Why it's vital to empower women as agents of change

In 2001, as Diala’s father was smoking a cigarette on the balcony of their Nablus (West Bank) apartment he was gunned down by an Israeli army tanker. 15 years later, Diala’s mother, who was pregnant with Diala at the time of her husband's death, supported her daughter’s decision to join Tomorrow’s Women Young Leader Program where Diala sat in a circle with eight Jewish Israeli teen girls and seven other Palestinians to transform conflict with strength and compassion.

Rachel Kaufman, Debra Sugerman and Anael Harpaz founded Tomorrow’s Women in 2003 out of the realization that it only takes one person to change history.This vision holds true today as over 300 young women from all sides of the conflict have come together through the organization to build understanding, gain confidence, and become leaders working together towards peace in Israel/Palestine.

The core mission of Tomorrow’s Women is to train young women in areas of conflict to partner as leaders by transforming anger and prejudice to mutual respect and inspiring action to promote equality, peace, and justice. UN Security Council Resolution 1325stresses the importance of women as active agents in peace and Tomorrow’s Women works to empower our participants so that they can find themselves in all levels of decision-making where women have historically been underrepresented.This is made possible through the commitment of brave young women between the ages of 15-17 who come together to be the change they want to see.

Growing up Jewish Israeli in a small Jewish town in Israel, Ella joined the program to understand her Palestinian neighbors and recognize how different parts of the community pay the cost of the conflict. After completing the Young Leader Program where she participated in dialogue, art therapy, seminars, and social activities, she was drafted into the Israeli army. As a result of her experience she decided to be a Casualty Assistance Officer. Having heard the stories of her Palestinain peers and sharing her own experiences through the Young Leader Program, Ella was able to use the strong emotional foundation, skill of compassionate listening, and practical tools to create a positive societal impact by helping bereaved families.

Each of the women who find their way to Tomorrow’s Women have a different story, but what unites them is their dedication to working across physical borders or social boundaries to create a more peaceful society. UN Security Council Resolution 2250encourages the involvement of youth in decision making and through our work we look to our young women as they lead the way forward. While the Young Leader program is comprised of Jewish Israeli and Palestinian teen participants, Gaza Girls is dedicated to connecting young women in Gaza with their Palestinain peers within the region and with allies based in the United States. Since those in Gaza are extremely limited in movement, this virtual program creates a global network for participants while providing these young women with leadership skills they can use within and through their communities. As one participant said,

“We shared our voices even though it feels hard to change the world. We began to see that nothing is impossible if we speak up and raise our voices.”

It is our belief that courageous young women who speak up and work together will pave the way for a more equitable and just society, not only in areas of conflict, but across the globe.

As our Young Leaders and Gaza Girls continue on their professional paths we discovered a need for more programs that support women as they develop and implement projects that make a direct impact. The Advanced Leadership Initiative was launched because creating opportunities for emerging leaders is key to affecting real change on the ground. Through this six-month program, women in their 20s work together with regional and international mentors to create bi-national projects that are funded through micro-grants provided by the organization. Within this initiative they are given the resources and support they need to make lasting societal change.

As these women continue on their journeys, they are able to empower, inspire, and mentor other emerging female leaders within the region, something that both Diala and Ella’s mothers understand and have taught their daughters in the hope that they will create better worlds for their children.

Through our work with incredible, dedicated, and courageous young women we have developed faith in the integrity and power of each individual to make change and believe in the collective responsibility to work towards social justice. Get in touch with us to find out what you can do!

Diala and Ella work at Tomorrow’s Women to empower young Israeli and Palestinian women to transform conflict.