GIVING JOY STRENGTHENS AND INSPIRES WOMEN’s ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORLDWIDE
Small Acts of Sustainability (SAS), Giving Joy past grant winner
Through its micro-grants and mentorship program, Giving Joy helps women establish or improve their businesses and initiatives—for their benefit and the benefit of their communities.
Our History
Giving Joy is a 501(c)(3) Massachusetts-based nonprofit that strengthens and inspires women’s entrepreneurship worldwide. Its founder, Joy Kolin, has 20-years of experience in the field of international development, a career that has taken her to over 70 countries. Throughout her travels, Joy found herself touched by a common trend - the immense ability of women to affect positive change if given the resources and opportunities to do so. In 2018, she established Giving Joy as a way to harness and grow the power and the influence of women-led ventures the world over. Now, women from any country, across any trade or industry, can apply for a one-time grant between $250 to $500 to jumpstart and/or expand their operations.
Staff & Board Members
Meet our amazing volunteer staff and board members.
Joy Kolin
Executive Director and Board President
Joy Kolin is a senior international development project manager with two decades of experience working with international organizations in global project design, management and implementation; organizational strengthening; business and partnership development; and leadership and management development. Joy received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Hebrew University and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. A native English and Hebrew speaker, she is also versed in French and Arabic. Joy has worked and lived in North America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. In 2018, she leveraged her extensive global experience to start Giving Joy. She currently resides in Massachusetts, USA.
Samiha Barkat is an international development expert with over 14 years of experience working for both the private and not-for-profit sectors. She specializes in program design, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), knowledge management, and strategy. Samiha has led complex bilateral and regional programs in Asia Pacific and in Africa across the health, education, law and justice and institutional strengthening sectors. As an independent consultant, Samiha currently works with women-led NGOs in Bangladesh to support them with their program and M&E journey—impact assessment, knowledge generation and sharing lessons and best practices with a wider audience. Samiha holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Samiha Barkat
Clerk/Secretary
Sandra Simbiri is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expert with close to 15 years of experience designing, creating and managing ICT products in low- and mid-income countries. Currently she is working with UN agencies to provide expanded education, training and employment opportunities for youth, and exploring new ways of promoting learning through innovative pedagogical approaches and digital tools. Sandra has a Master of Science in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design & Computer Animation from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Sandra lives in Nairobi, Kenya.
Sandra Simbiri
Director/Officer
Wendy Voet
Director/Officer
Wendy Voet is a non-profit leader and public health professional with over 30 years of experience in the areas of public and global health, organizational management, fundraising, partnership development and program design. She has worked for a wide range of organizations that assist in meeting the healthcare needs of communities around the world as well as work towards social justice. She also teaches global health in the Master of Public Health Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She has previously held positions ranging from Executive Director of Women's Way to Deputy Director of the Center for Public Health at the University of Pennsylvania.
Carla Wahnon
Director/Officer
Carla Wahnon is an entrepreneur, business owner and financial coach. Born in Brazil but calls the US home for the past 34 years. Carla is the co-founder and managing partner of R&C International Commerce (2015), a 100% minority women owned import and export company. She is also the owner of CARLA SHAW Sustainable Fashion, a bio-jewelry line she founded in July of 2021. Carla received her B.S. in Business Administration from the Fundacao Getulio Vargas, Sao Paulo (Brazil) and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. She lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband and their two spoiled dogs Furby (Maltese) and Liam (Silky Terrier mix).
“There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."
-Madeline Albright, the first female United States Secretary of State