Voices of Our Future

About the Project

There is not a single nation in the world where women have an equal voice.

Across the globe, the challenges facing grassroots women leaders - such as gender-based violence, lack of education, inadequate health care, and political oppression - are compounded by societies and leadership that do not value the role of women in building solutions. Women comprise 51% of the world's population yet currently worldwide women hold only 17% of Parliamentarian seats, 15% of corporate "C-level" positions, 1% of media editors, and 20% of non-profit leadership.

We are at a remarkable place in history where new media has the potential to provide extraordinary opportunities for women to access, actively engage with, and drive global conversations. Women are rising up and demanding change from Yemen to the Ivory Coast. But once the spotlight has dimmed, will their voices continue to be heard, their protests be addressed and their solutions implemented?

World Pulse, an active media network powered by women from 185 countries and founded in 2003 by Jensine Larsen, launched Voices of Our Future to ensure these grassroots women leaders have the skills and knowledge they need to drive the new global agenda. This online training program in new media, citizen journalism and empowerment equips women with the information and tools they need to actualize and vocalize their visions for change.

Over the course of six months, World Pulse and program partners Global Press Institute and Op-Ed project train women on the principals of practicing ethical journalism; conducting an interview and writing a profile, feature story and op-ed; and how to use new media to amplify their voices online and support their social change work. With the support of the Fledgling Fund, they’re launching a new learning module focused on digital storytelling. The program participants will be producing short videos and photo-slide shows that support their written work and bring the untold stories of their community to a global audience.

To date, over 1,100 women from 103 countries have been introduced to new media, citizen journalism and women’s empowerment concepts during the online application process. Graduates of the program have gone on to start women’s cyber cafés in Nigeria, citizen journalism training programs for rural Kenyan women, run for parliament, been interviewed by the British Broadcasting Service and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and had their stories picked up by Women News Network, Women’s United Nations Reporting Network, and a myriad of local publications.

Voices of Our Future is giving women whose voices are normally silenced and who rarely have a seat at the decision-making table, the ability to communicate their stories through new media---creating connections, showcasing solutions and sparking dialogue on a global scale.

The Fledgling Fund Impact

The Fledgling Fund is proud to be able to support this vital program. As more and more women are recognized as story tellers and guardians of justice, the better off our world will be. The women participating in this program will be our future leaders and we are cheering them on as they take steps in their journey.