Fostering feminist youth leadership in India
Date:
The Generation Equality Forum (GEF), launched in 2021, marked the beginning of a five-year journey towards achieving irreversible gender equality through intergenerational and multi-stakeholder collaborations. The Feminist Youth Leadership Programme (FYLP) is part of UN Women India’s GEF programme initiatives.
UN Women and Gender at Work India (G@WI)[1] hosted the first convening of the second phase of this multilayered Programme aimed at fostering feminist youth leadership across India, which began with regional consultations in East, South, and North India, bringing together diverse voices to further advance its mandate on gender equality.
The first phase of the FYLP included consultations to understand the ecosystem of feminist movement building in India. A cohort of 27 young feminist leaders from across India was chosen from about 300 applications. This cohort participated in two Feminist Labs, one of which included an artists’ workshop. The participants, along with Gender at Work India, co-created a resource kit and practitioner’s book. The recommendations from Phase 1 were foundational to the design of the second phase.
The focus of phase 2 is on an 18-month programme titled “Advancing Feminist Youth Leadership on Intergovernmental Processes” which aims to strengthen the institutional capacities of youth in India. It will also support inclusive youth campaigns for gender equality.
This unique initiative brings together young minds from various genders, castes, classes, ethnicities, religions, and regions. The current cohort consists of passionate leaders dedicated to feminist social transformation. They receive mentorship from experienced professionals and co-create knowledge and advocacy tools such as essays, podcasts, and youth-led agendas.
The 2nd phase also includes two-day regional consultations organized by Gender at Work India in collaboration with the current cohort. These consultations will be held in the northeast (Guwahati, 3-4 August 2024), South India (Chennai, 24-25 August 2024), and North India (around September 2024).
Each consultation will host about 30 participants who share similar beliefs and ideas on feminist movement building and collective action to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. Over the two-day events, participants will focus on youth perspectives, experiences, and challenges.
To know more:
Follow us at: 
FYLP | UN Women India: 
@unwomenindia
[1] Gender at Work India Trust (G@WI) uses an intersectional feminist approach to building institutional architectures for gender equality and inclusion. They design processes and develop capacities to accelerate outcomes for gender equality and women's rights.