.

Since 2009 we worked with women from La Chureca (Central America’s largest landfill) providing opportunities for education and job skill training to lift themselves out of poverty and violence through dignified work.

Meet Maricela, one of the reasons we exist and do what we do. Watch her story flipping her odds against poverty and violence.
Watch and see how Anita has made a lasting change, and how she has broken away from her cycle of poverty and violence. We empowered Anita with the right opportunity and she changed her life, and the lives around her.

Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America and second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 59% of those in poverty reside in double cities, like the capital Managua.

60% of abused women in Nicaragua are women who have limited participation in activities outside the home.

46% of women today in Nicaragua, 18 and over, did not attend to high school. That is almost half of the women of working age today, that lack the skills and opportunities to secure jobs. With no formal job, they remain in cycles of poverty.

Job Skills Training Program

Soft skills for employment success

Preparation for before, during and after the job interview.

Financial planning

Learning to manage my financial resources and eliminate the unnecessary.

Communication

How we communicate on a personal level and in workspaces.

Life plan

What goals do I have and how to achieve them.

Self-Esteem

Learning to know, love and take care of yourself.

XtraOrdinary Entrepreneur Bootcamp

Defining my business and product offer
Growth plan
How to calculate the cost of my product
Selling on social media
Monitoring and evaluation visits
Budgeting for sustainability
SWOT analysis
Sales targets
Business plan
Elevator pitch

Find more about The Sweet Dreams Project

FIND OUT MORE

Women's Economic Abuse Advocacy

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Frecuently Asked Questions

Where does the money I donate go?

Your donations directly support our work empowering women with eth skills and support to become financially independent. Donations make programs possible such as job skills training, entrepreneurship courses, and psychological support services. Additionally, your support enables us to develop and maintain valuable resources like online learning platforms and support systems. You can also choose to directly sponsor a woman, providing her with the training, mentoring, and support she needs to achieve financial independence. Every donation has a direct impact on the lives of women striving for a brighter future.

How can I track the success of the programs or who I sponsored?

We have a quarterly newsletter and regular updates on our social media channels.

Individual sponsors receive personalized updates throughout the course of their sponsorship

We produce annual impact reports and we maintain detailed records of program participation, outcomes, and participant progress to ensure accountability and demonstrate the effectiveness of our programs.

Who is XtraOrdinary Women supporting?

XOW provides a range of support services for women living in situations of poverty and violence in Central America. We equip women with essential skills through job training programs and empower them to build sustainable livelihoods.

Beyond direct services, XOW actively campaigns to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women in these situations and advocates for systemic change. We create and disseminate resources that empower women to access information and support, even in remote areas.

Our goal is to create a more just and equitable society where all women have the opportunity to thrive.

What happens after a woman graduates?

After completing a program or support service, we provide personalized follow-up support, including one-on-one mentoring for 3-6 months, and in some cases, up to 12 months, depending on individual needs. Recognizing the importance of long-term support, we maintain contact with many of the women we’ve supported for an average of 5 years.  If life circumstances change or new challenges arise, we are here to support them. This ongoing support ensures that women have a safety net and the resources they need to thrive, even in the face of unforeseen obstacles.

Are donations tax-deductible? How do I get a tax receipt?

Yes, donations to XtraOrdinary Women are tax-deductible in the UK. As a registered charity, we can reclaim Gift Aid on eligible donations.

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid allows UK taxpayers to increase the value of their charitable donations by 25p for every £1 donated.  

How it works:

  • When you make a donation, you can complete a Gift Aid declaration form. This allows us to reclaim the basic rate of income tax paid on your donation.  
  • You will receive a donation receipt that you can use for your tax records.

Benefits of Gift Aid: Your donation will have a greater impact as the charity receives an extra 25p for every £1 donated.  

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XtraOrdinary Women is funded solely by donations from supporters like you, we are grateful for every gift however big or small, whether a one-off donation or a regular gift. All donations are used directly to fund our XtraOrdinary programmes which benefit women, lifting them out of their cycle of poverty and violence.

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