December is a time to reflect on the year behind us and to imagine the world we want to help build in the year ahead. At OMID, this reflection does not happen once a year—it guides us every day. For all 365 days, we are committed not only to shaping a better future for women and girls, but to improving their lived experiences right now. Every day is a reminder that violence against women and girls is not seasonal. It is systemic, ongoing, and deeply rooted in inequality.
Across the globe, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. For women and girls living in conflict zones, under gender apartheid, or in displacement and refugee settings, the risk is even higher. Gender-based violence (GBV) takes many forms: domestic abuse, sexual violence, child and forced marriage, trafficking, honor-based killings, and the denial of education and bodily autonomy. Unfortunately, violence does not end when or where the abuse stops. Its effects can echo across a survivor’s life—impacting mental health, education, economic independence, physical safety, and a sense of self-worth. Many survivors are forced to make impossible choices: staying in unsafe environments, dropping out of school, or remaining silent due to stigma, fear, or lack of support.
Yet, what we witness every day at OMID is this truth: Every girl carries dreams that deserve protection. What do we do here at OMID Foundation? We provide healthy environments, a wide array of programs, and everlasting empowerment for thousands of women and girls across the world. From these moments of care, her confidence grows and her future glows. From safety comes strength and from strength comes hope. That is OMID.
How OMID Supports Survivors
OMID exists to support women and girls who have experienced violence, displacement, and systemic marginalization, particularly within Persian-speaking and refugee communities.Our approach is holistic and trauma-informed, meaning we address both immediate needs and long-term empowerment. Our methodologies are based on breaking the cycle in a way that lasts across generations. Our hope is in the way our girls change the world through their creativity, healing, knowledge, and contributions to society. It changes their lives, our lives, and most importantly changes the world around them. Through OMID, survivors gain access to:
- Safe, inclusive education that meets participants where they are, both academically and emotionally
- Humanitarian aid, psychosocial and trauma-informed support that prioritizes making resources readily accessible and sustained healing possible
- Digital literacy and skills training that open pathways to education and professional opportunities
- Economic and professional development to help survivors build independence and stability
- Creative and community building that restore voice, confidence, and connection
Turning Awareness Into Action
Awareness alone is not enough. Ending gender-based violence requires collective action, and there are many ways to stand with OMID and the women and girls we support:- Support OMID’s work by donating or encouraging others to give—your contribution directly fuels education, care, and opportunity for survivors
- Become a volunteer or ambassador, helping us amplify our mission, expand our reach, and build stronger communities of support
- Stay informed and engaged by subscribing to OMID’s newsletter and reading our blogs, where we share survivor-centered stories, research, impact updates, and ways to take action
- Use your voice—share OMID’s work, start conversations, and challenge silence around violence against women and girls
Looking Ahead With Hope
As we close out the year, we hold both grief and hope. Grief for the lives harmed by violence and hope rooted in the courage of survivors who continue to learn, heal, and lead despite it.This December, we invite you to stand with OMID. Stand against gender-based violence. Stand for education, dignity, and possibility. And carry that commitment with you into the new year—because a safer, more just world for women and girls is something we must build together.
