Workshop

She leads: building the next generation of (s)heroes

Description

In 2022, women still find it difficult to break into leadership positions. Why is it that half the world’s population don’t have their fair do’s? This session uncovered the lived experiences of everyday (S)Heroes – women leaders from diverse backgrounds – who continue to disrupt this status quo and lead the way for young women and girls to find the confidence, courage and voice to belong, lead and achieve.

Nala Feminist Collective and We Belong presented this workshop, featuring speakers as Aya Chebbi (Nala Feminist Collective), Yasmine Ouirhrane (We Belong) and Jana Degrott* (We Belong). As politicians, diplomats, advocates, artists, and young women leaders from diverse backgrounds in spheres of influence, they shared their journeys and experiences and key advocacy tools to the participants, so that you too aspire to lead.

1ST PART: inspirational conversation between the speakers. There are different ways to access leadership and to be a gender equality advocate – each speaker shared their personal stories, exploring the different roles of women in leadership based on their own experience.

2ND PART: Q&A with speakers.

3RD PART: Breakout conversations with participants where each group came up with a call to action to be included in the general brief and recommendations of the workshop.

Participants

Max. 30​

Duration

2 hours

Location

D008

Contributors

Aya Chebbi

Founder and Chair of NALA Feminist Collective & EC YA

Tunisia

Yasmine Ouirhrane

Founder of WeBelong & Estoril Conferences’ Youth Ambassador
Italy

Jana Degrott

Co-Founder & Campaign Manager of WeBelong

Luxembourg

Aya Chebbi

Aya Chebbi is a multi-award-winning Pan-African feminist and diplomat who served as the first as the first-ever African Union Special Envoy on Youth and the youngest diplomat at the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Cabinet. She rose to prominence as a voice for democracy as a political blogger during 2010/2011 Tunisia’s Revolution. Aya’s decade of experience made her an influential leading voice known for rebranding Africa, with a commitment in peacebuilding, gender equality and Africa’s integration, honoured with several awards and recognitions.

Yasmine Ouirhrane

Yasmine is the founder of We Belong, a platform and podcast that amplifies the voice of the New Daughters of Europe. She is an advocate for Social and Gender Justice in Europe. In 2019, she was recognized as Young European of the Year 2019  by the Schwarzkopf Foundation. She was named EDD Young Leader by the European Commission, and she is an expert on Peace & Security for the EU and the AU. Yasmine is also an award-winning fellow at Women Deliver and a member of the Gender Innovation Agora at UN Women.

Jana Degrott

Jana Degrott is an Obama Leader and the Co-Founder of We Belong Europe, an initiative to inspire next-generation leadership for young European women of color to create a future pool of role models. We Belong brings women of color together in healing spaces, free of hatred and discrimination, to share and reflect on their experiences, examine their histories and identities, and construct their own life narratives. Jana’s work has led to a popular podcast in Luxembourg, entitled “Wat Leeft?” that focuses on building a more inclusive and tolerant Luxembourg and Europe. As a believer in the importance of youth voices in government, Jana is also a local councilor in her hometown of Steinsel and one of the youngest elected officials in Luxembourg.