Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow

A diverse group of North African women with the potential to be leaders in their countries convened in Rabat, Morocco, last week as part of a collaborative program, unprecedented in the region, to shape future roles for women in political and civic life.  The “Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow” conference brought together 25 women, aged 22 to 34, from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. They are writers and artists working to create after-school programs for children and end violence in schools, business women raising money and awareness to fight the rise of HIV/AIDS, and students running micro-credit programs on campuses for rural women. (Read more)

Political Training of Women Candidates for Local Elections in Morocco

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) launched a training campaign for Moroccan women candidates in advance of the upcoming municipal elections on June 12, 2009. The political training is a MEPI–funded project, which aims to provide women with campaign methods, funding techniques and communication skills to better target their outreach efforts and strengthen their ability to serve as strong representatives for their communities. (Read more)

"Youth in Action" Advocating for a Violence-Free Environment

 The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Beirut has re-launched the Youth in Action Project, a MEPI-funded project that addresses the problem of violence through a comprehensive approach that emphasizes awareness raising among youth in general and their active involvement in advocating for a violence-free environment.
The Youth in Action project targets the students in the 10th and 11th grade in public and private schools in Greater Beirut. The project consists of awareness raising sessions, the election of youth volunteers and advocates, the Youth advocates training workshop, the creation of “Youth in Action” daughter associations and networking through a virtual forums. (Read more).

MEPI Alumni Network: Caravan for Young Leaders

The MEPI Caravan for Young Leaders, a project initiated by the Morocco MEPI Alumni Network visited six different cities in Morocco - Salé, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh and Agadir - March 13-21, 2009. The Caravan visited over 800 high school students, and introduced them to civil society, and trained them in leadership skills through after-school activities including role playing, games and dramatic works. (Read more)