Manuela Sunday

Manuela Sunday from South Sudan, who works with survivors of gender-based violence, reflects on her experience at the International IDEA Academy. 

She describes how the programme has strengthened her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to supporting women and girls affected by violence and structural inequality. She shares powerful personal observations from her work, including the challenges women face in accessing education, safety, and opportunity, which motivated her to step into leadership more intentionally. Through the academy, she says her understanding of politics and leadership has changed significantly. 

What she once viewed negatively, she now sees as a space where young people—especially women—must actively participate to drive transformation and improve representation. She highlights the importance of addressing the underrepresentation of women and marginalized communities in decision-making spaces, and recognizes the need to step forward rather than remain passive. She also reflects on the personal growth she has experienced, including greater confidence, exposure to feminist movements, and learning from other women leaders. She emphasizes the importance of “stepping up” rather than “shrinking” in leadership spaces, and the value of bringing others along in one’s leadership journey. 

Overall, she concludes that the academy has been transformative, equipping her with new perspectives, skills, and motivation to pursue impactful, inclusive leadership in her community and country.