Cultivating Global Citizenship Through Education & Culture

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Imagine a child discovering herself in the pages of a book.

Imagine a student seeing the world in a new way through travel.

Imagine a woman leader finding the clarity and support to move forward with confidence.

That is the kind of transformation the Wells International Foundation makes possible through education and culture.

If You Care About…

then you’ll be inspired by the work we do!

Our Mission

The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is a U. S. non-profit organization whose mission is to empower women, children and youth, and persons of African descent to realize their highest potential through arts, literacy, study abroad, and other educational and cultural programs. We are building a network of global citizens who embrace inclusiveness and foster a spirit of cooperation throughout the world.

Read about our founding HERE.

Our Strategic Focus Areas

To achieve its mission, WIF provides and supports a number of multifaceted programs, projects, and activities in five Strategic Focus Areas (SFAs) that create opportunities for the people we serve to grow and thrive.

Women’s Empowerment –
The L³ Alliance

 

…there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.
~ Kofi Annan

We Believe

The power to change the world lies in the hearts, minds, and hands of women.  Entrepreneurship and woman-based leadership in corporations are effective means of engendering that empowerment.

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Literacy

 

There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.
~ Frank Serafini

What We Do

Through each of our literacy projects, we provide materials that expose youngsters to topics pertaining to STEAM and to travel abroad. We ensure that students can “see themselves” in the books they read so they can build confidence in and validate their identities – so they can get a sense of who they are and who they can become.

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Book Donations

The Reading Never Stops

Virtual Story Time

 

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What We Do

Through each of our literacy projects, we provide books and materials that help young people find confidence in and validate their identities so they can see both themselves and their possibilities more clearly. 

We also use these projects to inspire curiosity about STEAM and travel.

Travel & Study Abroad

 

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~ Saint Augustine

What We Do

Through our Travel / Study Abroad SFA, we encourage university-level students in the U.S. to look openly and honestly at their culture by experiencing how other cultures view them. We also encourage younger students to embrace any chance they may have to broaden their horizons through travel.

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The Arts

 

The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.
~ President Barack Obama
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We Believe

All forms of art and culture not only advance our capacity for compassion and empathy, but also engender a measurable positive influence on education, the economies of the world, and the health and well being of our global society.

STEAM Education

 

STEAM programs “educate both halves of the brain and prepare students for success in a world that values a well-rounded and innovative workforce.”
~ Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

We Believe

Artistic development can strengthen innovation, imagination, and long-term success in STEAM fields. We encourage girls and women to embrace science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics with confidence and creativity.  

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WIF’s impact can be seen in the in the opportunities created, the stories shared, and the horizons broadened through education, culture, and connection.
Visit Our Impact Page
to explore Donor Impact Reports and stories that show how our mission comes to life through real programs, partnerships, and opportunities.

The Arts

… museum members who went to see the Paris exhibition in February … were so moved by the experience that they committed their time and funds to begin a community-driven effort to bring the Paris works of one of America’s great artists home to his birthplace – Knoxville, Tennessee.

~ Sylvia L. Peters, former trustee of the Knoxville Museum of Art

Study Abroad

I saw firsthand what can be accomplished when a passion comes together with dedication, collaboration, and the application of skills that an individual is uniquely gifted in. I hope to continue to seize opportunities like this in the future, and to carry on the inspiration that I’ve received.

~ Abbigail Chaput, University of Arizona

STEAM Education

This was a phenomenal opportunity to go to Fulbright and UNESCO, to visit an artist colony, to have all the different perspectives of the arts here in Paris … it’s going to be truly powerful for us all working together to incorporate STEAM into all aspects of life

~ Malikka Karteron, Global Educator Program participant

You can create tangible, positive change in people’s lives!

Looking back on WIF’s early years, our hearts are still full when we think about the people who believed in us from the very beginning. Their gifts brought our inaugural event to life and made it possible to welcome our very first university intern.

Those first acts of trust and generosity planted seeds that continue to grow through our work in the arts, travel/study abroad, and STEAM education today.

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Supporters and friends of our past and current projects

Collaborative Partners

 

Our Latest Projects

Current/Recent Events

L³ ALLIANCE EXPERIENCE

WIF is devoting 2025 to the support of VALUES-DRIVEN women leaders through a bundle of activities called the L³ Alliance Experience.

Sign up to join us by clicking on the button below.

Register here!