To mark the Day of the Will on 13 September, Misereor is focusing on the great importance of women as shapers of the future. Around two thirds of all charitable bequests come from women. The aid organisation would like to honour this commitment with its "Women's Wills" initiative and make it more visible.
Statistics show that women deal with estate planning earlier and more intensively than men. Due to their longer life expectancy, they are also often the ones who have to make the final decision on the settlement of the estate. This is why women in particular, who do not have children of their own, are increasingly concerned with the question of how their assets can have an effect beyond their own death. Katrin Heidbüchel, contact person for wills and foundations at Misereor, notes that women in particular are showing a growing interest in dedicating their wills to social causes. The so-called '68 generation paved the way for emancipation; new opportunities opened up for women in professional life. More women went to university and gained more economic independence. This is also partly reflected in demographic trends. For example, Germany has a comparatively high proportion of women who do not have children.
Women's will initiative
From conversations with female testators, Katrin Heidbüchel knows that charitable estate planning is about more than "just" transferring assets. The Women's Wills Initiative therefore sees itself as a catalyst for dialogue about values, ideals and social responsibility. Misereor is responding to developments and feedback from women who are already grappling with issues of change and justice. The aim is to offer committed women a space for dialogue and networking.
In the Global South, too, women are often seen as drivers of development, as formative personalities who are at the root of real improvements in living conditions and are tirelessly campaigning for greater justice and dignity. "When we launched the Misereor Lent campaign in 2023 under the motto "Woman. Power. Change', numerous women contacted us to tell us how much this idea had touched them personally," says Heidbüchel. "It resonated with their own life experiences and made them realise the power women have to initiate change towards a better world."
"Frauentestament" therefore not only addresses the growing importance of women in the context of legacy and social change, but also opens up spaces for discussion about how values and solidarity can be passed on across generations. In connection with the initiative, exclusive events and exchange formats are also planned in which women can contribute their views and experiences.
A fund that only receives bequests from women
In order to increase the visibility of female commitment, Misereor is setting up a special women's fund together with its foundation. This "pot" will only contain funds from women who wish to use their will to promote greater solidarity and humanity.
