Young Women's Institute on Challenging and Resisting Religious Fundamentalism

The Institute is part of AWID's (the Association for Women's Rights in Development) multi-year initiative to create a better understanding of religious fundamentalisms and women's human rights. This initiative aims to produce research on the issue across religions and regions, and to create new resources to support women's rights organizations resisting and challenging fundamentalisms.
The Institute will provide a unique opportunity for young women to:
- Share, explore and understand how fundamentalist projects work, grow and undermine women's human rights across different religions in different countries, regions and contexts;
- Discuss effective strategies by women's rights advocates to challenge fundamentalist projects, and brainstorm strategies that could be used by young women;
- Review and provide feedback on the preliminary findings of AWID's research on this topic, and help shape AWID's ongoing work on young women's rights and religious fundamentalisms.
This Institute will allow participants to explore the issues in depth whilst at the same time enabling participants to hone their skills, articulate their own visions, and work collaboratively on strategic and cutting-edge responses to this area of women's rights work.
The Institute will be conducted in English, though provision may be made for translations into French and/or Spanish and/or Arabic, depending on the needs of the participants accepted to attend the Institute.
To be eligible to attend this Institute you must:
- be aged 18-29
- have at least 2 years experience working on gender issues, women's rights or feminist activism (voluntary or employment), preferably also with experience working with young women or youth activism;
- be working on women's rights issues which are directly affected by religious fundamentalisms and able to share your analysis about this impact as well as existing or proposed responses led by young women;
- be willing to work with AWID after the institute and make a commitment to participate in any follow-up activities.
Cost: Full scholarships to cover travel and accommodation are available to selected participants at the discretion of AWID. However, all participants will be expected to fundraise to pay a registration fee of $75US. The registration fee will NOT be waived.
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an
international, feminist, creative and intergenerational membership organization working for women's rights and gender equality. AWID works to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women's rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally. This Institute is part of AWID's Young Feminist Activism program, which implements AWID's commitment to integrate the specific priorities of young women through all of its initiatives.
Please note: To receive an application form, please email Kataisee Richardson at kataisee@awid.org