EMU honors female leaders in Washington DC

Women working to make the world a more peaceful place were honored during a special ceremony Saturday evening in Washington, D.C.

The Daughters for Life Foundation — in collaboration with Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding — hosted a gala to celebrate women who are pioneers and role models for young girls in challenging circumstances.

“It means recognition for the Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders, community organizers and activists that our team at Just Vision has been supporting for about 14 years now," Suhad Babaa said, who's organization is dedicated to increasing media coverage and support for Palestinian and Israeli grassroots leaders.

Babaa is just one of three women being honored at the Daughters for Life Foundation Gala in Washington D.C Saturday night.

Izzeldin Abuelaish started the Daughters for Life organization after his daughters were tragically killed.

Since then, he's devoted his life to promoting the higher education of young women in the Middle East and around the world. He has helped nearly 400 girls since 2010 achieve their dreams.

Abuelaish said seeing the remarkable women move to change the world- is keeping his daughters memory alive.

“The message I want to send from Daughters for Life is that they are alive and we can keep them alive with good deeds," he added.

Proceeds from the event will go directly to scholarships at EMU so other promising females can reach their dreams.

“[We] will fund students a couple of students to come and study at EMU in our world renowned Center for Justice and Peace building so we’re thrilled," Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, President at Eastern Mennonite University, said.

“It’s time to make peace loud," Leymah Gbowee, Honoree, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and EMU Grad added.

Read the original version of this article at

.