Fight For Right (Ukraine) and ENIL are excited to announce the opening of applications for the Leadership Summer School, which will take place from 14 – 18 July 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
The Leaderka Summer School is a transformative program designed to empower young women and girls with disabilities to become strong leaders, advocates, and change-makers in your communities and beyond. Through intensive training, practical workshops, and networking opportunities, you will strengthen the skills, expand knowledge of political processes and gain the tools to advance the rights of persons with disabilities at national and European levels.
Leaderka is a unique opportunity for 15 young women and girls with disabilities from EU candidate countries, specifically Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey, to strengthen skills, find besties and start activism on the European level.
Leaderka is supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe – a unique foundation supporting activities developed with, for and by young people.
📌 What to Expect:
- 4 days of intensive training and workshops on leadership, advocacy, political engagement, feminism, independent living and human rights.
- Practical sessions on how to influence political processes.
- Insights into the work of the European Union institutions, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.
- Meetings with representatives of European institutions and women-leaders.
- The opportunity to undertake a week-long placement with European disability rights organizations following the program (based on additional selection).
- Mentorship support from the Fight For Right and ENIL.
📅 Dates and location:
- Summer School: 14 – 18 or 19 July 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed).
- Location: Brussels, Belgium.
Who Can Apply:
- Young women and girls with disabilities, aged between 18 and 30.
- From the following EU candidate countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey.
- With an active civic attitude and a desire to drive change.
- Without opportunities to attend similar trainings in the past.
- With enough knowledge of English to be able to actively participate.
💬 How to Apply
📌 Note before you begin the application form:
As part of your application to the Leaderka School, we ask you to submit a short video (up to 2 minutes) in which you reflect on the question:
“Why do I believe my leadership matters in Europe’s future?”
Please record and publish your video on a public platform of your choice (such as YouTube, Instagram, etc.), and make sure it is accessible. You will be asked to include the link in the application form.
All travel, accommodation, and other participation costs will be covered by the organizers. This includes travel costs of a personal assistant, if needed.
Leaderka is your chance to become part of an international community of young women leaders with disabilities who are ready to build a more inclusive and just future!
This activity is supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.