Nobel Women’s Initiative: 2016 Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program

Deadline: 25 February 2016

The Nobel Women’s Initiative is seeking nominations for the Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program—geared at young women’s rights activists who would benefit from advocacy training and hands-on skill building within an international setting.

The mentorship program will commence with a six-week residency period at the Nobel Women’s Initiative office in Ottawa, Canada (late-August to October 2016).

Over the past four years the Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program has provided valuable advocacy and grassroots organizing training to twelve incredible young women activists from around the world.

Nobel Women’s Initiative Advocacy

• Women Forging Peace—the inclusion of women in peace making and supporting nonviolence and other alternatives to war and militarism.
• Women Achieving Justice—Accountability for crimes committed against women and an end to widespread impunity.
• Women Advancing Equality and Human Rights—Support for human rights defenders, those working for women’s equality and those on the frontlines of civil society–including those addressing climate change.

Benefits

• The mentorship program is meant to support young women’s rights activists in their international advocacy and media work.
• The residency program will strengthen key skills including organizing for political change, developing comprehensive advocacy strategies, messaging and writing materials for different audiences, presentation and public speaking, fundraising, networking as well as engaging with policy-makers and traditional and new media.
• The program will be an opportunity for young women’s rights activists to broaden their knowledge base on women’s rights and gender-based violence around the world, and strategies being used in other countries for raising public awareness and campaigning for policy changes.
• Participants will work closely with the Nobel Women’s Initiative team and outside facilitators to build on advocacy and communications skills, as well as meet experts working in related areas.
• While in Ottawa, the young activists will be members of the Nobel Women’s Initiative team, supporting country-specific advocacy programs.
• The mentorship program participants will gain relevant hands-on international advocacy experience, providing the young women with the opportunity to become more effective activists and communicators in their home countries.
• It will provide an opportunity for the young women to become part of an international information, support, and action network.

Selection Criteria

• Record of leadership within the community and work with civil society;
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in women’s rights, human rights, and gender-based violence;
• Good English comprehension;
• Strong ties to the nominating organization;
• Superior character, demonstrated teamwork ability, interest in working with and learning from others who come from different backgrounds and cultures;
• High level of maturity, energy, and courage to withstand pressures of travel.

Eligible Countries: Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, and the MENA region

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must:

• Be women from eligible countries
• Be between the ages of 21 and 30;
• Be able to read, write and discuss in English;
• Be nominated by an organization and commit to working with this organization at least for a year;
• Be available to participate in the program for a period of six months, August 2016 to January 2017;
• Be willing and available to travel to Ottawa, Canada for a six-week placement at the Nobel Women’s Initiative offices, from the end of August to the beginning of October (other international travel may be required during this period).

How to Apply

Interested applicants can submit their nominations via email at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit 2016 Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program.