W2W America 2009

Women2Women America 2009

WOMEN2WOMEN-AMERICA
August 1 - August 8, 2009

Overview

"Women2Women - America" took place from August 1 - August 8, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The goal of Women2Women is to provide young women students from around the world with the opportunity to learn, network, and acquire the leadership and professional development skills needed to succeed. Participants will also meet and interact with their counterparts from around the world.

The core theme of Women2Women - America is "Claim Your Seat at the Table." Sub-themes include cultural leadership, government and public service, and media technology and media literacy.

The purpose of the conference is to empower young women to become future leaders. To be accepted into Women2Women, applicants must demonstrate interest in leadership development, the democratic process and public diplomacy.

When women and girls have the opportunity to participate fully in every aspect of society, communities and countries are changed for the better.

The Women2Women – America 2009 conference focused on how you can “Claim Your Seat at the Table” and empower other young women to do the same. You will have the opportunity to learn about the current status of women and girls around the world, as well as the social and economic progress that is possible when women and girls are fully engaged in their communities.

You met with leading figures tackling these challenges on an international scale, and develop leadership skills to enable you to make a difference. Perhaps most importantly, you will be joining a lifelong, global network of young women who support each other and work together to contribute to positive change around the world.

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Women2Women 2009 Participants come from:

Afghanistan
Egypt
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Pakistan
Palestine
South Africa
Sudan
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Yemen

The Challenges
Despite much progress, women and girls are still the most discriminated-against group in the world.

Consider these facts:
~ Of the 1 billion people living in absolute poverty around the world (unable to secure basic life necessities), 60% are women and girls.
~ Women make up 2/3 of the estimated 876 million adults worldwide who cannot read or write
~ Girls make up 70% of the world’s 130 million youth not attending school.
~ Women contribute 2/3 of the world’s working hours, yet earn only 10 percent of the income.
~ 14 million girls aged 15-19 give birth in developing countries each year.
~ Every minute of every day, a pregnant woman dies from mostly preventable causes.
~ At least one out of every three women and girls will be severely beaten in her lifetime.

There is unfortunately no community in the world that is untouched by these issues. It’s time to come together and make a difference.

The Solutions
While the statistics above are shocking, so too are the results when women and girls are able to participate fully in society. Women involved in the political, social, and economic life of their countries and communities are better-positioned to increase attention for women’s rights. Simply providing women and girls with an education can lead to healthier families and children, less poverty, and stronger national economies. Education also equips women with the knowledge and skills needed to realize their potential and protect themselves from harm. By participating in W2W 2009, you will learn how to Claim Your Seat at the Table and become part of the solution.

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"I will never forget this week, this lifetime experience where I've made amazing friends and learned things that I will never forget. This week has made me a person that is hopefully going to change the world someday." - Leen, Jordanian Delegate, Women2Women 2008