“Wow, I made a good decision to participate in this NYOTA Leadership program!”
—Blandine, Investigator with Mercy Corps, and member of NYOTA Cohort 2
When 25 women from 22 organizations gathered April 5 for the launch of NYOTA Cohort 2, there was a sense of curiosity—and maybe some uncertainty. For most, this was their first time in a leadership development space. It was certainly the first time in a leadership development space designed specifically for them by Congolese women leaders.
The launch event opened with a warm welcome from the leadership of our partner organization, the Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC). Alumni from Cohort One who were in attendance shared stories about how NYOTA has influenced their lives and work. Co-Director JeanMarc Asobee led activities to help cohort members begin building connections with each other.
Even though I was present via Zoom, I could feel the group’s and excitement build as the afternoon progressed.
Several women commented on the session the next day. Adèle, a community organizer with SOFEPADI, an organization that defends the rights of women and children, noted, “NYOTA isn’t just a program—it’s a family.”
Her colleague at SOFEPADI, Elvis, a clinical psychologist, added,“I am convinced that I made a good choice to join NYOTA.”
Joly, Elvis, Adele, and Blandine.
Why NYOTA?
Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo face cultural and systemic barriers to leadership. Narrow views of leadership, gendered power structures, and limited professional support often leave women questioning their voice, their worth, and their capacity to lead.
Impact Now exists to address those issues. Through the NYOTA Leadership Program, Impact Now facilitates leadership skill development and professional networks that respond to the expressed leadership development needs of participants.
We collaborate with women leaders as they develop the confidence and skills to claim their place at the table—not just for themselves, but for their families, their organizations, and their communities.
Women in Leadership
The cohort is half-way through its first four-week module, Women in Leadership. Since I’m included in their WhatsApp chat, I’ve witnessed their conversations after each session on topics such as power and authority, leadership vs. management, and gender-based inequality.
The exuberance I saw on April 5 continues. Joly, a school administrator writes, “The energy each Saturday gives me joy and the desire to continue the fight.”
So?
It’s easy to dismiss activity occurring in another part of the world as unimportant or disconnected from our own situation. Impact Now supporter Meredith Joss shares how she finds meaning through her engagement.
Grace and Peace,
Mary Henton
Executive Director
WHY I SUPPORT IMPACT NOW
My name is Meredith Joss and I am a long term supporter of Impact Now and Nyota. It is always good to ask oneself, “Why do we support a work or a cause?”
In my case, I support this work because I have so much to learn. The impact that the Nyota training gives to women in eastern Congo is making a difference in their lives and in mine. I have so much to learn about resilience, persistence, and faith in the midst of hardship.
These are lessons much needed in our own time and place, but not practiced on the ground here as they have needed to be there. The graduates of the Nyota program model service, courage, and care for others in ways that I respect and can learn from.
After watching and learning, I have leaned into my questions: “What can I do?” and “What can I give?” Certainly the “give” answer relates to funds and time – financial gifts to the organization and time to the mentoring program put in place by Nyota.
“What can I do?” may be more difficult.
Telling others about this work is one good option. It’s important to grow the network of people who care about empowering women to make a difference in the world.
If you are a person with leadership experience, you can “do” by becoming a mentor in the program.
Finally, make a financial contribution to Impact Now so more women can benefit from this powerful program.