Circles — Solena Collective

The Circle Model

What is a Circle?

A Solena Circle is a small, locally-led group of women who come together to identify and work on concrete gender-equality issues in their own community.

Each Circle is rooted in its local reality — shaped by the women who form it, not by a distant headquarters. Circles are intergenerational, inclusive, and action-oriented.

Rather than waiting for top-down solutions, Circles empower women to define their own priorities and take collective action — supported by Solena's global infrastructure, training, and shared resources.

✓ 10–25 women per Circle
✓ Fully community-led
✓ Focused on one shared challenge
✓ Connected to a global network

Start a Circle →

Women gathering in a Solena Circle, illustrated in warm golden tones

The Process

How Circles Work

Every Circle follows a simple, powerful process — grounded in trust, focused on action, and designed for lasting impact.

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01

Form

Women in a community come together around shared challenges and a desire for change. Trust is built through shared stories and mutual support.

02

Focus

The Circle identifies a specific issue — safety, care, economic strength, leadership, or education — and builds a plan of action together.

03

Act

Members collaborate on concrete local actions, supported by Solena's global network, training tools, and shared resources.

Our Focus

Five Pillars of Change

Every Circle centers its work around these five interconnected areas — because women's empowerment is never just one thing.

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Safety

Directly responding to rising insecurity and gender-based violence through community-driven solutions, mutual protection, and systemic advocacy.

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Care & Well-being

Supporting women facing the burdens of caregiving and isolation, creating networks of reciprocal care, mental health support, and community healing.

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Economic Strength

Building pathways to financial independence and stability through shared resources, skills training, micro-enterprise, and collective economic power.

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Leadership

Training and empowering women to lead change in their own communities, developing confidence, decision-making skills, and intergenerational mentorship.

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Education

Providing access to learning, skills development, and shared knowledge — because education is the foundation of every other pillar of empowerment.

Where We Are

Growing Across Continents

From East Africa to Europe to North America — Solena Circles are taking root in communities that need them most.

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Bungoma County

Kenya

Our first Circle, addressing safety and economic strength for women in rural communities.

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Paris

France

Building circles among diverse communities of women navigating migration, care work, and urban inequality.

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United States

USA

Expanding our model to address caregiving, leadership development, and cross-cultural solidarity.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about joining or starting a Solena Circle.

Any woman who shares a commitment to gender equality and community action can join. Circles are intentionally intergenerational and inclusive — welcoming women of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. You don't need any special qualifications, just a willingness to show up and work together.

Each Circle is made up of 10 to 25 women. This size is intentional — small enough for trust and deep connection, large enough for collective action and real impact. As a Circle grows, it can support the formation of new Circles in nearby communities.

Circles focus on one of five pillars: Safety, Care & Well-being, Economic Strength, Leadership, or Education. The specific issue is chosen by the women in the Circle based on their community's most pressing needs — from addressing gender-based violence to creating savings groups to mentoring girls.

Starting a Circle begins with reaching out to us through the Join Us page. Solena provides training, tools, and ongoing mentorship to help you form and sustain a Circle. You'll be connected to the global network, get access to the Solutions Library, and receive support from experienced Circle leaders.

The Power of Circles