Blog Post

Celebrating 5 Years of ICW

International Creative Women • 29 August 2024

Our Journey, Achievements, and Future

The Birth of an Idea: How It All Began

In 2018, International Creative Women was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to create a community where women from diverse backgrounds could connect, collaborate, and thrive.

This vision took shape through our passion and determination, we recognized the need for a space that celebrated creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural diversity. Despite the initial challenges, the journey began with a handful of women coming together to support each other's ambitions and dreams.

By the summer of 2019, we had made significant strides in building this community and officially registered International Creative Women at the KvK. This milestone marked a pivotal moment in our growth, solidifying our presence as a hub for women entrepreneurs. With a clear vision and a growing network, we set the stage for what would become an incredible journey of empowerment and collaboration.

Overcoming Challenges: Our Resilience During the Pandemic

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 brought unprecedented challenges. In response, we quickly launched an initial project called "Wellbeing Weeks" intended to last just two weeks. However, due to the overwhelming response and the ongoing needs of our community, the initiative extended to 12 weeks. Every day, we came together online, maintaining the spirit of connection and support through virtual meetups. Additionally, we embarked on a heartwarming initiative, sending hundreds of greeting cards to the elderly, reminding them that they were not alone.

As we neared the end of this program, it became clear that our community needed a physical space to continue growing and thriving. That’s when we, together with Snehal More from More Dimensions, decided it was time to establish Creative Town in the most beautiful street of Eindhoven. This dream was made possible by another incredible woman, our landlord Dana, who not only believed in us and our vision but also generously supported us in making Creative Town a reality. Her trust and generosity provided us with the foundation to create a space where our community could gather, create, and grow together.

And thats how Creative Town Started, with a collective store, the design studio from Snehal and the headquarters of International Creative Women.

But the challenges didn’t go away with the pandemic. Even after COVID-19, we faced some very difficult months. While our e-commerce platform provided some relief, sustaining a physical store became increasingly challenging. After a couple of years, we had to make the difficult decision to close the doors of our physical store. This was a tough moment for our community, but it also forced us to think creatively about alternative ways to fund Creative Town and continue supporting International Creative Women.

Despite these hurdles, we didn’t give up. We adapted, found new strategies, and continued to grow. Today, we are stronger than ever, thriving as a community that supports and empowers women from all walks of life. Our journey has not been easy, but our resilience and determination have carried us through, allowing us to continue making a positive impact.

A Look Back at Five Years

As we celebrate our 5th anniversary, it’s incredible to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together. International Creative Women has become a vibrant hub of entrepreneurship where our community members have shared their talents, knowledge, and passions.

The Power of Volunteers: The Heart of Our Operations

At the core of International Creative Women is the unwavering support of our volunteers. Every activity, event, and project we undertake is driven by the dedication of individuals who believe in our mission. Our operations are entirely volunteer-run, a testament to the passion and commitment of our community members.

But how we do it? how we fund the projects?

Our funding comes from various sources, including workshops, writing projects, and the sale of impactful kerstpakketten to companies.

Women entrepreneurs in our community also contribute by paying small fees to participate in markets, classes, or to utilize Creative Town. Furthermore, cultural fundraising events organized by women from different countries add to our resources, allowing us to continue our work and expand our impact.

Looking Ahead: New Projects and Future Aspirations

As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue our journey with the launch of four new projects designed to further empower our community and expand our impact. Our new Coworking Membership offers women in Brabant, a dedicated space to work, connect, and collaborate with others. This initiative aims to provide a supportive environment where women can pursue their professional goals while being part of a vibrant community.

Another project, Start Her Up, is focused on supporting aspiring women entrepreneurs. This program offers resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help women launch and grow their businesses. By providing tailored support, Start Her Up aims to remove barriers and enable more women to succeed in entrepreneurship. We are starting a second edition and hopefully we can carry out a third edition in 2025.

We’re also proud to introduce Dutch for Teens, a project designed to help teenagers learn the Dutch language in a supportive and engaging environment. This initiative is particularly valuable for teens from international backgrounds, helping them integrate into Dutch society and succeed in their education in this crucial stage. This project has been tested for a few months andd has already showed fantastic results.

Finally, Dutch Craft Camp is our latest initiative aimed to create a fun and safe environment where people can practise their dutch while doing crafts!

We have three more exciting projects currently "cooking." We plan to launch two of them before the end of 2024, with the third one set to start in 2025. These upcoming initiatives will further expand our offerings and continue to empower our community in new and innovative ways.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Thank you so much to everyone who’s been with us on this incredible journey over the past five years. It’s because of your support, dedication, and passion that International Creative Women has grown into the vibrant community it is today. Together, we’ve built a place where women entrepreneurs can truly thrive, share their talents, and connect in meaningful ways.

As we move forward, I’m excited to keep building this community with you. Let’s continue to lift each other up, empower women entrepreneurs, and make Eindhoven an even more inclusive and welcoming city. With your continued support, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together.

With tons of love,

Sally & Yolima

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