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From June 20-26, 2022, IGE’s Center for Women, Faith & Leadership (CWFL) hosted the 2022 Hybrid Fellowship Cohort in Norway for an in-person workshop and retreat. The program brought together 10 women leaders from 9 countries including, Nigeria, Italy, Ireland, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, USA, Japan, and Mongolia. The start of the week kicked off with a 3-day intensive skill-building workshop in Oslo on storytelling, public speaking, negotiation, leadership promotion through social media, leadership development planning, and strategic programming. The Fellows also had the opportunity to meet with executives from the Nobel Peace Institute, Islamic Cultural Center of Norway, and FOKUS (Forum for Women and Development).

Mid-week, the Fellows received training on professional filming techniques and equipment to document their leadership development and stories of the populations they serve. They also received consultation on their Capstone Projects, a key element of the CWFL Fellowship where Fellows obtain a micro-grant to address an issue facing vulnerable and marginalized populations in innovative ways. The Capstone Project gives Fellows an opportunity to tangibly apply the skills and techniques they have been learning during the workshop.

Afterwards, the program shifted to Bergen where the Fellows participated in a spiritual wellness retreat focusing on prayer and sustainable leadership practices through self-care. The retreat weekend consisted of sessions on Self-Compassion Therapy, Prayer & Movement, Meditation through Lectio Divina, Art Therapy, and Addressing Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout. Fellows were able to engage in reflection, rest and rejuvenation before returning to their home countries and workplace.

Later this year, IGE will convene the Fellows again for a second leadership development workshop where they will present their final Capstone Project design.