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May 2022 – The VVEngage Fellowship is announcing its 2022 Fellows, who will participate in the program supporting outstanding women political leaders making and influencing policy across the globe.  

Through this fellowship we aim to increase the capacity, decision-making power and effectiveness of women leaders in politics and government, shifting culture around women’s public leadership and moving towards equality in public representation globally. We also aim to work towards a more inclusive and equitable world by advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through policy. 

The outstanding women selected for the 2022 VVEngage Cohort are: 

  • Amanda Shatzko, Director and Vice-Chair, Regional District of North Okanagan, Canada 
  • Amina Ahmady, Director-General of Afghanistan Customs Department, Afghan Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan 
  • Amisa Ahmed, Secretary General, Ukweli Party, Kenya 
  • Arndis Anna Kristinardottir Gunnarsdottir, Member of Parliament, Althingi, Iceland 
  • Bernadette Van den Berg-Slagter, Chairman, Provinciale Staten Drenthe, The Netherlands 
  • Besa Ismaili Ahmeti, Professor of English and Former Member of Kosovo Parliament, Kosovo 
  • Camila Crescimbeni, National Deputy for the Province of Buenos Aires, Honorable Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, Argentina 
  • Cassandra Welchlin, Executive Director, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable, United States 
  • Claire Sugden, Member of Legislative Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, United Kingdom – Northern Ireland 
  • Claudia Cornejo, Co-Founder and Board Member, Capitalismo Consciente Peru, Peru 
  • Dian Fatwa, Senior Advisor to the Chairman of MPR, MPR- The People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia, Indonesia 
  • Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Executive Director, Center for Investigative Reporting, Sri Lanka 
  • DinaAl Bashir, Member of Parliament, Jordan House of Representatives, Jordan 
  • Horia Faizi Sardarzada, Team Leader, Afghan Diaspora Community Initiatives, Afghanistan 
  • Jamila Debbech Ksiksi, Member of Parliament, Assembly of Representatives of the People, Tunisia 
  • Kawkab al-Thaibani, Gender and Communication Expert /Co-founder, Freelancer/Women4Yemen Network, Yemen 
  • Mariam Jalabi, Representative to the United Nations, Syrian Opposition Coalition, Syria 
  • Matilda Zizolli, Director, Multidisciplinary Community Center, Municipality of Tirana, Albania 
  • Monicah Amoding, Executive Director, Centre for Advancement of Gender Equality (CAGE)l, Uganda 
  • Muqaddesa Yourish, Visiting Professor, Elliott School, George Washington University, Afghanistan 
  • Natasa Mihailovic Vacic, Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Republic of Serbia, Serbia 
  • Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Tanzania, Tanzania 
  • Olena Galushko, Adviser in the Parliament of Ukraine, Parliament of Ukraine, Ukraine 
  • Patricia Zanella, Cofounder and Marketing Director, EcoCiclo, Brazil 
  • Roxana Mînzatu, Secretary of State, Ministry of European Investments and Projects, Romania 
  • Saleha Soadat, Journalist, ToloNews/ Kabul Pressistan, Afghanistan 
  • Spozhmai Wardak, Former Deputy Minister and Head of Women Shora, Ministry of Womens Affairs, Afghanistan 
  • Trinidad Furche Rosse, Innovation Leader, Municipality of Ñuñoa, Chile 
  • Tsion Engdaye Mekonnen, Head of Youth Affairs, Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (Ezema), Ethiopia 

“We are proud to have this year’s VVEngage cohort bring diverse expertise and leadership experience to the Fellowship,” said Manira Alva, Vice President of Issue Advocacy at Vital Voices. “These women are already making a huge impact on their communities and we are excited to work with them as they continue their political leadership journeys, build a lasting network as part of the VVEngage Community, and work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.” 

Fellows will convene online for trainings and discussions throughout the Fellowship. To learn more about VVEngage, please visit the program page and follow #VVEngage on social media.