Who runs the diplomatic world? Girls
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Beyoncé said it best—girls run the world. But a Canberra non-for-profit is empowering them to pursue high-level diplomatic careers to get the ball rolling.
The Girls Run the World (GRTW) initiative began in 2017, when The Girls Leadership Network was inspired by Plan International’s ‘Girl’s Takeover’ in political offices across the globe.
Placing two young women in the Finnish Embassy for a day, the idea was simple: by working closely with senior diplomatic staff, discussing humanitarian issues, and sharing their ideas, the women would feel encouraged to pursue careers in diplomacy.
In February this year, 30 participants were sent on 13 different political missions across Canberra, visiting the Embassies of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Finland, the Netherlands, Palestine, the Slovak Republic, Switzerland, the United States, Turkey, and Uruguay.
According to co-founder Asha Clementi, the importance of this program is to help women aged 18 to 25 break into a career path that, like many, is “a bit of an old boys club.”
“Beyond the clear social justice benefits, improving gender equality in the diplomatic community will make it a more welcoming place and mean that it is better able to serve its purpose of supporting overseas communities and representing national interests because it will be better equipped to address the needs of half of the population it represents.”
“Young women aren’t being encouraged or empowered to pursue high-level diplomatic careers and this program aims to change that.”
Encouraging participants to develop leadership skills, and exposing them to the professional reality of the diplomatic world, GRTW introduces participants to diplomatic staff, including Ambassadors and High Commissioners, helping them form long-lasting and supportive networks they can draw on in the future.
As children’s rights activist Marian Wright Edelman once said, you can’t be what you can’t see.
“It’s showing them that not only can they be in those positions themselves, but that they belong in those spaces,” says Asha.
“In the same way that young women don’t often get to connect with Embassies or High Commissions, diplomatic missions don’t often get to connect with young women. GRTW allows them to engage with local young women that are interested in the diplomatic community, exposes diplomatic staff to a perspective that they often don’t get to engage with, and connects the Embassies with really incredible, driven young women.”
During their takeover, the young women have a day of immersion at a specific embassy, meeting key members and engaging in an interactive activity related to that embassy.
With previous participants creating postal voting strategies for national elections, taking over social media accounts, designing itineraries for visiting trade delegations and spearheading discussions around national strengths or key focus areas, the program not only helps the women but assists Embassies and High Commissions make a positive social impact and connect with the local community.
While their 2021 program was delayed due to COVID-19 Asha and her team of volunteers hope to continue to facilitate the cross-cultural sharing of knowledge, aiming to host another takeover in October or November.
And like Beyoncé, they’ll be singing they run this mutha when GRTW becomes international.
“Encouraging young women to be involved and consider a career in the diplomatic community is an important step towards achieving greater equality for all.” says Asha.
“We’ve already started talks with potential partners overseas in South America and in Europe and we hope to expand the program even further!”
For more information visit thegirlsleadershipnetwork.org/girls-run-the-world/.
