Earlier this summer, IGE’s Center for Women, Faith and Leadership (CWFL) hosted the 2nd Virtual Prayer and Self-care Summit for its fellows and alumna. The Summit sought to answer a question on the minds of many of CWFL’s Fellows: How can we continue to serve, lead and thrive in the face of turmoil, stress, and trauma? During the Summit, participants learned various skills to mitigate or lower fatigue, trauma, stress, and anxiety during turbulent times. This year’s Summit saw a 25% increase in participation as compared to last year’s inaugural summit. 

Each of the five sessions began with a time of prayer led by friends and mentors of the CWFL Fellowship program. “I really enjoyed the gentle, soft, and soothing voices of all who did the opening prayers and the depth of their personal connectivity with God. Those sweet and gentle voices were such a blessing and a source of upliftment for me” shared Sister Francesca Edet-Oqua, a member of the Daughters of Charity in the U.K. 

In September, CWFL will hold a week-long in-person workshop in Washington, D.C., bringing together Fellows from both 2020 and 2021 hybrid cohorts.  During the workshop, CWFL Fellows will receive training in various skills and also build relationships with leaders in both government and civil society in the U.S. 

To learn more about CWFL, please check out our impact report.