The Women’s Refugee Commission is accepting nominations to honor individual refugee, internally displaced, asylum-seeking and resettled women and young people who are developing or leading programs that benefit displaced or asylum-seeking adolescent girls at the Voices of Courage Awards luncheon on 1 May 2012.
The Women’s Refugee Commission wishes to recognize outstanding individuals supporting this often-neglected population. Some examples of projects honorees might be undertaking:
- Developing and supporting girls’ clubs and peer networks that build girls confidence and self-esteem
- Providing safe spaces where girls access mentorship and social support to facilitate their attendance and retention in school
- Building girls’ job-readiness, vocational or entrepreneurship skills
- Developing girls’ financial literacy and establishing girls’ savings groups
- Working with boys to protect and end violence against girls
- Providing sexual and reproductive health information and education to girls
- Providing sexual and reproductive health services for girls
Two refugee, internally displaced, asylum-seeking or resettled women or young people (up to age 30) will be selected to receive the Voices of Courage Award. The 2012 Voices of Courage honorees’ organizations will each receive a $5,000 grant from the Women’s Refugee Commission to further their critical work to benefit displaced people in their communities. Honorees will also get featured at the luncheon journal.
- Candidates may live in the United States or overseas.
- Candidates should be current or former refugees, internally displaced women or young people or asylum-seekers who have developed or implemented successful programs that serve people displaced by conflict or seeking asylum in urban areas.
- Candidates should be passionate advocates for improving the lives and protecting the rights of refugee, internally displaced or asylum-seeking adolescent girls.
- Candidates must be able to travel to New York for a week in May (the luncheon is Tuesday, May 1, 2012) to accept their award (all travel and housing expenses will be paid).
- Candidates must be willing to participate in media interviews.
- The ability to speak English is preferred.
The closing date to submit nominations is 31 October 2011. For more information, visit this link.
