DIWA has a powerful meaning in several ASEAN languages. In both Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia, diwa stands for spirit, consciousness and will. In Thai, diwa/tiwa means daylight.
Our focus on women comes from the unique commitment women social entrepreneurs (WSEs) have showcased in creating inclusive communities, despite many barriers. Women’s efforts are frequently overlooked despite them driving a sizeable amount of growth in the ASEAN region, so we wanted to uplift and highlight their inspiring work.
In collaboration with S&P Global Foundation, our report on Advancing Women Social Entrepreneurs in ASEAN details the various challenges WSEs face and some recommendations to build a more inclusive and enabling environment for women's leadership to thrive, based on the experiences of over 100 WSEs in Southeast Asia. It also includes inspirational stories from WSEs across the ASEAN region creating systemic change. This report serves as the foundation for the other initiatives we have spearheaded in collaboration with Deutsche Bank and S&P Global Foundation.
We are continuously looking to uplift and empower communities, and we are committed to growing strong relationships within and beyond the realm of WSEs.
DIWA (Deepening Impact of Women Activators) is a three-month online capacity-building program that takes Women Social Entrepreneurs (WSEs) on a learning journey that empowers them to create stronger impact, all while establishing a community of determined WSEs in ASEAN.
We host virtual summits to bring together some of the most prominent women leaders of the region with corporates, entrepreneurs, Changemakers, and more to foster a world that is more welcoming and celebratory of gender-trransformative leadership.
We think it is important to humanize our findings, so we like to highlight stories of WSEs! We also hold roundtable discussions to learn from experts and those on the ground.
Our Stories of Impact series consists of videos and articles that showcase the challenges Southeast Asian Women Social Entrepreneurs (WSEs) face and their corresponding solutions that change broken systems for the good of all.
DIWA has built bridges of collaboration between different women social entrepreneurs which have impacted over a thousand Southeast Asians, most of whom belong to marginalized groups.
Take a look at what DIWA has done for the Southeast Asian women social entrepreneurs who have graduated from the program!
DIWA equipped me with a better understanding of how to drive scalable and sustainable change through an organization built on a firm foundation of purpose, care, and courage. This program reminds me that there is an ocean of support waiting for people who are willing to put themselves out there.
Z Santillan
Founder of School of Deliberate Futures
Now, more than ever, reputable organizations like Ashoka, Deutsche Bank, and S&P Global Foundation have raised the bar in gender lens investing. The continuous support in enabling women to progress to leadership positions has put a shared responsibility for mainstreaming women's advancement.
Dr. Pria K.
Founder of Jujucare Medic
DIWA has helped me form a bond with my peers and coaches, and they have become a support system that keeps me going with courage and compassion.
Chanakarn Kachonseree (Thailand)
Founder of MindVenture
Before joining DIWA, I was a bit scared as I am still young and haven't done much in my field. But after all the workshops, I felt more confident and I now believe that one day I can be like all the other successful female leaders, as long as I keep on working hard and believing in myself.
Tram Anh Pham
Founder of Good Human
DIWA helped me determine my leadership style as a manager. It gave me insights into building a product through design thinking and broadened my knowledge on how to raise funding.
Amanda Celine
Product Manager of Anotasi
DIWA not only gave me resources to develop my social enterprise but also connected me with experts and a network of lady leaders to grow myself.
