Graduate Women International: Moving Forward

21 May 2015

Caroline Staffell, International DevelopmentManager

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Agenda

• Recap; GWI vision & mission• Areas of activity• Advocacy• Capacity Building• For members• Projects• How to get involved• Conference 2016

Graduate Women International (GWI)

• International umbrella organisation, formerly the International Federationof University Women

• Nearly 100 years old, founded 1919

• 60 member federations and associations

• Over 23’000 members on all continents

• Consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC and official relations with UNESCO

GWI’s vision is for– 100% of girls and women in the world to

achieve education beyond primary school

GWI’s mission is to– advocate for women’s rights, equality

and empowerment through access to quality secondary, tertiary and continuing education and training up to the highest levels

Name Change• On 27 April 2015, in its 96th year of championing

education, women’s rights and gender empowerment worldwide, the International Federation of University Women launched its new name, Graduate Women International (GWI)

• The new title reflects the dynamism and inclusiveness of the organisation.Adoption of the name change by the General Assembly.

• While all national federations and associations (NFAs) are now members of GWI, NFAs remain independent legal entities, and are not obliged to change names.

• In essence, NFAs can continue with their current names, subject only to national rules of incorporation.

International Advocacy

• Manifesto Launch

The launch provided a platform for GWI to share its

position on how and why it is working towards increasing lifelong learning for all girls and women worldwide

Audience participation included representatives from diplomatic missions, international organisations including several United Nations bodies, non-governmental organisations, academics and members of the public

Led to direct partnerships with ITU (Girls in ICT Day) and UNESCO (Mobile Learning Week)

International Advocacy

• Advocacy Toolkit: Part One

An exclusive membership benefit. The first segment of a four-

part series that will form the full toolkit. Part one provides an overview and general outline of how GWI members can begin their advocacy activities. Parts two, three and four to be finalised and published online by Summer 2015.

• 2 Policy Updates: • International Women’s Day

• The role of girls and women in STEM

Member benefit that showcases a mission-related issue and actively encourages NFA participation incl. how to get involved with relevant mechanism

May

World Education Forum – happening now• Incheon, South Korea

• GWI Invited to attend by UNESCO

• Leading international forum on education

• Key opportunity to meet potential partners including government ministers, international policy makers, international organisations, civil society and potential members!

http://en.unesco.org/world-education-forum-2015/

International Conference on ICT and Post-2015 Education

• Qingdao, China

• GWI panel speaker invited by UNESCO

• Leading international forum with government and leadning UN bodies

Upcoming Advocacy Activities 2015

Upcoming Advocacy Activities 2015

June

Human Rights Council (HRC)• UN HQ, Geneva

• Written/oral statements,

• Organise side/parallel events for September session

• Watch: http://webtv.un.org/

International Labour Organisation (ILO)• ILO HQ, Geneva

• 104th Session, June 2015

• Written/oral statements by Katherine Hagen (Economic empowerment of women)

Upcoming Advocacy Activities 2015

Advocacy Toolkit• Finalise and publish parts two, three and four by

summer 2015

Policy Papers• Finalise and publish remaining papers by summer

2015

Webinars • Advocacy topics: June, September and November

Policy Updates• Quarterly publications: June, September,

December

Website

• NEW! Translation tool, 90 languagesfor better user experience

Capacity Building for Members

• Regional workshops

• Webinars

• Toolkits

• Twinning

• Briefings at the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)

• GWI in Focus

• Advocacy and press release templates

• Ghana Association of University Women – 40 members & growing

• Sierra Leone members activated in projects

• Mexico – mentoring project attracting young members

• Ireland – newsletter, regular seminar series & attracting young members

• Japan – activities to activate membership

Workshops 2014: Outcomes

Regional Workshop: Communities for Action 26-28 March 2015 Nairobi, Kenya

“It was great meeting you and you made a good impact in us. Thank you so much. Together we believe we will make it to push GWI forward.” Member, Ghana

“The workshop was very helpful to me and I learnt a lot especially on mentoring. This will help me in my area of work since I deal directly with university students and their welfare.” Member, Kenya

“Thank you to all for the very enlightening workshop!” Member, Nigeria

“A great experience for me. Thanks to everyone because I have learned something from you.” Member DR Congo

Next Capacity Building Workshop

• Communities for Action

4-5 June 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

Exclusive Member Offers

CHARGE

Championed by former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard and joined by more than 30 global actors from civil society, governments and the private sector

Projects

• Secondary School Teachers for Rural Futures – supporting women teachers

• Girls’ Choices – empowering girls to transition from secondary school to higher education or work - app

• Ready for Work – closing the gap from university to work

Future Teachers

• Secondary school teachers for rural future project – pilot Uganda

Girls’ Choices

Twinning Programme

• A formal, two-way collaboration or partnership between two groups.

• A framework for two national federations or associations (NFAs) or NFA branches, or local groups, or clubs, to work together in a partnership.

• Projects are for a specific amount of time, on a particular area of work or activity, with a defined goal.

• Build capacity, share best practices, collaborate, build relationships and strengthen current activities.

How to get involved

• Social media – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

• Join webinars

• Members Corner –http://www.GWI.org/members-login/

• Share articles

• Attend workshops and events

• Twinning

• Fundraising

• Opportunities to be involved in GWI’sadvocacy and UN activities

Questions?

Next webinar

16/17 June 2015, Moving into Leadership

Register online: http://www.GWI.org/members-login/tools-resources/membership-development/webinars/

Sign up to the GWI Update

www.graduatewomen.org

Thank you!

Contact us:

Caroline Staffell: cs@graduatewomen.org

International Federation of University Women10, rue du Lac, CH-1207 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 731 23 80; Fax: (+41 22) 738 04 40Website: www.graduatewomen.org

Email: gwi@graduatewomen.org