From the Desk of the Founder: Juneteenth


From the desk of Rebecca McDonald, founder & president of Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l):

WAR, Int’l and our nation observe Juneteenth to celebrate the end of legal slavery in our great nation. Brother took up weapons under Abraham Lincoln’s direction against brother. In fact, my husband’s family did just that. A northern soldier took up arms against a southern brother. Years ago, we took a Bengali man to see Gettysburg. He was stunned that brothers fought brothers for those neither was related to. In Islam and Asia, families disagree, but for a family to fight family for non-family was stunning. It was interesting to see our civil war through his eyes.

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of how far our nation has come.

That is the good news….now the bad news. Today, we still have staggering illegal slavery. We got rid of legal slavery. We did not get rid of racism. We still have a long way to go on that. But today we have an illegal slavery, human trafficking, that is the fastest growing crime in our nation. Our children, minors, are the primary target, with the government estimating (pre-2020) that we have up to 300,000 American minors (not over 18…not foreigners in this count) at risk annually. These are your daughters and sons, my grandbabies, with constitutional rights. Yet, we rarely talk about this.

So, this Juneteenth, I personally am calling for both a Lament and a Hope.

We are called to “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “mourn with those who mourn.” Juneteenth invites us to do both. Lament is not despair. It is a form of prayer against injustice. We are called to honestly grieve the staggering evil of slavery and its lasting impact. We lament the reality that the promise of freedom was and is destroyed for so many. We bring this sorrow to mind, heart, meditation, and prayer. We acknowledge the brokenness of both the past and the present.

Lament and Hope lead to action and a path to unity.

Holding both Lament and Hope moves us to act. It is a call looking back to listen to the stories of our Black brothers and sisters, to see if we need to repent of our own biases we may not even be aware of, and to actively build bridges of understanding that reflect a heart of love. Our Hope is anchored in the character of a good God who delivered His people from Egypt, proclaiming freedom.

On Juneteenth, we celebrate the incredible faith and resilience of those who endured.

We find hope in the truth that the broken can find healing. To practice Lament and Hope, we commit to pursue justice, love mercy, and walk humbly to set captives free. WAR, Int’l openly celebrates freedom and quietly salutes the thousands of men, women, and children who find freedom through our efforts and those of our partners. Their stories of rescue are sacred and confidential. We have set free those as young as three-weeks-old, one-month-old, seventeen-years-old, and countless others set free to heal, hope, and rebuild their lives one day at a time in their own way and with a circle of protection around them.

This Juneteenth, I embrace both the grief of lament and the joy of hope.

Create An Impact

March 8th is celebrated globally as International Women’s Day.

Yes, celebrate the women in your life! However, International Women’s Day is more than what we have done in the past. It is a day to come together and continue making life better for one another.

The history of this day

This sense of solidarity and need for change is what inspired the first Women’s Day. It began in 1908 with suffragettes marching on the streets of New York City protesting for equal rights, and the following year, National Women’s Day was declared in the United States. It gained international recognition in 1910, with women from over seventeen countries agreeing to observe a day to emphasize the fight for equal rights. In 1975, March 8 was officially designated by The United Nations as International Women’s Day.

This year’s theme

Organizers have selected yearly themes since 1996, ranging from ending hunger for rural women to ending violence against women. This year’s theme is about embracing equity in the world. This year’s slogan encourages us to do something in the name of women around the world—especially something we might not usually do.

The International Women’s Day website suggests actions such as calling out instances when women are excluded, reinforcing and supporting women’s triumphs, and encouraging women to further their education.

At Women At Risk, International

We are working to support and empower women every day of the year. Our partnering safehouses, both international and here in the United States, rescue and restore at-risk and wounded women by giving them a safe place to heal while providing counseling, education, skills training, and more.

Our vocational training and microenterprise partners give at-risk women the opportunity to earn an income with dignity, empowering them to safely support themselves and avoid exploitation. Educational and outreach programs in the United States and abroad offer women who desire to better their situation the power to do so.

Create An Impact

As you consider what you can do to help women around the world, here are three ways:

1. Link arms with your friends to co-host a WAR Chest Pop Up Boutique!

Learn more here or simply email party@warinternational.org today.

2. Volunteer at our headquarters or at events!

Sign up here or simply email volunteer@warinternational.org today.

3. Donate to our 911 Rescue Fund to help facillitate rescues!

Read stories of rescue here.

We wish all women around the world a very happy International Women’s Day!

The Breezy Winds of March

Bring Fresh Beginnings

March 2023


Hello, WARriors!

As the old saying goes, if March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb! However March 2023 introduces itself, let us hope it leaves us stronger and wiser. It is in this light we view the survivors we are honored to know. The storms they’ve faced have made them resilient, and their perseverance paves the way for new beginnings.

You too can persevere through the challenges you encounter! As we welcome March and spring forward, remember that the windy gales in your life carry the potential for a fresh start.

Please keep reading to learn more about the latest news and events at WAR Int’l.


Presidential Travel
March-April: Germany, India, Thailand

Becky McDonald, founder and president of WAR, Int’l, leaves for Germany next week to train U.S. Military in anti-trafficking measures and speak to multiple groups on base. Next, she will be traveling to India and Thailand to meet and encourage our partners. Please pray for wisdom as she seeks to be a blessing.

Follow Becky on Facebook!



March 8th: International Women’s Day

As WAR, Int’l Founder & President Becky McDonald has traveled the world, she has heard of horrific stories of the lack of rights for women and girls, some unrepeatable. She has discovered faith systems where the women are not allowed to take part in ANY part of the worship. They can cook for the men but have NO say in their faith. Women are denied an education, aren’t allowed to hold jobs even if they’re trained as doctors or lawyers, are not permitted to run a business… the list is endless.

Learn more here.



Free Shipping!

Yes, it bears repeating! Did you know that $300 in product sales sustains an individual in one of our international safehouses for an average of one month?! That is impactful shopping! To help as you #ShopToEmpower, WAR Int’l offers free shipping for online orders of $75 or more!

#ShopToRescue here!

Stay current with Women At Risk, International here.



WAR Chest Pop-Up Boutique

We have been invited to hold a pop-up boutique at The Stray on April 8th from 10a to 3p.

The stories of the survivors we support are the lifeblood and heartbeat of WAR, Int’l. They are the pulse and purpose behind the jewelry you wear. This pop-up boutique is a great way to support WAR, Int’l and empower survivors through the work we do.

Learn more here!



Sneak Peak: April’s Light Up Your World Zoom

Our special guest for April is Misty Moore who is Hancock County’s Director of Homeland Security and a certified self-defense instructor. Misty is passionate about empowering women with the knowledge and skills to defend themselves against any type of threat. Misty also has experience volunteering as a Security Director at a home for trafficking survivors, and it was her work in this facility that inspired her to begin her own self-defense training company.

Learn more here.

Help us get the word out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel here!

Shop our Lookbook Collection here!

Shop our Set Free Collection here!

Shop our Fresh Finds Collection here!

Filled With Love

February has much to offer!

February 2023


Happy February, WARriors!

Love is in the air, mingled with flowers and candies and boxes of chocolates.

As you are no doubt aware, we love sharing how the strength of survivors is fueled through the encouragement and love of their spouses. We love seeing transformations because of love from friends, family, and WAR’s staff and partners.

Remember that a kind word can heal, transform, and empower!

Another thing we love sharing is the latest news and events, please keep scrolling!

Presidential Travel: March
This March, Becky McDonald, founder and president of WAR, Int’l, is headed to Germany to train U.S. Military in anti-trafficking. She will also be speaking to a group of women, possibly the Dept. of Defense school, and more. Because of the presentation she did for the men’s retreat in December, she may speak to chaplains who handle the many suicides in barracks. Please pray for wisdom as she seeks to be a blessing.

Follow Becky on Facebook!

Fresh USTC Designs
Straight from our U.S. Training Center, we are incredibly excited about these fresh designs from the Encompassed Creations!

They are in time for your Valentine’s Day purchase. As well as beyond as love is always in style.

Shop the Collection here!

Resource Page
With last month being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, our goal is to go from awareness to action! We encourage you to take a moment to discover what actions you can take to rise up against this injustice of our time.

As you are ready to take the next step, here are Resources For You.

Light Up Your World Monthly Zooms
Please join us on February 27th to hear from the heart of another courageous survivor. Our special guest speaker Pearl and WAR, Int’l Founder and President Rebecca McDonald will discuss trauma and healing.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and trafficking, Pearl will share with us her healing journey and provide an honest picture of the road to recovery. You will be inspired by her faith and perseverance in finding her voice so she can speak up not only for herself but also on behalf of all those who are struggling with the impact of trauma in their lives.

Visit our upcoming events page for additional details.

Galentine’s Extravaganza
Gather your girlfriends for some fun and set aside some time for yourself to take a deep breath, share some laughs with your girlfriends, and simply enjoy hanging out with us.

As part of the festivities, we will have door prizes, gifts, giveaways, and more!

Learn more here!

First-Ever Lunch ‘N’ Learn
Join us on February 21st from 11am-2pm at our U.S. Training Center for our first-ever Lunch ‘N’ Learn.

Rebecca McDonald, founder and president of WAR, Int’l, will be sharing her own personal journey of deepening her walk with God.

Learn More Here.

By The Numbers

By Becky McDonald, Founder & President
-January 2023


2022 IN REVIEW

Dear WARriors:

In hindsight, I can see God’s hand reaching forward to embrace 2022 even before the onset of COVID-19. For years, I’ve been fasting and praying for certain things to come to fruition, and it’s clear to me now how our omniscient God has been protecting WAR, Int’l from my own timeline.

LEARNING TO WAIT
• Even though I’ll always serve WAR, I had originally wanted a new CEO in place by 2020. There’s no success without a successor, and I’ve met with many prospects for my replacement since the day I incorporated. Now I see that asking a new CEO to navigate the pandemic would have been unfair. COVID-19 forced us to rethink our organizational strategies, and as a result we are in a much healthier place today.
• The day before my knee replacement surgery this past August, a plumbing malfunction resulted in major flooding at WAR’s HQ, causing $300k in damages. It is a lesson on patience as we wait for restorations to be completed in the spring of 2023.
• With the pandemic, we postponed starting any new programs other than ones to which we’d already committed because we wanted to monitor the repercussions of COVID-19 before moving forward. Still unsure of the new “normal,” the worldwide concerns of war, inflation, and food shortages have us continuing this waiting pattern.

EXPANDING CAREFULLY
• Internationally, we’ve been coming alongside widows, a farm enterprise, and a ministry center in Zambia. We’ve continued assisting the Afghan relief efforts by providing training, food aid, and weekly ESL classes for Afghan refugee girls now in hiding. Ukrainian refugees have also been fleeing to our Moldovan partners who are offering trauma camps, food aid, and emigration help. One Guatemalan partner transitioned to an all-national board, and we celebrate the great role model this provides for all our partners.
• Domestically, we expanded our boutique website and cyber security, hosted another state department delegation, provided consultation for safehouse start-ups, introduced anti-trafficking training to new industries, and increased our 911 response. As a result, lives are being forever changed!

In nature, the turkey and the eagle each respond differently when a storm arises. The turkey hides while the eagle soars to the eye of the storm. Scripture says when we wait on the Lord, HE lifts us up on eagle’s wings. By his grace, God flings us above the storm and renews our strength as he multiplies your gifts and our efforts.

The funds we’ve raised this past year allowed us to facilitate rescues and offer immediate intervention to those in crisis. You’ve made us strong for the weak, brave for the threatened, and patient in adversity. As our own circle of protection, YOU empowered us to create safe places amidst the storms of life.

Soaring on the wings of eagles:
Rebecca McDonald
Founder & President


Read Stories of Rescue Here.

Read Stories of Healing Here.