The Eleanor Roosevelt Girls’ Leadership Workshop (ERGLW)
Eleanor Roosevelt was a strong supporter of human rights and the role of women as change agents. She was always interested in encouraging young people, particularly girls, to get involved in matters of social justice. She knew young girls often need role models as well as an extra helping hand to enhance their self-confidence.
In 1997, the Eleanor Roosevelt Val Kill (ERVK) organization, a non-profit,non-partisan NGO, established the first Girls Leadership Workshop. This program is for girls, ages 14-16, entering the equivalent of 10th or 11th grades. Every summer, it offers two workshop programs with 30 girls in each session. Most of the workshop seminars are held at Val Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s personal residence near Hyde Park, New York. Participants are chaperoned and housed at a nearby college during the program.
Program information
The program emphasizes empowerment and development of leadership skills for future public activists. Successful women leaders lead the discussions and act as role models and mentors for the girls. The program includes a field trip to the UN in New York as well as sessions on the following topics:
- Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and example
- History of feminism
- Working for human rights and the United Nations
- Personal responsibility
- Social justice
- Citizenship and civic participation
- Leadership skills
FAWCO's Support of the GLW
In 2008, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and in recognition of Eleanor Roosevelt’s pivotal role in the passage of the UDHR, FAWCO made a $3,300 donation to the Eleanor Roosevelt Val Kill organization for the Girls’ Leadership Workshop. Since 2009, the FAWCO Foundation also donated to the program and continues to encourage members to have their daughters apply.
In 2008, four daughters of FAWCO members were chosen for the Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Workshop: Louise Greeley-Copley's daughter Shannon Copley FAUSA (FAWCO Alumnae USA); Eleanor Jacobs, daughter of Amanda Norton from Luxembourg; Carlotta Ruiz, daughter of Julie Nauman of AAWE Paris and from AWOG (American Women's organization of Greece), Mary Kennedy's daughter Jill.
In 2009, two daughters of FAWCO members were chosen for the ERGLW--Gabrielle Guichard, daughter of Catherine Keyes-Guichard and Scarlett Remlinger, daughter of Maija Remlinger both members of AAWE Paris.
In 2010, Alexandra von Moos, daughter of AWC Bern member Sara Von Moos was one of 33 lucky young women to be chosen to attend the workshop in Val-Kill, New York.
Emilie Bourge, daughter of Michelle Parker of Association of American Wives of Europeans (AAWE) in Paris was chosen in 2011 to attend the GLW in Val Kill.
In 2012, four girls were choosen with links to FAWCO members: Madison Stewart, daughter of Stephanie Stewart (Childterns, UK), Karen Hin, daughter of Marie Louise Cusak (AAWE Paris), Julia Goldsby, daughter of Robin Goldsby (AIWC Cologne), and Vasiliki Mitsakis, daughter Alexander Mitsaki (AWG Athens).
Applications for the ERGLW Program
FAWCO encourages qualified daughters of its members to apply for this unique program for girls who are specifically interested in community service and social justice. Information about the program is available from the Eleanor Roosevelt Val Kill organization website at www.ervk.org/glw.
All costs and transportation to and from Val Kill must be paid by participants. Scholarships and aid money is available to those who need it. All requests for financial assistance MUST be made at the time of application and the application process is handled entirely through the ERVK organization, not through FAWCO. Application forms are normally available online by December and applications are due in February.