Early in July 2020, the World YWCA launched a call encouraging young women across the YWCA movement to apply to become part of the Leadership Cohort Programme 2020.
Supported by the centennial YWCA World Service Council and originally known as the World YWCA internship programme, the Leadership Cohort offers the opportunity for young women from the YWCA movement to experience the international community-building, work and reach of the World YWCA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the design of the programme was adapted to occur at YWCA member associations in country, and virtually with the World YWCA office. This new adapted format allowed the selection of ten young women coming from four different regions of the world, compared to previous years in which only two or three young women were able to seize this opportunity.
After receiving a number of applications from diverse young women coming from different corners of the world, and after a set of interview rounds with applicants and host associations, the World YWCA is thrilled to announce the following young leaders as cohort members for 2020:
- Aallyah Thomas from YWCA Trinidad and Tobago
- Yedidiyah Allen from YWCA Trinidad and Tobago
- Hannah Athaliah James from YWCA Papua New Guinea
- Adaeze Muonyelu from YWCA of Nigeria
- Mayowa Oni-Orisan from YWCA of Nigeria
- Nerat Pam-Hworo from YWCA of Nigeria
- Rajina Neupane from YWCA Nepal
- Roni Shakya from YWCA Nepal
- Rose F Manga from YWCA The Gambia
- Zahra Al Hilaly from YWCA Australia
All ten cohort members will be working closely with their YWCA associations and with the World YWCA from October to December 2020, to experience and serve their communities as empowered and visionary leaders. The programme will also offer the young women the opportunity to strengthen and sharpen their knowledge and skills on global issues and specific thematic areas such as leadership, advocacy, movement-building, strategic communications, good governance and accountability.
Join us in welcoming our Leadership Cohort members for this year, and stay tuned in World YWCA social media channels to learn more about them and the work they will be doing in coming months.