.

Women’s History Month is a good time to reflect on trail-blazing pioneers in women’s leadership. Those who fought for the right to vote. Those who won us autonomy over our reproductive rights. Those who continue to fight for freedom, equality and democracy around the world.

But, even as we do so, it is as important to consider tomorrow’s leaders, young women who will fight tomorrow’s battles on behalf of us all. Young women like Alaa Murabit, a 23-year old from Libya who founded the Voice of Libyan Women, a group dedicated to gender empowerment. She dreams of a space for Libyan women to be heard while struggling to create economic opportunities for her sisters. Most importantly, however, she strives to place women at the peacebuilding table in a country rife with tribalism, conflict and uncertainty.

As a global community, we must nurture and mentor women like Alaa, helping them realize their full potential. If we truly hope for peace in troubled times, we should support the evolution of such young women into transformative leaders in their communities.

Research has shown that young women develop into leaders by connecting with, and dedicating themselves to, community goals and issues. In other words, simply obtaining skills and showing leadership traits is not enough. Additionally, studies of successful girls’ leadership models stress the importance of three things: ‘safe spaces’ to share ideas about leadership; positive adult mentors that model ideal leadership qualities; and the opportunity for peer interaction, learning and skills development.

Andi Parhamovich was one such driven young woman who had just started to understand her leadership potential when she was tragically killed in Iraq in 2007 while working for the National Democratic Institute. Andi was a former colleague, but also my best friend. Always an inspiration to those around her, she committed her life to making a difference.

To further Andi’s legacy by nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, a young women’s leadership institute will launch this summer in honor of her life’s work and vision. The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women (ALI) will provide domestic and international young women with crucial mentoring, conflict transformation and leadership skills during their formative young adult years. Thus, the Alaas of the future can receive the support structure and mentoring they need to be leaders and peacebuilders in their communities and beyond. ALI participants will learn the importance of peaceful dialogue and will also develop advocacy, messaging, leadership, and facilitation skills. Most importantly, the young women of ALI will be offered ongoing mentorship by some of the most powerful women in conflict resolution.

Despite their significant community-level role in many developing and post-conflict countries, women are generally woefully underrepresented in peace negotiations. This often leads to an under-appreciation of community dynamics and needs. Women like Andi and Alaa are everywhere and sometimes do succeed in gaining a seat at the table against astounding odds. But what if we could give more young women the support and mentorship they need to overcome the powerful obstacles to gender equal participation they face?

“Bringing young women together to learn and practice leadership is a testimony to Andi's desire to see women in leadership roles in small communities or a large cities in the U.S. and abroad,” notes Marci Zampini, Andi’s sister. “We must do what we can to support and nurture young women; they are our future.”

Women’s History Month is indeed a good time to reflect on who came before us. However, it is also the perfect time to get involved in the shaping of tomorrow’s young female leaders. Whether through ALI or similar initiatives supporting our young women, now is the time for us to honor the pioneers of the past by supporting the young women leaders of the future.

Jaime Horn

 

Jaime Horn is the Director of The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women.

This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's March/April 2013 print edition.

The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.

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Honoring the Past by Supporting Future Young Women Leaders

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March 29, 2013

Women’s History Month is a good time to reflect on trail-blazing pioneers in women’s leadership. Those who fought for the right to vote. Those who won us autonomy over our reproductive rights. Those who continue to fight for freedom, equality and democracy around the world.

But, even as we do so, it is as important to consider tomorrow’s leaders, young women who will fight tomorrow’s battles on behalf of us all. Young women like Alaa Murabit, a 23-year old from Libya who founded the Voice of Libyan Women, a group dedicated to gender empowerment. She dreams of a space for Libyan women to be heard while struggling to create economic opportunities for her sisters. Most importantly, however, she strives to place women at the peacebuilding table in a country rife with tribalism, conflict and uncertainty.

As a global community, we must nurture and mentor women like Alaa, helping them realize their full potential. If we truly hope for peace in troubled times, we should support the evolution of such young women into transformative leaders in their communities.

Research has shown that young women develop into leaders by connecting with, and dedicating themselves to, community goals and issues. In other words, simply obtaining skills and showing leadership traits is not enough. Additionally, studies of successful girls’ leadership models stress the importance of three things: ‘safe spaces’ to share ideas about leadership; positive adult mentors that model ideal leadership qualities; and the opportunity for peer interaction, learning and skills development.

Andi Parhamovich was one such driven young woman who had just started to understand her leadership potential when she was tragically killed in Iraq in 2007 while working for the National Democratic Institute. Andi was a former colleague, but also my best friend. Always an inspiration to those around her, she committed her life to making a difference.

To further Andi’s legacy by nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, a young women’s leadership institute will launch this summer in honor of her life’s work and vision. The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women (ALI) will provide domestic and international young women with crucial mentoring, conflict transformation and leadership skills during their formative young adult years. Thus, the Alaas of the future can receive the support structure and mentoring they need to be leaders and peacebuilders in their communities and beyond. ALI participants will learn the importance of peaceful dialogue and will also develop advocacy, messaging, leadership, and facilitation skills. Most importantly, the young women of ALI will be offered ongoing mentorship by some of the most powerful women in conflict resolution.

Despite their significant community-level role in many developing and post-conflict countries, women are generally woefully underrepresented in peace negotiations. This often leads to an under-appreciation of community dynamics and needs. Women like Andi and Alaa are everywhere and sometimes do succeed in gaining a seat at the table against astounding odds. But what if we could give more young women the support and mentorship they need to overcome the powerful obstacles to gender equal participation they face?

“Bringing young women together to learn and practice leadership is a testimony to Andi's desire to see women in leadership roles in small communities or a large cities in the U.S. and abroad,” notes Marci Zampini, Andi’s sister. “We must do what we can to support and nurture young women; they are our future.”

Women’s History Month is indeed a good time to reflect on who came before us. However, it is also the perfect time to get involved in the shaping of tomorrow’s young female leaders. Whether through ALI or similar initiatives supporting our young women, now is the time for us to honor the pioneers of the past by supporting the young women leaders of the future.

Jaime Horn

 

Jaime Horn is the Director of The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women.

This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's March/April 2013 print edition.

The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.