FL details

Programme Details for 

YWCA Future Leaders

The YWCA Future Leaders programme is an individualised leadership programme providing young women with a mentor, skills development, new experiences and opportunities to support them in achieving their goals. The mentor acts as a friend and trusted guide and is always careful to respect the family's values and parent's wishes.  It is our desire each student will take the skills they have learned back into their communities.

 The Four Key Objectives of the Programme are:

1. To increase young women's self-confidence by providing access to a range  of experiences
2. To support and encourage young women to achieve their self-defined goals
3. To support young women's educational achievement
4. To facilitate opportunities for young women to actively lead

The young women remain with the programme for four years. There are staff members dedicated to coordinating and supporting the students on the programme.  Each coordinator works with groups from a particular area and the schools in that area.

Activities and workshops are planned throughout the year for students to attend - these may include:

•             Annual Leadership Forum
•             Career Information
•             Physical and/or sporting activities
•             Creative activities
•             Workshops around self esteem, motivation, public speaking and confidence

Future Leaders events are held outside school hours. Students are not required to miss school to be involved in Future Leaders.  Each student will be given an opportunity to attend a self development leadership camp of up to 5 days during their time on the programme.

What is expected of students?

Students are required to meet a minimum of 60% of the programme requirements. We recognise that students are busy and we don't expect them to do 100%. We have found that for all students on the Future Leaders programme, achieving 60% is both reasonable and achievable.

The requirements are as follows:

• -        contact their mentor once every 2 weeks
• -        meet with their mentor once a month
• -        attend activity days and workshops
• -        attend the Annual Leadership Forum
• -        attend 10 meetings per year with the Mentee/Student Coordinator
• -        set and work toward achieving personal goals that are set with the help of mentors
• -        20 hours unpaid community service

 What is the application process?

 1)     Students complete an application form and hand it in to the School Liaison.

2)     Interviews are conducted by the YWCA Future Leaders Programme Coordinator.

3)     The YWCA Future Leaders Programme Coordinator meets with the School Liaison to determine students that will be accepted onto the programme.

4)     Students and their families are informed by post.

5)     Parents of selected students are invited to a Parent Information evening with mentors and students and YWCA Future Leaders staff.

6)     Parental consent is sought and contracts are signed to enable students to participate in all Future Leaders events.

We find that the young women on the Future Leaders Programme have more positive outcomes when they are working with a "wrap-around" support network of family, mentor, peers, community and school. We provide an integral part of that support.