Young Women's Leadership Dialogue at World Council 2011

Organised around the theme “Women Creating a Safe World,” the Young Women’s Leadership Dialogue (YWLD) will bring together about 200 young women from all over the world to share experiences and best practices, build their capacity, and develop a Young Women’s World YWCA Strategy. The event will also provide practical training and education on the priority issues of the global movement. “The Young Women Leadership Dialogue Pre-Council is the ideal platform for young women from all over the movement to meet, network, exchange views and visions, so as to better see their role within the movement”, says Paola Salwan, World YWCA Young Women’s Programme Officer.

As part of the YWLD programme, a social evening will take place on the evening of July 10 with the message “United in Diversity”. A variety of youth orientated entertainment and educative programmes are planned to break the ice and start the conference with full energy and to prepare for the next days events. One such event is the Diversity Catwalk, where young women will bring their national dress and exchange them with other participants’ outfits.  This special event is meant to emphasise the unity in diversity theme, as well as to provide entertainment and education on different traditions and cultures.  

On July 11, two parallel sessions facilitated by the YWCA and partner youth organisations will be organised. A pool of experienced young women will draft the World YWCA Strategy and reflect around it. Creativity will be greatly encouraged, and the young women will be able to express what they wish to be included in the next guiding policy of the movement, using visuals (both physical and virtual, i.e. extensive use of social media). Reports from the last Young women Leadership Forum at the 2007 World YWCA Council and those coming from the YWCAs Regional Training Institutes (RTIs) will also be considered, and based on the recommendations made, participants will be able to brainstorm and take into account these recommendations in order to better prepare their strategy.

The World YWCA has been at the forefront of young women’s empowerment, relentlessly advocating for young women to become leaders both within and outside the YWCA movement, building their confidence and encouraging peer trainings and sharing of experience. Throughout 2009-2010, the World YWCA has organised several Young Women’s Leadership Dialogues (YWLDs) as part of the RTIs. These regional YWLD were used as platforms for building the skills of young women participants in all areas relevant to them and also served as safe spaces to share about the experiences young women had, especially with regards to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, HIV and AIDS and violence against women. The participants were also asked to reflect, strategise and work on the recommendations they would like to showcase to the movement during World Council with regards to young women’s leadership within the YWCA movement

The YWLD at the World YWCA Council 2011 will also coincide with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 1st World Council Resolution ever passed on young women, making the event all the more special.