International leadership Program
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 28 2015 :
Monika Khangembam, founder of the Women and Youth for Peace and Deve-lopment (WYPD), has been invited to take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a prestigious professional ex-change programme being conducted by the US Depart-ment of State to foster pro- fessional ties and mutual understanding with other countries.
Monika is the only participant from India, among many others from various countries, all of whom have been identified as potential leaders, according to a statement.
Monika will travel to the US this week to meet her professional counterparts and visit US public and private sector organisations related to her project themed 'Women Leaders: Promoting Peace and Security' .
The women leaders across the globe will visit Washington, DC, New York, Nevada and Florida as part of the programme.
The 17-day programme will begin on December 2 .
"I believe the IVLP will be a wonderful opportunity to observe how women leaders and organisations in the United States actively engaged in mediating conflicts and disputes arising from political, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and regional differences.
It will also be a great opportunity to meet experts, women leaders and build meaningful networks that I am sure will help me serve my community better," said Monika.
According to Monika, her organisation's goal is to make the women of her conflict-torn State aware of their rights and also help them to become economically independent.
Currently she is working with female farmers in a remote corner of Manipur to empower them and bring them forth in the male dominated field of agriculture.
The organisation also aims to get the youth of Manipur to contribute as agents of peace and reconciliation.
Monika has worked on issues like human rights and AFSPA, racial discrimination and has spearheaded national campaigns.
She is currently also the vice curator of Global Shapers Imphal Hub, an initiative by World Economic Forum.
She was also the only Manipuri to be selected as of one of British Council Global Changemakers from Asia Pacific in 2011.Some of the notable IVLP alumni include Anwar Sadat, 11-year president of Egypt and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.