This program is implemented by a consortium of NGOs: Ukrainian Women's Fund(UWF), the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE), Help Us Help the Children of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Children's Aid and Relief Effort (UCARE) and the Women's Health and Family Planning Foundation. The consortium hopes to encourage other NGOs in the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as embassies and international donors in Ukraine to participate in this 9-month comprehensive program.
The First Steps to Success program includes the following components:
STAGE 1: Selection of young women (ages 16-20) -- participants of the program
The selection of the participants will be done on a competitive basis. A competition will be announced, targeted for girls ages 16-20 from all corners of Ukraine. The topic will be: "I am a future leader of Ukraine."
The contest will be announced throughout Ukraine and the information will be distributed through the UWF Women's Information Centers, the Ukrainian Women's Portal, CURE's regional press clubs, Help Us Help the Children orphanage network, the US-Ukraine Foundation's Partnership Cities, women's and youth NGOs, list-serves, the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports as well as the Ministry of Education.
The deadline for submitting applications is May 1, 2006. It is expected that more than 700 applications and essays will be reviewed. A special committee comprising representatives from the consortium of NGOs will review the essays and select the 50 winners by the end of May.
STAGE 2: Workshops for the young leaders
The winners of the contest will be invited to Kyiv for June 10-11 to participate in workshops and meet with women leaders from all walks of life (politics, business, arts and culture, mass media, etc.)
The program will begin at noon on June 10 with a greeting from the First Lady of Ukraine, Kateryna Yushchenko. The n the girls will have a luncheon with women leaders, followed by a training program on leadership, effective communications and how to prepare for a job interview.
In addition to this, at the end of the day, the young ladies will have an opportunity to choose clothes from a "wardrobe for a young leader?" (nice business attire, including suits, dresses and accessories). It is also planned that Mary Kay cosmetics will conduct a workshop on the techniques of make-up for day-wear and prepare gifts for the girls.
STAGE 3: Creation of a documentary about the young leaders
During the workshops and then three weeks later, CURE will be working on a documentary about the young ladies which will be screened in the U.S. and Canada with the purpose of fundraising for educational activities.
STAGE 4: Screening of the documentary abroad
The documentary will be screened in the United States and Canada; the format will be of the choosing of each city and NGO which invites the consortium.
Funds raised during these events will be used to cover additional training for the young leaders, as well as other activities that will further promote the development of their leadership skills (i.e. assistance in registration of their NGOs and start-up grants to NGOs, for computer courses, language courses, leadership training, etc.) This training will be conducted in December.
STAGE 5: Final meeting
At the end of December, a final meeting will be held with the young leaders. The results of the First Steps Program will be discussed, as well as their future plans. The consortium hopes that the young leaders will be developed by the young women themselves.
Through the participation of UCARE, girls from the orphanages of Ukraine will participate in this project.
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| The first lady addresses conference participants |
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MEETING OF THE “FIRST STEP TO SUCCESS” PROGRAM WINNERS
Meeting of the “First step to success” program winners took place in Kyiv on June 28-29, 2006.
“First step to success” is the long-term campaign initiated by aconsortium of NGOs – the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE), “Help Us Help the Children-Ukraine”, the Ukrainian Children’s Aid and Relief Effort -- (UCARE) and the Women’s Health and Family Planning Foundation. The campaign is directed to promote leadership skills among Ukrainian girls to help them learn about social activism and to inspire them to become engaged participants in Ukraine ’s social sphere.
Hundreds of girls aged 16-22 from all the regions of Ukraine took part in the Women’s Leadership essay contest. 51 winners were chosen on a competitive basis.
On June 28 these girls attended the meeting with Kateryna Yuschenko, the President’s wife, and famous women who achieved success in different spheres of activity. The meeting was organized in the form of business lunch which assisted in direct communication between girls-winners of the contest and successful women – politicians, businesswomen, TV stars, actors, sportswomen, singers, etc.
Owing to the support of donors and sponsors the girls received numerous gifts.
Through various workshops, the girls had training and obtained knowledge in
gender issues, leadership and CV writing skills, exchanged experience,
communicated with one another and with the event organizers.
First Steps believe that experiences, achievements and personal gains of adult women could inspire and support a lot of young, active girls apt to make positive changes in their own lives and the life of whole society.
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| Th first lady with the conference participants |
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For more information about this and similar programs, click here.
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