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«IT IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME TO BE A LEADER!» The action program of the summer school «It is always the right time to be a leader!» included workshops, discussions, role plays and trainings covering various issues of civil society and civic engagement, social influence and public relations, efficient communication, individual capacity–building and success in life. 23 girls out of 88 applicants from all regions of Belarus willing to attend the school of leadership were selected. Svetlana Naumova, a political analyst and expert of the program "Empowerment of Women" said that it was fairly difficult for her personally and other trainers of the school to select participants because the content of all applications suggested that they were submitted by bright personalities demonstrating their leadership ambitions. Besides, despite young age (18–25 years) many girls have already had experience of working in civil society organizations. According to Svetlana Naumova, «civil society texture in Belarus is very fragile and quite often it is disrupted due to communication barriers, when people devise restrictions only because of a membership in one or the other NGO or political party». Transparency was the key principle of selection; therefore it is not surprising that among the selected participants were members of quite opposite organizations such as the Belarusian Language Association and the Belarusian Youth Union. Joint work and informal communication demonstrated that they were able to find common grounds and interests and this can be seen as a very important result. 15–20 years ago a Belarusian woman treated the "career" concept with caution. It was even seen as inappropriate for a woman to care about career. Since then the situation has changed and now career is one of the priority values for women. However, according to the girls attending a summer school, colleagues and friends are not always supportive about their leadership ambitions. The school has helped to address this psychological barrier. Now the girls know that their willingness to achieve success in professional and political fields is shared by others. This was an important message for them as well as the fact that to the same extent both women and men are affected by gender disparities. «It would be naive to think that the girls' mentality will change within ten days; anyway, this was not our intention, — said Svetlana Naumova. — It is obvious, however, that the girls have learnt how to raise issues about the social status of women and men in a competent manner». The girls attending the school of leadership were asked to answer two questions: 1. What was new for you in the school and how are you going to use the new knowledge? 2. Emigration from Belarus is a popular subject in the youth community. What are your plans? Katya Lysenok, 18 years, Postavy, the Vitebsk region, a student of the Belarusian State University: 1. I've thought before that feminists are women who hate men. Lectures on gender issues helped me to realize that there are many problems about which I did not have any idea. Now I know the challenges. Can you imagine that there are girls here who set up community–based organizations at the age of 19. We met with Tatyana Bykova, a member of the House of Representatives, with LiliyaVlasova, an owner of a solicitor's company and with other women. They have achieved success and they are happy. I would also like to achieve the same. 2. For a year I studied in USA and I am convinced that it's fine to study and to get professional experience abroad, but you should live in Belarus. It's easy to leave the country, but we should create decent livelihoods here as well. Masha Shelestova, 18 years, Gomel, a student of the Belarusian State Economic University: 1. Trainers of the school of leadership are the first feminists of the country, we've learnt from them many new things about infringement of women's rights. We've been taught to detect discrimination even in cases when it is hardly noticeable because we've used to regard such signs of discrimination as something natural. Training helped me to understand that I need to continue my involvement in the third sector and to share my knowledge with other people. I would like to become a real leader, to graduate from the university, to learn foreign languages, to dance… well, my life should be full of events and actions. 2. Moral comfort is much more important than financial wealth. Only extreme materialists can leave Belarus for ever. I've been in USA, they live a different life there. I think that one should realize himself or herself first of all in your own country. Nastya Kulaga, 17 years, Rechitsa, the Gomel region, a student of the art college: 1. We've been taught a lot of useful things. We learnt about gender disparities; lectures and trainings were very interesting and helped us to get proper communication and behavioral skills. Trainings have changed my mentality completely. We had a lot of debates, we asked questions and came to the conclusions originally meant by our trainer. Our new views, however, are not just "drilled" messages, they are rather convictions elaborated through painstaking efforts. Therefore, they are especially valuable. 2.I am not ready to leave Belarus. It's better to be a leader here than to have a vague status somewhere else. Of course, I want a better life here. But this depends, first of all, on each of us… Elena Marchenko, 22 years, Brest, a student of the Brest State University: 1. At school we've got a universal theoretical training allowing us to have a clear understanding of many issues, to see barriers emerging in professional field, in family, even in education sector and to overcome them in the most efficient way. We have improved our leadership skills both at the trainings and after them because we could communicate all the time and quite often we had hot discussions. 2. All population can emigrate from the country, but this is useless. I think the value of success abroad is lower than here. Therefore, I am staying.
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