Empowering Women and Girls

Meridian partners with governments, civil society organizations, and NGOs worldwide to champion the empowerment of women and girls. Through our programs, women and girls enjoy increased access to world-class education, greater opportunities for entrepreneurship, and networks which support the fulfillment of their highest potential. These programs include:

  • The African Women's Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP): A part of the International Visitor Leadership Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, that seeks to assist talented African women entrepreneurs to promote the growth of their businesses and create long-lasting partnerships and networks, both regionally and in the U.S.
  • Women In Science (WiSci): Meridian joined the  U.S. Department of State, Microsoft 4Afrika, Intel, AOL Charitable Foundation, the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign, and the Rwanda Girls Initiative to open the first-ever Women in Science (WiSci) Girls STEAM Camp at the Gashora Girls Academy in Rwanda. The Camp provided high school girls from across Africa and the United States the unique opportunity to learn valuable skills in science, technology, engineering, art and design, and math (STEAM) fields, while enjoying a rich cross-cultural experience.
  • International Women of Courage (IWOC): Each year, Meridian hosts the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage awardees - often at great personal risk. This prestigious Award recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women rights and empowerment.
  • Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative: In support of the White House’s Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) created a new International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled “W-GDP: Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Economic Participation.” Meridian International Center is honored to partner with DoS and USAID on this inaugural W-GDP exchange. The project focuses on Pillar III of the W-GDP initiative, exploring best practices for reducing restrictive legal, regulatory and cultural barriers to women’s full and free participation in the economy.

IVLP Impact Awardees - Empowering Women and Girls

Rahmat Abisola Abdullahi
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Gender and Education Parity Advocacy Project (GEPAP)
Noor Abu Jbara
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: SHEE through Business
Lamnatu Adam
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Deepening the Voices of SGBV Survivors in Ghana to Catalyze Policy Change
Aïssatou Adamou
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Promoting Social Cohesion and a Culture of Peace in a Context of Security Crisis in Tillabéry, Including Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Ali Adan
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Young Female Journalists in Somalia
Bolupe Adebiyi
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: 10,000 Girls by Cotton Loops
Dr. Rebecca Adeyeye
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Project STEMSTEPS
Naheed Afridi
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Enhancing Women’s Access to Public Services through Developing Women Leadership
Awder Ahmed
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empower Women in ICT and Cybersecurity: KRI Youth Women as a Case Study
Tamim Ahmed
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Building Digital Resilience: Empowering Youth to Combat Cyberbullying
Chamango Blaise Aime
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Preventing and Responding to Gender Based Violence
Lady Alejandra Vera
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strategies Implemented by IVLP International Alumni Leaders Against Violence in Colombia
Siti Alfijah
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening the Role of Muslim Women’s Sermon Groups (Majelis Ta’lim) to Promote a Culture of Tolerance and Peace in Communities
Taskeen Ali
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Space Calling!
Fatouma Zara Ali Abdou
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Cyberviolence: Stop Violence through ICTs (Information and Communication Technology) and Social Networks
Aminatou Seydou Allakaye
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Support for Women and Children with Albinism in Niger
Khalil Abu Allan
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening The Role of Palestinian Rural Women in the Management of Water Resources in Southern West Bank
Anantya
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Mother-Daughter STEAM Camp Project
Ablavi Anika-Lawson
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Through Small Business
Regina Asamoah
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Boys and Girls in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
Jane Aziz
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with Entrepreneurial Skills and Access to Finance
Lilliane Babirye
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Act 4 Teen Mothers
Yusra Bairq
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Radio Program Providing Psychological Support to Displaced Women
Fatou Baldeh
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Community Sensitization on the Impact of Female Genital Mutilation Among Communities in The Gambia
Valentina Battista
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women Innovation Forum
Adela Beca
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: DreamS.TEAM: Girls’ Aspirations in the Hands of Future Educators
Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Digital Fact Check Training for Women Journalists
Natalia Pedraza Bravo
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Combatting Gender-Based Violence in Wayú Girls of La Guajira
María José Casaubon
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Support for Equity and Decentralization of Female Entrepreneurship in STEAM in Chile
Yuan-Ting Chang
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Sporty Women Confident Girls
Agnieszka Ewa Czmyr-Kaczanowska
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women's Talent Podcast
Ludmila da Glora Mero
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Through Sustainable Menstrual Health Solutions in Nampula province: Artisanal Sanitary Pad Production Workshops
Dare Dia
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: The Basics of Sewing in 15 Days
Saran Diaby
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Digital and Small Business Development Support Center for Women (CENADPEF)
Olga Ditsie
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Combating Gender-Based Violence in Women and Children
Sebenzile Dlamini
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Leveraging Technology for Gender Equity and Vulnerable Adolescents in Labour Market and Entrepreneurship
Véronique Gré Douniama-Lonn
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Bootcamp of Scientific Girls
Jéssica Duarte Silva
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Play Like a Woman - Women’s Football Against Gender Inequalities
Nellya Dzhamanbaeva
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: "Alga" Young Female Artists Hip-Hop Camp
Lujain Elaujalli
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: She is a Pioneer
Misbah Faiz
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Job Creation for Underprivileged Females in Pakistan
Auris Fermín
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women of Change
Viery Franco
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Feminine Synergy in the Migrant Population
Hana Galitsky Ovroutski
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Girls in Space and Aviation
Arnab Ganguly
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Building Capacities of Young Women and Women-led MSME's on Cybersecurity and Digital/Online Safety
Claudia González
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Migrant Women in Chile
Maryam Lawan Gwadabe
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Girls in Tech Sisterhood
Facia Boyenoh Harris
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: The Young Women Empowerment, Protection and Participation Project
Susan Herawati
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Strengthening Indonesia's Fisherwomen Movement Through Solidarity in Facing the Climate Crisis
Ogechi Ikeh
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Youth as Agents of Change to Address Violence Against Women and Girls in Imo state
Mary Izobo
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Dreams: Raising the Next Generation of South Africa’s Female Leaders
Kartika Jahja
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: SUPERIA
Gull Zaiba Jawad
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Connecting the Missing Links
Angéla Jedlovszky-Hajdú
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: STEMüveg
Alpha Kamara
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Breaking the Silence on Female Genital Mutilation
Stella Kasdagli
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Female Founders' Hub 2023
Hayfa Khalfaoui
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women Leaders in Agriculture
Bilal Farooq Khan
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: WISE: Women's Internet Safety and Empowerment
Pankahan Anita Roseline Kini
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Training 20 Women in the Recycling Business
Teopista Kizza
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: "In Her Voice" Campaign
Dr. Antigoni Komodiki
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Young Female Leaders
Ella Marina Konan
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: THE DECLIC: Boost Next Generation Women in STEM
Fanta Sadibou Koné
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Peace Circle: Breaking the Chain of Hatred and Violence 
Mankica Kranjec
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: The Overlooked Backbone of Society
Aimy Lee
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Girls in STEM
Lucia Leon
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Crea Mujer
Linda Lopez
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Munay Project
Bridget Lorato Mphusu
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Equipping Faith-Based Organizations to Effectively Address the Root Causes of GBV in Botswana
Alfredo Mattos Serrano
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Building Financial Independence Together: Tools and Strategies for Women to Take Control of Their Finances
Maximilienne Chantal Ngo Mbe
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Protecting Woman Human Rights Defenders and Peacemakers
Bishar Mohamed
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Training Female Journalists in Investigative Reporting
Melissa Monge
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Niñas Superpoderosas Podcast
Rocío Mora Nieto
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: REVIVE
Jennifer Mwethya Muema
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Young Women Against Femicide and Gender-Based Violence
Coleen Mumbang
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Management and Environmental Conservation through Community Awareness Raising Programs for Children, and Women
Dr. Peer Ghulam Nabi
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: The 100 Women Leadership Program
Dr. Malini Nagulapalli
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: AWESOMES: Advancing Women in Entrepreneurship and STEM Through Opportunities and Mentor Showcasing
Christelle Nenapa
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Promoting Women's Rights and Enhancing Access to Fair Trials and Justice for Female Detainees in Buea Central Prison
Konstantin Nevzorov
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Networking for Ukrainian Women Doing Business in Kazakhstan
Diana Tibeitorb Ngon
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women in Media for Peacebuilding in Northern Ghana
Grace Ningejeje
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Turashaboye Project
Hina Nisar
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Aspiring ICONS Digital Stories
Buokejung Nsen Abeng
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Preventing Gender-Based Violence by Empowering Internally Displaced Women
Chinwe Lilian Nwachukwu
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: A Proposal to Increase the Transition Rates of Girl's Education
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: GirlLead
Ferzan Özyaşar
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Reveal Your Potential
Fareeda Panjor
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Training Local Women on Data Collection and Documentation in Southern Thailand’s Conflict
Carlos Pástor
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowerment of Rural Women in the Andes of Ecuador 
Mamolefe Petlane
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Young Women Through Reproductive and Sexual Health Education
Dr. Mohansingh Priyamvadha
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Combating Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls (TFGBV)
Damayanthi Ramalingam
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women in Cybersecurity (EWiC)
Karen Rios
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets
Leonardo Rodriguez Angola
2022 IVLP Impact Award: Champions of Change
Sichasisile Saiziba
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Ground Up - Women Taking Action Project
Sachiyo Sakaguchi
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Candidates for Local & National Government Elections in Japan
Haroun Yasser Sangaré
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women's Empowerment Workshop: Focus on Financial Literacy and Biofertilizer
Frei Sangil
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Coding Out of Poverty: ICT Skills and Coding Workshop for Girls in Rural Schools
Liz Quispe Santos
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: "YouthSTEM for Agriculture"
Clementina Sasso
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: The Fight Against Gender Stereotypes Begins in the Classroom
Sage Semafara
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: URASHOBOYE: Promotion of Gender Equality and Capacity Strengthening Among Adolescents Girls and Young Women Living with HIV in Rwanda
Awiye Sharon Serkwem Evanjo
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Rebuilding Hopes and Dreams of Internally Displaced Women
Komal Shakeel
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Financial Literacy for Investing in Stock Markets for Women in Pakistan
Awaz Simo
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Importance of Youth Participation and Mobilization in Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls
Dr. Pallavi Singh
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Digitally Skilling Women from Marginalized Communities to take up Entrepreneurial Activities in Healthy Food Innovations
Joseline Sithole
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Institutional Capacity Entrepreneurial Capacity Building for Women Savings Clubs
Curtis Slimar
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Women Living with Epilepsy in Zambia
Laiz Soares
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Programming Futures
Veronika Šprincová
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Dare to Lead! Empowering Women in Czech Local Communities
Eva Štaralová
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: English Courses for Women 50+: We Never Give Up
Teresa Suárez Martín
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: BoostHer: Amplifying Women’s Impact in Innovation & STEM
Magdalena Swider
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Support to Ukrainian and Belarusian Feminists - Feminist Summer Action Camp
Awa Sy
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: To the Moon and Beyond: Empowering Girls in STEM Through Astronomy
Güler Nazey Tekeli Erdile
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women in Space (WinS)
Alejandra Teleguario
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Western Highlands Young Women's Network for Peace and Security
Dr. Paula Tesine
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Financial Sustainability and Navigating Food Security in Middle to Low-Income Households in Urban Papua New Guinea
Syrga Tilekova
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering Rural Women Through Entrepreneurship and Technology
Bayan Toikebayeva
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: NextGen Women Leaders: Entrepreneurial Empowerment Initiative
Maria Guadalupe Torres
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women's Economic Empowered Leadership Program (WEEL)
Witness Ukama
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Digital Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Value Addition, Market Access Training for Small Scale Women Farmers
Coralia Vásquez
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Migrant Empowerment: Women Building Futures
Karla Velazco Silva
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Women's Rights and Academic Freedom
Rana Waheed
2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: The Butterfly Effect: TOT for Women Mentors
Arifé Yildiz
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: WLG - Women Leading the Game
Ebunoluwa Yussuf
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Empowering the Girl Child through Vocational Training
Maria Teresa Zabala Barriga
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Afro-Bolivian Woman, Identity, Leadership and Advocacy
Samira Zakaria
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Accelerating Young Women Entrepreneurship in the Tamale Metropolitan District 

 

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