PUTTING RESOURCES IN WOMEN’S HANDS
Since 2015, the Karen Takacs Women’s Leadership Fund has provided financial support to African organizations whose work advances leadership and equality for women and girls by supporting projects that reduce violence against women and girls; that facilitate the participation of women in decision making; and that increase the social and economic autonomy of women in sub-Saharan Africa.
The fund was established eight years ago to celebrate the transformative leadership of Crossroads International’s former Executive Director, Karen Takacs before her passing in 2015. Each year, a $10,000 grant was awarded to advance women’s leadership as well as scholarships to emerging women leaders in Africa in partnership with Coady International Institute and Equitas.
Generously supported by individual donations, the fund was a tribute to Karen’s vision and legacy of supporting women’s leadership. An advisory council was nominated to evaluate applicants and grant the funds to an organization or individual recipient each year.
THANK YOU TO THE KAREN TAKACS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FUND COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND DONORS
At this time, we would like to thank all the donors who have contributed to advancing women’s leadership in social, economic and political spheres. We would also like to recognize the tremendous work of the volunteer advisory council, who reviewed applications from partners every year. Thanks to them, the fund has directly supported organizations and women entrepreneurs in eSwatini, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso and more.
Members of this committee include:
- Darlene Bessey (Chair)
- Susan Watts
- Agnès Van’t Bosch
- Christine Herr
- Joan Fair
- Betty Plewes
- Richard Veenstra
- Christine Campbell
- Christine Messier
- Emma Sandona
- Maude Gilbert Vanasse
- Pasty George
A special note of thanks to Pam Joliffe, Karen’s wife, who collaborated with committee members in carrying on Karen’s legacy by funding impactful women’s leadership initiatives.
Karen Takacs was not only my colleague; she was also a dear friend whom I admired for her transformative feminist leadership within both Crossroads and the Canadian International Cooperation Community. I am proud to have served, together with other members of the Karen Takacs Leadership Fund Advisory Council as well as Crossroads’ staff and board of directors, to advance Karen’s commitment to improve the lives of women and girls. Those of us who knew Karen miss her a great deal. The impact of this Fund is her legacy. – Darlene Bessey, Chair of the Advisory Council and long-time supporter of Crossroads.
an advocate for women’s equality IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Karen Takacs was a vibrant leader and women’s rights activist. Her leadership at Crossroads has had a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls. Through innovative partnerships with local African organizations, women and girls victimized by violence and abuse have increased access to services. Women leaders have a stronger voice, increased access to decision making and increased political representation. Girls have opportunities to learn about and assert their rights and believe that they too can become leaders. More women are earning an income through innovative approaches transforming traditional female work into viable businesses. Karen also played a pivotal role as an advocate for women’s equality in the international development sector in Canada helping ensure women’s equality remained on the international development agenda of government and Canadian international development organizations.
Read more about the projects that were supported through the fund here.
