Issue 12 (August)

WLP's Africa Leadership Institute Participants Take on New Leadership Roles in Sierra Leone

Three months after the completion of WLP's Africa Regional Learning Institute for Women's Leadership held in Nigeria, two participants from Sierra Leone were appointed to major national leadership positions. Daphne Olu-Williams, Coordinator of African Kind Hearts Organization, was appointed Chairperson for the West African Civil Society Forum - Sierra Leone Chapter. Ms. Williams plans to incorporate the participatory leadership methodology of the Institute in her future work. Christiana Thorpe, founding member of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Sierra Leone Chapter, was appointed Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission in Sierra Leone. Ms. Thorpe is the first woman to hold this position.

Published Proceedings of WLP Symposium on Gender Violence in Muslim Societies Now Available

The proceedings of WLP's recent symposium "Leading to Change: Eliminating Violence against Women in Muslim Societies," are now available online. The symposium, held in conjunction with the United Nation's 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women provided a forum for women activists from primarily Muslim-majority countries to discuss their experiences facing challenges and creating effective strategies to eliminate violence against women. It was also an opportunity for sharing and reviewing international governmental and non-governmental action plans, programs, and campaigns. Among the speakers were Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Noeleen Heyzer, Director of UNIFEM, and Hilary Fisher, Director of the "Stop Violence Against Women" campaign, Amnesty International. Click here to read the report.

Afghan Women's Rights Activist Sakena Yacoobi to Receive 2005 Democracy Award

WLP is proud to announce that our Afghan partner Sakena Yacoobi was selected by the National Endowment for Democracy for the 2005 Democracy Award for her efforts to advance women's education in principles of democracy, women's rights, strategies for peace-building and conflict resolution, and the importance of broad political participation in Afghanistan. Ms. Yacoobi is founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), an Afghan women's NGO that provides teacher training, health education, women's leadership and human rights training, and literacy programs for Afghan women and girls. Ms. Yacoobi emphasizes the need for education to promote democracy in Afghanistan, saying, "With education and literacy, people in Afghanistan - especially women - will be able to understand what democracy means. Through education, women will be able to obtain their rights, understand how they already act as leaders in their everyday lives, and contribute their leadership to help rebuild Afghanistan." Ms. Yacoobi is one of three awardees to be honored at the Democracy Awards ceremony in Washington, DC on 13 July.

WLP Chosen for 2005 Catalogue for Philanthropy

WLP was recently selected as a 2005 Catalogue for Philanthropy charity. The Catalogue profiles 75 outstanding environmental, cultural, educational, human services, and international organizations in the Greater Washington area. WLP was chosen from a competitive field of 250 candidates. "Charities were selected for excellence, innovation, and cost-effectiveness--and for what they can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works," said Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation. "These are certainly among the best small charities in the Washington region." For information on how to donate, click here.

New: Malay Edition of Leading to Choices Now Available

The most recent addition to WLP's eleven-language editions of Leading to Choices: A Leadership Training Handbook for Women is the Malay adaptation, Memimpin Menuju Pilihan: Buku Panduan Latihan Kepimpinan Wanita. The Malay handbook was translated, adapted, and tested by WLP's partner in Malaysia, Women's Development Collective (WDC). The handbook has been used in leadership training workshops with students, indigenous communities, and activists throughout Malaysia. Download or order a copy of the Malay Leading to Choices.