Rising Voices: Unleashing Young Women's Leadership Potential

The Rising Voices: Unleashing Young Women’s Leadership Potential training workshop convened ten young women, ages 18 to 24,  from Afghanistan, Jordan, Lao PDR, Liberia, Nepal and Southern Sudan in Washington, D.C. from October 1- 6.

In collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative and a partnership with The World Bank Group and Nike Foundation, the training workshop developed participants’ communications skills and provided them with social change and project design training.

The young women dove into teambuilding, leadership and communications training, through which they began to collaboratively recognize their individual visions and articulate their unique stories. 

On the conclusion of the first day, Sapida Mohammad Ebrahim from Afghanistan remarked on the interconnectedness of her fellow participants, saying:

“We come from very different parts of the world, but the challenges we face are the same. We are all women – this connects us, no matter where we came from and where we return after this program.”

On the final day of the workshop, participants were featured at the “Adolescent Girls Initiative: Where We Are” event hosted by World Bank President Robert Zoellick in Washington, DC. The event highlighted the Adolescent Girls Initiative and featured remarks from Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the President and chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, as well as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of the World Bank, Maria Eitel, president and CEO of Nike Foundation, Anne Hathaway, actor and Girl Effect Advocate, among others.

At the event, participants proudly represented the initiative and were given an opportunity to communicate their story to event guests and international media. Before an audience of over 300 people, select participants engaged in a discussion with Sudanese musician, activist and former child solider, Emmanuel Jal, who interviewed them about their challenges and hopes for the future. One participant, Phennapha Phommachanh, delivered a speech to express her support and advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS in Lao PDR.

Empowered and hopeful for the future, these young women returned to their home countries with increased confidence, inspired to achieve their goals — both as individuals and as leaders of their community. Commenting on the transformational impact of this experience, participant Sarah Poni Saturnino from Southern Sudan declared:

“I have confidence that when I go back to my country, I am not [the old] Sarah — I am someone who is responsible — who is a leader — who can lead other people.”

In November 2011, Vital Voices will offer participants an opportunity to apply for funding to implement a six-month community service project in their home communities. We are looking forward to receiving project proposals and continuing our relationships with these rising women leaders.