Home>Representing Youth at the Women's Forum
06.12.2022
Representing Youth at the Women's Forum
>At the end of November 2022, 6 students in the Master's programme at Sciences Po (School of Public Affairs and Paris School of International Affairs), all enrolled in the Gender Equality and Public Policy Certificate, participated as Youth Ambassadors in the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society. They tell us about this incredible experience.
YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE AS A YOUTH AMBASSADOR IN THE WOMEN'S FORUM FOR THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY GLOBAL MEETING 2022. COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT?
The Women's Forum for the Economy and Society Global Meeting 2022 is an international event that brings together leaders, professionals from various sectors (from the private and public sectors) and students. It aims to "transform the power of women's voices into forward-thinking economic and political initiatives for societal change". This year, the 17th edition of the Global Meeting, whose central theme was "Time to Act", focused on three issues: climate, peace and health.
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF A YOUTH AMBASSADOR?
The Youth Ambassador mission responds to a desire to include youth in the resolution of current crises, including in the framework of the Women's Forum. In concrete terms, we were invited to take part in a workshop the day before the Forum. The aim of the workshop was to have us work on our area of "competence" - one of the three themes of the Forum - alongside activists, researchers and specialists in the field. The workshop also allowed us to work on certain 'soft skills', such as public speaking, to give us tools for success in our professional lives. The objective was therefore twofold: to allow us to explore questions that we could discuss directly with the speakers at the Women's Forum, and to give us the keys to assert ourselves in the professional world while supporting our convictions.
AT SCIENCES PO, YOU ARE STUDENTS OF THE CERTIFICATE ON GENDER EQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICy. WERE THE LEctures YOU TOOK AS PART OF THIS CERTIFICATE USEFUL IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS FORUM?
Yes, many of the lectures and discussions echoed the courses we had taken as part of the certificate. In particular, the teaching we had received previously gave us a better understanding of the different biases and issues to be taken into account when talking about equality. Many of the lectures we were lucky enough to attend concretised a theoretical teaching we had received. In addition, the teaching of the certificate focuses on the public setting. However, the difficulties that women face in getting into, staying in and being credible in positions of power are the same in private companies. The Forum therefore allowed us to put the achievements of the Certificate into perspective.
IF YOU COULD REMEMBER ONE THING FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A YOUTH AMBASSADOR AT THE WOMEN'S FORUM GLOBAL MEETING 2022, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Julia: Enriching encounters with women from all walks of life, who act with determination to participate in collectively resolving the major crises of our time!
Marianne: Beyond the content of the speeches, I really remember the great caring and availability of the women and men present - their ability to listen, their enthusiasm and even the desire of some to "take us under their wing" to push us to pursue our projects!
Meyya-tia: The opportunity to listen to, meet and discuss with inspiring women - and one meeting that particularly stood out for me was the discussion I had with the "climate" journalist Mélissa Godin, an enriching, inspiring and motivating discussion!
Alexandra: That there is progress to be made in all spheres, both public and private and on all continents, and that it is only through unity that the equality we aspire to will be achieved.
Emilie: As far as women's rights are concerned, current events are a constant source of heat and cold: progress is often accompanied by a new obstacle. This forum was an opportunity to listen to and meet inspiring men and women who carry a beautiful message of hope for the future.
Testimony of : Emilie Dufour, Julia Fertil, Alexandra Girard, Ellen Löfgren, Marianne Mignot Ogliastri and Meyya-tia Ramandraivonona.
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