Women in Iran are seeking a bigger role in defining the country’s future by speaking out for political, economic, and social change. These women are being recognized for their leadership all over the world, including most recently, by Glamour Magazine.

Vital Voices is happy to once again work with the Glamour Women of the Year Fund initiative, which reaches out to the most extraordinary women around the world. This year, the Fund is focused on the brave women of Iran who are working to strengthen women¹s rights and inspire female leaders in the Muslim world. As part of that effort, Glamour is supporting Vital Voices programs that provide economic education and development training for Iranian women, creating strong female leaders and helping inspire global change.

To support the efforts of these emerging women leaders, Vital Voices Global Partnership, together with The Century Foundation, will offer training and links to other leaders through its Building Communities for the Future project.The program, scheduled to take place late 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey, follows a successful pilot program in 2005.

Program Needs

To cover the expenses of developing curricula, transporting, convening, training, and following up with the participants, Vital Voices Global Partnership seeks support from corporations, foundations and individuals to the fund the $530,000 program. We hope individuals who appreciate the value of training and network building will contribute support to ensure the success and sustainability of this effort. Please donate a minimum of $25.00 and become part of the network of support for women playing leadership roles in our future.

Program Goals

Building Communities for the Future will help Iranian women develop leadership skills and connections to their peers at home and elsewhere in the Middle East through the Vital Voices Leadership Network. The participants will be paired with mentors who are experienced in economic development and in achieving political and social reforms.

Program Activities

	Focus-group research on the needs of Iranian women leaders and to build the leadership skills of an emerging activist network.
	Training of Iranian women with a proven track record of investing in and supporting others in their communities.
	Ongoing support to maintain the network and provide support and feedback to the women leaders as they develop projects.
	Vital Voices and its partners will document the challenges facing Iran’s women leaders and the practices most likely to lead to successful reforms. A report on the findings will be presented at conferences in New York and Washington, D.C.

About Vital Voices

Vital Voices is a leading non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains and empowers emerging women leaders around the globe. In the Middle East, Vital Voices has nearly a decade of experience addressing women and entrepreneurship, peace-building, health issues, and family violence.

In 2005, Vital Voices, in partnership with Georgetown University, invited Iranian women to a leadership training program in Istanbul. The participants, from the NGO, academic, government and private sectors, identified the lack of economic opportunities as one of the biggest challenges facing the country and recommended more training in NGO management and economic (business) development. Building Communities for the Future take this first step with its second training program in Istanbul. Please help us take this program forward with your donation.

To learn more about Building Communities for the Future please contact Dana Al Ebrahim, MENA Regional Program Manager, or Mary Kopper, Vice President of Development.

Please make a tax-deductible contribution to Vital Voices today and join a growing group of supporters who recognized that to Invest in Women is to Invest in the World. Thank you so much!