The Young Women Leaders Academy (YWLA) is sponsored by NDI and hosted by the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar). It provides practical skills and knowledge to help them use the political process to make meaningful improvements in their communities. The women, aged 10 to 28, were selected for the program because of their demonstrated leadership potential. They came from countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

Chantal Souaid - Lebanon

Chantal Souaid is pursuing a master's degree in business administration that she hopes to use in combination with her bachelor's degree in international affairs and diplomacy. She plans to serve as a campaign manager for a young candidate during 2010 municipal elections.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of changing the world. After finishing school, I began working in civil society and on campaigns and I knew that this is the way I want to improve my society.

"I have participated in several conferences where they teach you about politics, but this is the first time I have actually learned how to run a campaign. During this academy, I learned that nothing is impossible. Whatever we dedicate ourselves to, we can accomplish. I also learned that when you need help you should reach out to the right people and they will support you."

Thuwar Alaymal - Iraq

Thuwar Alaymal is working with women leaders to strengthen the multi-party women's caucus of Southern Iraq. Her goal is to strengthen the role of women leaders in each political party, and she plans to share the campaign skills she learned at the academy with caucus members.

"I hope that women's political participation in Iraq will increase. Maybe we will meet one day and I will be prime minister of Iraq!...I thought that I could be a leader before this conference, but now I know that I really am a leader!"

Heba Said Hussein - Egypt

Heba Said Hussein is an active member of the National Democratic Party and is involved with the International Peace Movement of Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Egypt's president. Her goal is to increase voter turn-out among the women in her community in the 2010 parliamentary elections and to encourage voters to support women candidates who are running for the first time under the new women's parliamentary quota. Hussein believes that voting is the right and duty of every citizen and a first step for women to become more active in political life.

"I have been passionate about politics all of my life, as politics affects everything in life. I came here in order to find a way to implement my goals and translate my ideas into a real project. I have learned how to do advocacy campaigns, political campaigns and how to convey my message in a powerful and effective manner. I am so lucky to be here with NDI and I hope that I can use what I have learned to do something good back home in Egypt."

Read more about the Young Women's Leadership Academy.

Published on September 9, 2009