Q&A: WomensTrust founder Dana Dakin

New Hampshire Business Review, Mar 27, 2009 by Stone, Tracie

Dana Dakin, a former investment marketing consultant whose work carried her from California to New York and London, marked her 60th birthday by making good on a promise she had made to herself nearly two decades earlier - that she would spend her later years making a difference in the lives of people living in a poverty-stricken region of the world.

Today, the 66-year-old Dakin calls a renovated firehouse in the rural community of Wilmot home and is now executive director of WomensTrust Inc., an international organization she founded with the goal of supporting the social and economic independence of women and girls in developing nations through microenterprise, education and health care.

To date, Dakin's efforts have concentrated on the West African village of Pokuase in Ghana, where the average daily wage is $1 a day and a single meal can cost $2.

Civic Ventures, a national think tank on the social and work purposes of baby boomers, recently recognized Dakin's efforts by naming the social entrepreneur a 2008 Purpose Prize Fellow - a distinguished award given to people over 60 who are "channeling their creativity and talent to address critical social problems at the local, regional or national level. "

(To learn more about WomensTrust or to get involved, visit womenstrust.org.)

* Q. What drew you to such a huge undertaking so far from home at this time of your life?

A. I knew I could make a difference in Pokuase. Money goes far and poverty is endemic, with more than 80 percent stuck with no way out. In this country, people stuck in poverty often have lives complicated by other social factors, such as substance abuse, domestic violence and childhood traumas. And we are so fortunate to have a number of social programs already in place to assist people There is no social safety net in Ghana.

* Q. Was there ever a time when You thought "I can't do this"?

A. Daily. I am continually challenged. I am continually thinking, "How can I get through this?" I feel a lot of pressure, but I've learned to de-structure it.

* Q. How is WomensTrust funded?

A. We are funded almost totally by donations from individuals. Our local community has been very supportive, but it's a constant concern - there's a tendency to want to give to something closer by. We would love for local businesses or some of the large national corporations to become involved. With a five-year track record we can now go after this funding.

We are in an odd niche, though - we are too international for local institutions and foundations who prefer to give locally and we are too focused on one community in Africa for the large international players to view us as scalable. However, the good news is that organizations here are broadening their mandates because they understand the concept of the global community, and international entities are becoming big believers in models that operate bottom up with no layers.

* Q. WomensTrust is also playing a role in educating the girls of Pokuase.

A. Our scholarship program is called, "Keep Girls in School." Right now, we are supporting 121 girls from primary to high school. Also important within the education part of our program, beyond scholarships, is the enrichment - getting the girls to visualize a future with options and go for the next level without being stopped by cultural barriers.

* Q. Can you share one your favorite WomensTrust success stories?

A. One woman was known for making the best porridge in town. Each day she would make a huge bowl of it and walk 14 miles carrying the bowl on her head. She came to us for a loan and was able to purchase a place to sit. Now people come to her. She has been so successful, she is actually looking for a place to open a restaurant.