MiVoice

Keep watching this space as we’ll be giving exclusive interviews introducing MILEAD Fellows to Africa and the world in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we are proud to announce that one of our Fellows is the prize winner of the advocacy competition on gender and political participation organized by the Association of African Women for Research and Development – AAWORD.

We congratulate Satang Mmc Nabaneh of The Gambia for this notable achievement and hope you will make time to read her ‘prize-winning’ thoughts on The power of women's political participation in ECOWAS.

As we commemorate International Women’s Day today, we wish you opportunities to be ‘connecting girls, inspiring futures’ wherever you are.

Happy women’s day from the MILEAD Fellows Network!

MOREMI INITIATIVE FOR EMPOWERMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

(MILEAD) FELLOWS PROGRAM

Do you know Africa’s most promising young woman leaders? Help us find her!

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2012 MILEAD FELLOWS PROGRAM

Help us identify Africa’s most promising young women leaders!

Application Deadline: March 15, 2012.

Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa (Moremi Initiative) is pleased to announce its call for applications for the 2012 Moremi Leadership Empowerment and Development (MILEAD) Fellows Program.

The MILEAD Fellows Program is a one-year leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African Women leaders to attain and succeed in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole. The program targets dynamic young women interested in developing transformational leadership skills that help them tackle issues affecting women in their communities and society as a whole. Applications are welcome from young African women living in Africa and the Diaspora.

The MILEAD Fellowship will be awarded to 25 outstanding young women with exceptional qualities who have exhibited leadership potential in their community, organization, and/or profession. To be eligible for the one-year program, an applicant must be African, living on the continent or in the Diaspora; agree to participate in all required activities related to MILEA-  including a three-week residential Summer Institute in Ghana; and commit to a community change project. Applicant must be between 19 – 25 years of age. Specific requirements of the program and related dates are outlined in the application package.

Please note that this is not a full-time fellowship. Selected candidates may remain full time students or work full time for the program duration, except during the 3–week summer institute. The 3-week summer institute is an intensive and full-time residential program and all fellows will be required to attend. The rest of the program involves community-based, online and other distance activities.

We invite you to share this application information with the most promising young African Women leaders you know- who have the potential to help transform Africa.

How to Apply: Application forms are available online at www.moremiinitiative.org or by request via email. Completed application form must be submitted with two letters of recommendation and CV. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by email.

The deadline for completed MILEAD Fellows applications to be submitted for review is March 15, 2012.

For application package or additional information go to:www.moremiinitiative.org or contact:

UN Women Directory of Stakeholders on Youth in Africa

[A Moremi Initiative- UN Women-Africa Collaboration]

Click here to Download Full Directory

In order to strengthen its engagement and collaboration with stakeholders on youth in Africa, UN WOMEN in partnership with Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa compiled a directory of key individuals and organizations promoting youth empowerment, particularly for young women in Africa. Local, national and regional organizations/institutions that work with young people in Africa are invited to join this partnership.

As the newly established UN WOMEN sets its agenda and strategic direction for women all over the world, it is committed to a more active engagement with young people and their organizations throughout Africa. Youth leaders, advocates and youth organizations were invited to join this historic process.

WHY JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP

• Help broaden UN WOMEN”s reach and impact in the communities you represent.
• Co-organize community and other outreach programs at grassroots and national levels.
• Participate in other UN WOMEN programs, campaigns, meetings and projects across the continent.
• Inclusion in the directory as potential resource persons or partner for future programs.
• Develop partnerships for broad-based dissemination of publications and resources by UN WOMEN and partners.
• Inclusion in UN WOMEN consultations and dialogues.

The initiative identified hundreds of stakeholders from across the continent, that are committed to work together for empowerment and  change for the youth in Africa.

DOWNLOAD the full Directory of Stakeholders on Youth in Africa

UN WOMEN HIGH LEVEL SYMPOSIUM FOR ECOWAS MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND WOMEN

PRE-SYMPOSIUM FORUM-

Passing on the Baton: Issues of the Women’s Movement, Youth and Media in Sustaining Responses on

Gender Equality in the ECOWAS Region

[A Moremi Initiative- UN Women-West Africa collaboration]

Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa in partnership UN Women- West Africa Regional Office (WARO) and other convening partners convened a one day Forum with key stakeholders on Youth, the Women’s Movement and Media in West Africa. The Forum under the theme “Passing On The Baton: Issues of The Women’s Movement, Youth and Media in Sustaining Responses on Gender Equality in The Ecowas Region” was organized as part of the UN Women High Level Symposium for ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Women held in Accra Ghana from September 13-15, 2011.

The Pre-Symposium Forum was held on Monday September 12, 2011 at the M-Plaza hotel in Ghana’s capital Accra with the purpose to:
 Deepen discussions on the contribution of each of the three actors: youth, media and women’s movement.
 Engage and solicit inputs from stakeholders on youth, media and the women’s movement – particularly young women leaders and the women’s movement for the High Level Symposium of ECOWAS Ministers of Finance and Women.
 Propose concrete and actionable proposals to accelerate the implementation of commitments as well as define roles and responsibilities and timelines.
UN Women Africa, as part of the ongoing historic institutional transformation for women at the UN level, renews its commitment to ensure greater engagement of African youths in addressing critical issues of importance to women and girls on the continent. This forum is one of the ways in which the UN Women WARO seeks to connect with and engage the youth- especially young women in the sub-region.

The Forum was carefully designed to encourage interactive dialogue- through interactive discussions, expert presentations and strategy sessions.

The full report is available upon request from partners at moremiinitiative.org

2010 MILEAD FELLOWS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
12th July to 2nd August, 2010
University of Ghana, Legon Ghana

SUMMARY

The 2010 MILEAD (Moremi Initiative for Leadership Empowerment and Development) Fellows Institute took place at the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana from 12th July to 2nd August, 2010. The Institute convened twenty-five MILEAD Fellows from across the continent, representing diverse socio-cultural, academic and professional orientations, united by a common passion: the advancement of women in Africa. Speakers and trainers included two former Presidents- Mrs. Mary Robinson of Ireland and Mr. John Kufour of Ghana, as well as current political leaders, top African activists, scholars and leaders from business and social sectors. It was truly a Pan-African experience.

The twenty-five 2010 MILEAD Fellows were chosen through a highly competitive process based on their involvement in an impressive range of social and professional endeavors, including women’s health and safety, community and youth development, girl-child education, economic and environmental justice, and disability and HIV/AIDS. They work as journalists, student activists, lawyers, and environmentalists among others. They are young, but are already playing remarkable leadership roles in their fields of endeavor.

Through a wide range of activities, Fellows were engaged, challenged and inspired- by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and values for leadership in the 21st century. Activities included lectures, skills training workshops, plenary sessions, teambuilding exercises, debates, summits and a range of interactive and mentoring activities, totaling over 220 hours of learning, sharing and bonding. Fellows cross-examined concepts of leadership in a broad African context; cultivated the skills necessary to occupy and excel in leadership positions; and gained knowledge on prevailing issues critical to African women and their communities. The fellows were also able to establish a cross-cultural and pan-African solidarity, and had one-on-one interactions with remarkable women leaders who are committed to nurturing the next generation of African leaders.

The Institute achieved some remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the MILEAD Fellows Network from 25 in 2009 to 50 in 2010; the launching of 25 MiCHANGE Projects aimed at tackling community challenges- that could positively impact thousands of lives upon completion in their various communities; and the launching of “Africa’s Finest”- a by-weekly portal of Africa’s most outstanding young women- a new addition to the MiVOICE webzine. Above all, a strong case can be made that the most important outcome of the 2010 institute was that, each Fellow departed from the three weeks gathering, reenergized and reaffirmed that they can indeed, despite the tremendous challenges, lead, impact and change their communities.

In my work across Africa, I see the potential of our great continent each day. Nowhere is this potential more evident than in the many young Africans serving their people and their communication in preparation for greater leadership roles in society. MILEAD prioritizes investments in such young leaders as a contribution to Africa’s search for solutions to its challenges.”- Mawuli Dake

With the remarkable ambitions and achievements exhibited by this year’s fellows, we are encouraged more than ever before that, investments in these emerging African leaders will continue to yield tremendous benefits towards the transformation of the African continent into a more thriving and peaceful place for all.