Our Story

Women With Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress

A Journey of Empowerment

Establishing Roots and Gaining Recognition

In 2000, a visionary group of women with disabilities in the Philippines founded an organization with a mission to empower and uplift their peers. This organization, known as Women With Disabilities Leap to Social and Economic Progress (WOWLEAP), garnered the support of esteemed entities such as the Global Fund for Women (GFW), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Australia (DFAT-Australia), Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Germany (ASB Germany), and Christian Blind Mission Global Inc. (CBM Global Inc.).

Officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2001, WOWLEAP became a non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and welfare of women with disabilities in the Philippines. The organization also proudly partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to implement various livelihood programs, furthering its commitment to economic empowerment.

Building a network of leaders

One of WOWLEAP’s significant milestones occurred between 2002 and 2006 with the Regional Women with Disabilities Forum in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. These forums were supported by GFW and marked the beginning of WOWLEAP’s pioneering efforts to organize community-based groups of women with disabilities. Through regional leadership development workshops, cluster leaders were trained and empowered to organize within their communities, securing representation in municipal, city, and provincial federations.