6th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)

Program Details

When:

August 6 – 27, 2012

Where:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

MIUSA’s Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) strengthens leadership skills, create new visions, and build international networks of support for inclusive international development programming.

Delegates

MIUSA selected 26 outstanding women leaders with disabilities for the 2012 WILD program from the following countries:

Armenia, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Who:

Women leaders with disabilities from around the world who are:

• Established leaders and/or professionals, or emerging young leaders, ages 21 and above
  
• Members in an organization led by and for people with disabilities, or by and for women, with particular attention to issues of women and girls with disabilities; or civil society organization committed to the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities
  
• Committed to and have the capacity for increasing leadership opportunities of women with disabilities in the community and/or country
  
• Committed to and have the capacity for increasing the participation of women and girls with disabilities in international development programs

Program Activities

During the three-week program, participants take part in workshops, seminars and discussions, conduct on-site visits, and participate in team-building activities, to explore challenges and exchange strategies for increasing leadership opportunities and participation of women and girls with disabilities in international development programs.

The WILD program includes interactive workshops, site visits and practical activities on priority issues for women with disabilities, including:

• National and International Policies and Legislation, including the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Disability Policy

• Educational rights and opportunities including specialized and inclusive schools, policy and legal rights, services and accommodations for accessibility
• Leadership for economic empowerment, including higher education, training models, supported employment, microenterprise, private sector partnerships, career mentorship, skill-building, employment policy, and career development.
  
• Health and family issues including parenting, health care, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and violence prevention
  
• Using the media
  
• Coalition building
  
• Organizational development and sustainability, including funding resources and strategies, and fostering partnerships with community organizations and businesses
  
• Goals and action plans to promote collaborative relationships with other organizations for the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in international development programs.
  
• Inclusive international development, including exchanging strategies for inclusion with representatives from U.S-based international development organizations and/or human rights organizations
  
• Cultural and team-building experiences
  
• Mentorship and networking
  

Back to the Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) main page.