In November, the Girls World Communication Center (GWCC), IREX and IREX Europe’s local partner for its Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) [5], was the single recipient of Glamour’s 2008 Women of the Year Fund. GWCC was selected for this prestigious award after Nujood Ali and Shada Nasser of Yemen were recognized as Glamour’s 2008 Women of the Year. Last spring, 10-year-old Nujood Ali sought the guidance of lawyer Shada Nasser to divorce an abusive husband 20 years her senior. Nujood has since returned to her home with dreams of becoming a lawyer and helping others in her country.
Glamour quickly identified GWCC as a highly appropriate and capable NGO in Yemen to assist young women like Nujood and prevent the perpetuation of situations like hers. Through the YWLP, which provides young women with skills in leadership, technology, English, NGO management and journalism, GWCC has increasingly caught the attention of the Yemeni government and international community as a leader in women’s empowerment.
The Women of the Year Fund will provide GWCC with $100,000 to combat child marriage in Yemen through community outreach, intensive education, and education loans. By promoting girls’ education, GWCC believes they can change cultural perceptions and empower young women to have more command of their lives.
In November, Glamour magazine flew YWLP Program Manager Salam Al-Shehri to New York City to attend the Women of the Year celebration, an event that honored Senator Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Jane Goodall, among others. Ms. Al-Shehri and Gabool Al-Mutawakel, the general manager of GWCC, will play key roles in managing the new initiative to combat child marriage. Gabool Al-Mutawakel was quoted by Glamour’s Carla Power, “When you promote education, you create new roles for women….Yemeni people are receptive to educated women in the workforce. When a woman can contribute, they’re encouraging.” IREX is proud of GWCC’s success and the change that YWLP is making.
