20th Anniversary Internship Programme Celebrated at World Council
The 2011 World YWCA Council celebrated the 20th anniversary of the World YWCA young women’s leadership one year internship programme. Interns from different years and continents joined to celebrate the day with the movement and to speak about the remarkable contribution of the programme to the movement.
The crowd cheered the interns as they walked to the stage to give a speech about how the internship opportunity has changed their professional life, and also the impact it had on the YWCA movement in their respective countries. Sarah Davies, 2007 World YWCA intern, currently Strategic Development Manager, YWCA of Aotearoa/ New Zealand said “The World YWCA internship is about having a say, believing in yourself and your ability to change the world. It’s about being part of something.’
Jenta Tau the 2011 intern presented the background and the history of the programme, and said that “the World YWCA internship programme is intended to increase the number of globally experienced and trained leaders who will return to their associations and provide leadership and improved understanding of what the world movement is all about. The interns share their experience and where they are today.’
This special occasion was facilitated by Elaine Carlson, former Deputy General Secretary of the World YWCA. She asked the interns to relate their memorable experiences during their internship. Ligia Andrea Núñez Argote, 2009 World YWCA intern from Mexico, currently on the World YWCA Board, said that the highlights of her internship were the cross cultural experience, travelling opportunities, YWCA movement support, 2010 Vienna International AIDS Conference, reviewing and reporting on the Women Leading Change Award, the Witness Visit to Palestine and the UN events she participated in.’
There was also a call for interns who couldn’t physically attend the occasion in Zurich, Switzerland to send their messages to share their experience. Kathyanne Neblette, YWCA of Barbados, intern in 1998, sent the following message: “My internship experience was enlightening, life changing and career shaping. It opened several doors through networking and created and fostered life long friendships”
Finally, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary of the World YWCA, affirmed the commitment of the World YWCA to invest in young women to build their leadership skills. She then joined the interns to express sincere gratitude to the many supporters of the Internship programme, EED Germany, World Service Council Partners, friends and staff of the World YWCA over the past 20 years.
The celebration ended with a call for internship applications for 2012.
