New York, NY, September 2, 2022 – MCW Global held its third virtual Young Leaders Fellowship between August 5th and August 24th. The virtual program brought together young leaders worldwide to develop the critical skills needed to become community leaders and global citizens. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire program was virtual via e-modules and online sessions with primary learning outcomes focusing on Modern Leadership, Self-Awareness, Global Citizenship and Vision Planning.  The program focused on cross-cultural communication and building networks where young leaders aged 18-26 from diverse countries can collaborate on projects together. Guest speakers and experts led sessions during the virtual program to share their knowledge with participants, providing additional skills and expertise. 

Participants kicked off the program by getting to know one another. Young leaders shared their aspirations for improving their communities in the areas of health, education and economic security. Later in the program, participants learned about the core aspects of Modern Leadership, which was focused on the different approaches, styles, and cultural understandings of leadership. Further, the Young Leaders Fellowship covered Self-Awareness, Mental Health, and Global Citizenship components, which enhance participants’ self-development and support them in becoming global leaders. During the program, facilitators, MCW team members, and mentors supported participants to develop their ideas through vision planning, a project management method that incorporates strategy, vision, mission, understanding and defining the problem, resource development, and time management. 

“The Fellowship sessions have been enriching, especially when it comes to being inspired by other young leaders, getting to know people from around the world, and finding synergies between our competencies, projects, and aspirations. I look forward to working further with the excellent Fellowship Cohort.” said Zoé Elkær Nicot, one of the 2022 mentees from Denmark.

Exceptional speakers, guests, and MCW staff members led sessions on modern leadership, understanding gender, mental health, self-awareness and global citizenship. Speakers included: Paata Alaverdashvili, Psychologist with focus on Psychological Trauma Treatment; Theo Dunfey, President & Executive Director, Global Citizens Circle; Ingrid Gázquez-González, Leadership Portfolio Manager, Geneva Centre for Security Policy; Liz Graydon-Gannon, Co-founder of What Better Looks Like; Jonathan Hakakian, Managing Director, SoundBoard Venture Fund; Norma Loeb Co-founder of What Better Looks Like; Richard Magid, President, Soundboard Consulting Group, LLC; Dr. Charles Robbins, MCW Board Member, and Vice Provost Undergraduate Education and Student Success/Dean of the Undergraduate Colleges, Executive Director, Center for Changing Systems of Power Stony Brook University.

In addition, 16 Fellowship alumni joined the program this year as speakers. Vision planning sessions were led by Inbar Fruschad-Weil, User Experience Designer at WeAreDevelopers and Fellowship alumna; Leon Gojani MCW’s Young Leaders Program Director; Maria José Lovatón, Fellowship 2021 Co-Lead Mentor and Achraf Tasfaout, Fellowship 2021 Co-Lead Mentor.

The virtual program included 48 participants (two lead mentors, 14 mentors, and 32 mentees) from 34 countries, including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Cameroon, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United States of America, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe.

Currently, participants are further developing their vision plans and getting ready to implement their community projects with the support of their mentors.

“The MCW fellowship was an opportunity for regeneration. It offered me the space for self-reflection, a network for solidarity and support, and a base for paving the way toward the work I’ve wanted to achieve in my community.” said Fatima Hallal, a 2022 mentee from Lebanon. 

To view photos, visit MCW’s Facebook page.