The Women Empowerment Literacy and Development Organization (WELDO) provides psychosocial support to women and children who have been displaced to the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by conflict generated by the post-9/11 U.S.-initiated “war on terror” involving Taliban forces and the Pakistani military. The women, fleeing from the conflict-ridden Swat and Waziristan provinces, have been directly affected by human rights violations and threats to their mental health due to the deaths of loved ones, the collapse of essential infrastructures including their homes, witnessing murder and mutilated bodies of those killed, and fear of death. WELDO provides leadership development in camps that house internally displaced people (IDP). They aim to build leaders’ capacity to promote basic health, emotional support, financial independence and economic sustainability within the camps.

The Martín-Baró Fund’s grant to WELDO will provide support for training IDP leaders selected from the community who will undergo a four-day long session and then help with the distresses of the camp. Specifically, the funds will support two field workers, art kits for therapeutic art sessions, workshops for emotional support, and handouts to promote WELDO’s programs.