HOW TO BE A CHANGEMAKER

​OUR PROGRAM​

Our six-week workshop program is designed to empower girls and young women to become actors of social change in MENA. Each cohort of participants will take part in weekly online sessions that foster cross-cultural understanding while introducing them to regional social impact initiatives, providing professional training and mentorship, and challenging them to develop a social impact project. The program will be divided into five components: community building, education and inspiration, mentorship, and action. 

 

​1. ​Community Building: To ensure meaningful and respectful dialogue, participants will begin by developing trust, comfort, and genuine connections through collaborative activities and shared norms. Upon enrolling in the program, they will complete a personal profile which will be used to create diverse teams that match participants with similar passions and hobbies. Each group will be headed by a certified facilitator and mentor to support team building and project development.

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2. Education and Inspiration: Each session will begin with lectures led by female leaders and social impact practitioners from across MENA. Each presentation will provide insights on inspiring women's empowerment and social impact initiatives, cross-border collaboration, and leadership. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions during the presentations and analyze the projects in their breakout sessions. By developing a critical eye, an affinity for problem-solving, and an optimistic mindset, participants will learn to identify opportunities for change, tackle complex problems, and become proactive changemakers.

 

3. Mentorship and Facilitation: Each project team will be paired with a mentor, a female leader in the MENA region. Mentors will meet with their teams weekly, supporting them in building a positive group dynamic and guiding them through project development. Participants will also be required to meet with facilitators trained in conflict resolution. They will be required to attend two one-on-one meetings and one group meeting with the facilitator throughout the program. These discussions will primarily serve as opportunities to reflect and process their experience as well as address and resolve any conflicts that arise.

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4. Action: Throughout the program, participants will be challenged to develop their own social impact project. Details for the project requirements will be released soon. Following the workshop, YCC will share volunteer and internship opportunities with participants to encourage further engagement in cross-border collaboration and women's empowerment initiatives.​

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By combining education, mentorship, and community action, this program gives hope where it was lost and transforms awareness into agency—helping young women move from passive observers of conflict and struggle to active architects of change.
 

OUR IMPACT

By the end of the program, workshop participants will:

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• Develop innovative projects to promote cross-border collaboration and empower girls in MENA

• Strengthen leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills

• Access a network of speakers, mentors, and organizations for volunteer and internship opportunities

• Gain knowledge of existing multicultural and multinational initiatives that counter dominant narratives of conflict and division 

• Build cross-border friendships that lay the groundwork for sustained collaboration and mutual understanding

• Receive a certificate honoring their completion of the program

• The top participants may be awarded a stipend to support their participation at the next Women Champions for Change Summit 

 

Speakers and mentors will gain access to a network of trained and passionate volunteers and interns to support their work while also expanding their professional networks and visibility.