Young women from both sides of Dniester/Nistru river learn about leadership and business at OSCE summer school

From 28 July to 4 August 2013, some 50 young women from vulnerable groups in rural areas on both sides of the Dniester/Nistru River will take part in a summer leadership school in the town of Vadul lui Voda to learn about principles of leadership, business management and job hunting.

High-profile women from various professional fields, including politics, business and diplomacy, will share their experiences with them.

At a panel discussion on career opportunities and challenges for young women, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Jennifer Brush, underlined the importance of empowering young women and girls as an essential element to achieve prosperity and democracy in any country.

“The female role models that the young women will meet at the summer school will inspire them to play an important role in this region,” she said. “I am very impressed with them. The future of Moldova is in their hands, and I am positive it will be a successful one.”

The participants will receive training on how to improve their leadership skills and self-confidence; increase their knowledge of educational and job opportunities; and learn what is needed to enter the labour market.

The Summer School of Leadership, which has been organized by the OSCE Mission and the non-governmental organization, Winrock Moldova, is an annual event since 2008. Aside from developing life and leadership skills of its participants, it also aims at preventing the risk of domestic violence, gender discrimination, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, and to build and strengthen relations between young women from both sides of the Dniestr/Nistru river. So far, 200 young women have attended the school.