Our founder Taban receives the Visa Everywhere Pioneer20 award
We’re delighted to let you know that our Founder Taban has been announced as a winner of the inaugural Visa Everywhere Pioneer20 project.
The honour means she has been selected as one of just 20 trailblazing women in Europe who judges stated “excel in their respective fields” and have “meaningful impact” in their communities.
All 20 winners are currently or have previously identified as a refugee – as Taban did after surviving genocide as a child and fleeing conflict in her homeland.
The first Pioneer20 award programme is run by WeAreTheCity, a free hub for women in business, in partnership with Visa. All of the winners were recognised for facing down stigmas and stereotypes, campaigning, changing lives, challenging narratives and empowering women and girls.
WeAreTheCity Founder Vanessa Vallely OBE says: “WeAreTheCity has been humbled to read the stories of so many incredible women who were nominated for this year’s Pioneer20. These women have shown such resilience, strength, and tenacity. Despite their own harrowing experiences, they have worked tirelessly to ensure that their fellow refugees and asylum seekers have the support they need to rebuild their lives.
“I am honoured that we have had the opportunity alongside Visa to shine a spotlight on their incredible work. Congratulations – you are an inspiration to us all.”
You can read about all of the Pioneer20 winners here…
The award comes just months after Taban was also named as one of the UK’s Top 50 equity trailblazers in the 2023 Trailblazer50 list, also compiled by WeAreTheCity. The list was announced ahead of International Women’s Day in support of its #EmbraceEquity theme, highlighting individuals working to make society a better place for women. Taban was recognised as one of many who go above and beyond to drive conversations around domestic violence against women and girls, period poverty, race, menopause, FGM, child marriage and social mobility.
First Lotus Supper Club of 2019
We kicked off the first Lotus Supper Club of 2019 in style at Tom’s Kitchen
Guests were greeted with champagne drinks, followed by an absolutely delicious two-course meal, prepared by the wonderful staff at Tom’s Kitchen in Chelsea. This food really is good for the soul!
This was our first fundraiser of the year, a room full of supporters coming together to share their experience, make meaningful connections and drive change for a brighter future for the women and girls.
Lotus founder, Taban, delivered a speech about her personal story; the journey her life has brought her on and how this has driven the passion to create The Lotus Flower. Our sole aim is to deliver support and enhance the lives of the women and girls we work with.
Lena Corner, a journalist who has visited Kurdistan, spoke about her experience and the work she’s seen Lotus do on the ground, and the impact it has had.
"from what I witnessed, The Lotus Flower work is like any other charity I've seen, the women and girls are so engaged and there's a great sense of community feeling in all the centres"
Dr. Jane, a fully-qualified GP and Aesthetic doctor, then spoke about why she's chosen to be part of Lotus and how she is looking forward to her upcoming trip where she will go out and train the women in life support first aid and self-screening for breast cancer.
"I’m really excited to be able to use my skills to empower the women through medical training to be able to look after themselves and family even after we leave - knowledge is power"
For our first supper club of the year, it was a really successful fundraising night where our guests were able to enjoy lovely food, inspiring talks, and even a set by an acoustic singer.
This will be the first of many Supper Clubs we host this year.
Fill a #LoveLotus Jar this Christmas
This advent, do something amazing and donate just £1 per day to give a life-changing gift to female conflict survivors.
Starting on December 1st, simply recycle a glass jar and pop £1 in it every day until Christmas Day. Then donate the £25 you save to The Lotus Flower, which is helping women and girls who are ISIS survivors rebuild their lives.
Many of these women and girls have endured unimaginable atrocities – such as rape, sex slavery, human trafficking, and the brutal murder of loved ones. Our centres in the Kurdistan region of Iraq offer a safe haven for them to socialise, rehabilitate, and learn income-generating skills.
Your £25 donation can make a massive difference.
Taking part is this easy:
Dig out a glass jar with a lid and decorate it
Save £1 every day from Dec 1st– 25th
Post pics of your jar on social media using #LoveLotus and share this message
Tag three friends to do the same, and tag @thelotusf so we can share your post
After saving your £25, donate online at www.thelotusflower.org/donatexmasjar
Please urge your colleagues, friends and family to do the same – wherever they are. Let's #LoveLotus and change lives this Christmas.
From Struggle to Strength
The humanitarian situation in Kurdistan remains dire with nearly 3million people displaced into the region as a result of the barbaric atrocities committed by Daesh (ISIS). The suffering of innocent families are unimaginable, all forced out of their homes and losing loved ones.
The humanitarian situation in Kurdistan remains dire with nearly 3million people displaced into the region as a result of the barbaric atrocities committed by Daesh (ISIS). The suffering of innocent families are unimaginable, all forced out of their homes and losing loved ones. Women and girls have been at the receiving end of horrific brutally, imprisonment, rape and being sold as sex slaves being some examples.
The Lotus Flower raised funds to support vulnerable women and girls rebuild their lives. Our Sewing Sisters project was one of the six other projects we implemented. In 6months we’ve supported nearly 300 women and girls. Imagine how many we can help with more support.
We would like to continue our projects and help more women and girls. We would also like to give a voice to the women and girls we are supporting by highlighting their stories through videos, photography and creative storytelling.
The humanitarian crisis is no longer in the news but that doesn’t mean the situation is better. These women and girls still need your help. We want to inspire hope and make them believe in a better future, we’ve seen the positive results of the work we do and would like to provide this opportunity for more women and girls.
Donate and share this campaign to show them you haven’t forgotten them. Give them hope and help make change happen.
Women and Girls Centre
A women and girls only social space where training, education programmes and awareness courses are conducted.
A women and girls only social space where training, education programmes and awareness courses are conducted.
PAUSE. REFLECT. REJUVENATE.
Our retreats are filled with love, a big heart focused on sharing love and giving back. Not only will you be supporting yourself but you’ll also be supporting other women impacted by conflict and displacement to rebuild their lives. How many retreats can say that? It is a truly unique way of sharing love, women helping women.
Our retreats are filled with love, a big heart focused on sharing love and giving back. Not only will you be supporting yourself but you’ll also be supporting other women impacted by conflict and displacement to rebuild their lives. How many retreats can say that? It is a truly unique way of sharing love, women helping women. All profits from the retreat will go to our charitable projects for women and girls. The moment you buy tickets you’ll know you’ve already supported them.
So ladies, read on and find out what you can expect from our retreats.
Time to show yourself some love.
Pause. Reflect. Rejuvenate.
- Are you tired, uninspired, feeling lost or overwhelmed?
- Are you craving a fresh energy in your life?
- Are you in need of healing or time to search for what your heart desires?
If you’ve answered yes to any of the above then our retreat is what you need.
We’ve all been there. Our busy daily lives, overloaded with work and home duties, pushing ourselves in multiple directions – all often on autopilot mode. We can’t stress enough how important it is to pause, reflect and rejuvenate. Not a few hours, afternoon or evening off, but really disconnecting from everyday responsibilities. You must reconnect with your inner self, not just for your peace of mind and happiness but also for others around you.
Our retreats offer a new perspective, and expand your horizons. Bringing you a positive energy to connect with your mind and soul. Giving yourself the love you deserve by taking time to listen to yourself.
When you let go of daily responsibilities, and gift yourself with love and self-care, you’ll be on a new path to re-discover yourself. You’ll also have plenty of time to reflect on what you want to manifest in your life.
Our retreats offer you:
- An opportunity to push your reset button. Giving you the time, space and guidance to allow you to re-think your priorities.
- Practical skills to hone in to your inner self and passions. Through creative guided activities you will tap into your inner self.
- Relax, rejuvenate and make time for yourself. Our venue provides treatments should you want to book one to treat yourself.
- Become inspired. Through talks, exercises, experiences and meeting new people.
- Connect and make like-minded friends. A personal journey will help you build strong friendships.
- Learn to take home life-enhancing skills and positive memories. With such a practical and personal experience, you will take away a lot.
- Build confidence. Our activities are aimed at helping you find your inner self and to build your confidence in a safe environment. You will discover the goddess in you.
By the end of the retreat you will be moved and learn so much of yourself that you might not have previously. You come out with a new perspective and outlook in life.
Weekend retreats include:
Healing Waters in Glastonbury is set in a beautiful location with the whole retreat dedicated to us. There will be healthy all-inclusive food.
A tailored programme that includes workshops from below:
- Meditation
- Finding your flow
- Life Alignment
- Finding your voice
- The Joy of Drama
- Anyone can sing
Our workshops are focused on building equanimity, confidence, resilience and empathy. You will learn to move past old limiting beliefs, hurts and unconscious emotions. We will help you clarify your thinking and encourage blocked energies to flow. Our fun, creative classes will help you build your confidence and find your voice.
…all that’s left now is to welcome you there.
This transformational weekend is like no other, using practical skills and calming techniques to allow you to Pause. Reflect. Rejuvenate.
The weekend retreat includes workshops, accommodation and food, all for £449. All profits will go back into charitable projects. Sisters Supporting Sisters.
*tickets are limited so don’t miss your opportunity to experience a truly transformational weekend.
Look forward to hosting you. xxx
WOW Festival March 2017
The Women of the World festival brings challenging discussions to audiences across the world in a series of events celebrating women and girls. In March our founder Taban Shoresh took part in a powerful panel at London’s Southbank Centre.
The Women of the World festival brings challenging discussions to audiences across the world in a series of events celebrating women and girls. In March our founder Taban Shoresh took part in a powerful panel at London’s Southbank Centre. On the theme ‘The World Remains Silent’, Taban stood alongside Yazidi activist Rozin Khalil, foreign correspondent Christina Lamb, Yazda programme manager Eivor Lægreid and human rights barrister Baroness Helena Kennedy QC. Together they gave inspirational and devastating testimonies about the attempts by ISIS/ Daesh (not sure what name you use) to commit genocide on the Yazidi people, with particular focus on the over 3,000 kidnapped Yazidi women and girls.
In what was a hugely emotional hour, the audience began by viewing Taban’s experience handing out aid in Sinjar, northern Iraq. Tears flowed from panel and audience alike as we then heard a deeply moving account of Rozin Khalil’s stories of friends and old neighbours under siege in Iraq. Aged 17, she is taking her A Levels alongside petitioning the UK Government, compelling them to help Yazidi women and girls.
The panel lamented the lack of evidence that is being gathered. In order to mount strong legal cases against this genocide they argued that proper work must be done around evidence gathering now, otherwise it will be lost. Christina Lamb provided shocking accounts of Yazidi women and girls being persecuted by ISIS. She claimed that in almost thirty years of war reporting she had never heard such horrific, brutal stories as she was from Yazidi women.
Walls are going up everywhere. As Lamb noted, refugees are guilty until proven innocent. The Lotus Flower aims to provide practical support for women fleeing conflict and genocide. Taban stresses the importance of understanding the past, but also for helping to provide a future to women survivors so that they can flourish. ‘The World Remains Silent’ event underscored the need to make closer the nature of our connections, not view disaster through a cynical detached lens. Hope and empathy were the rallying cries of the panel, alongside a willingness to take part and act for change. Now, over to you.
Taban also featured on the Panel Women Without Borders discussing some of the reasons why women are forced to leave, the dangers and difficulties they face on their journey and also in their settled home.
#HandUpHandbag
Well-known faces from the world of fashion and music are getting behind #HandUpHandbag on social media on March 8th, giving fans a chance to bid on a super-stylish pre-loved handbag, with all proceeds going towards The Lotus Flower.
International Women’s Day: Celebs back #HandUpHandbag to help women survivors of ISIS.
Who knew a humble handbag could have so much meaning?
This International Women’s Day, kind-hearted celebrities are supporting women survivors of ISIS – by donating a designer handbag for a major auction run by The Lotus Flower.
Well-known faces from the world of fashion and music are getting behind #HandUpHandbag on social media on March 8th, giving fans a chance to bid on a super-stylish pre-loved handbag, with all proceeds going towards The Lotus Flower.
In the ultimate act of female solidarity, every penny raised from the auction will give a ‘hand up’ to women whose lives have been town apart by ISIS terrorists over the past 36 months.
The Lotus Flower is dedicated to helping women rebuild their lives and rehabilitate in their own community following the ISIS atrocities. Six successful projects are underway, all aimed at empowering female survivors who have lost their homes, their livelihoods or loved ones.
London-based founder and former child genocide survivor Taban Shoresh says: “Our #HandUpHandbag auction is a great way for women to support other women in need. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from high-profile women, and are very grateful. It shows how small acts of kindness can make a huge difference to those in need.”
Follow #HandUpHandbag on social media on Wednesday to find out which star’s bag will attract the highest bids.
#BeBoldForChange this International Women’s Day with our #HandUpHandbag campaign.
See thelotusflower.org and follow @thelotusf on Twitter and Instagram.