Brooke Olster, Class of 2004, is on a mission to serve the needs of Ghanaian women. A volunteer trip she took to Ghana while a senior at Rider set her on this course of activism. She is currently assisting in coordinating a major fund raiser at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, on April 8 to benefit Ghanaian women and their families.

The women are part of Women In Progress (WIP), a non-profit organization in Ghana, which helps to create sustainable livelihoods for women and girls. Approximately 300 people from Ghana, the United States and other countries are expected to attend the gala. The money raised will be used for WIP’s Revolving Loan Fund, which will enable it to invest in new materials, such as organic dyes and fabrics from South Africa and Egypt to sell to retailers in the United States and Europe. The goal is to raise at least $15,000.

Stringent fabric and production requirements from U.S. retailers have presented roadblocks. “With this additional financing, we will be able to purchase the various types of raw materials the stores demand, enabling Women in Progress to expand its market and customer base worldwide,” said Olster, by day, a financial consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, a global strategy and technology consulting firm based in McLean, VA. “Proceeds resulting from sales will be funneled back into the communities in Ghana. This will allow women entrepreneurs the ability to hire more staff, buy new equipment, expand their shops and offer reward incentives for their employees.”

During the fund raiser that evening, Olster will give a brief presentation. She will also assist in selling products, known as Global Mamas, which includes children’s and adults’ apparel and accessories made by Ghanaian women artisans. Olster has gained much financial savvy. At Booz Allen Hamilton, she serves the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s Budget Office with budgetary support.

While a Rider student, she had an opportunity to dabble in international and domestic affairs. She studied at the American University of Paris and served as an intern at Barclay’s Bank in London. She also interned at the Office of United States Trade Representative and at The Employment Policy Foundation in Washington, DC. These experiences gave her a birds-eye view of the world of government, public policy, law, current events, international and domestic affairs and economics and finance.

“My time spent at Rider was an extremely meaningful and happy period of my life,” said Olster. “The Rider community helped open my eyes to the world and instilled a sense of giving back that I still practice today. I am hoping with sufficient notice, members of the Rider community can attend and/or support this important cause.”

If you would like to attend the embassy party, please contact Olster at (609) 922-0311 or at olster_brooke@bah.com. Contributions may be sent to her at 7900 Horseshoe Lane, Potomac, MD 20854. Checks should be made out to Women in Progress.

For more information about WIP, please visit its Web site at http://www.womeninprogress.org Products can be viewed as www.globalmamas.org