VoteRunLead has taken on training women leaders across the world with the GEPLE project. One of our international partners, Women for Election, illustrates the work we’ve done in Ireland and Prague in 2016. Learn more about VoteRunLead’s INTERNATIONAL WORK.

by Una Power

Women for Election have come together with BRAND-SOFI (Finland), Forum 50% (Czech Republic), Towarzystwo Edukacji Antydyskryminacyjnej (TEA – Poland), Active Women Association (Poland), and VoteRunLead (USA) to take part in the GEPLE Project (Gender Equality Political Leadership Education). This collaborative project was established in October 2015 with support from ERASMUS+ and aims to share knowledge with each other and create best practice for achieving the goal of gender parity in politics.

So far the partners have met twice, once in Prague in February and again in May in Dublin. During the course of the trips the group engages in workshops and presentations to share learnings on topics from creating media awareness to discussing the individual barriers to equal representation in each member’s country.

Alongside the workshops, the meetings bring together research gathered by the partners which will be used in the creation of an online platform. This platform will allow for exchange of information and cooperation between the partners as well as transfer of knowledge for those whom the project’s findings would be beneficial. The aim is to create a resource hub that would help all those seeking to promote equal representation of women and men in politic life across all nations, and it will contain, amongst other elements, a research database, shared learning videos, interactive research development, blog posts on relevant issues, and discussion forums.

The Head of Representation in Ireland for the EU Commission, Barbara Nolan addressing the GEPLE Project and its supporters at Europe House

Over the course of three days in Dublin we worked on developing effective communications strategies to increase the reach of each group’s campaigns, learning to navigate the media landscape, and developing effective fundraising. Deirdre Mortell and Niamh Gallagher ran workshops with the participants on fundraising, finding what methods could be adapted to each country. Clare Duignan and Kay Sheehy (RTE) discussed how best to approach media outlets, engage in public debates, and develop a clear message. Suzanne Collins presented on Women for Election’s communication strategy; what targets we set, and how we achieved them.

The project partners were also introduced to various aspects of the Irish political and representative system. On the first evening the group went on a tour of Leinster House, followed by a wonderful dinner hosted by Deputy Josepha Madigan, which was attended by Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin and Senator Alice Mary Higgins. The second evening the group attended a reception in Europe House, which the European Commission Representation to Ireland kindly hosted. We were joined by representatives of each partner organisation’s embassies. The Head of Representation in Ireland for the EU Commission, Barbara Nolan, addressed those in attendance, speaking on the necessity for balanced gender representation in public life.

GEPLE Project partners and supporters at Europe House

The three days were extremely productive and we look forward to working on this project further with our partners. The next leg of the tour takes place in the United States this September and will be run by the fantastic VoteRunLead organisation.

If you would like to know more about the GEPLE project you can take a look at the project website. You can also follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.

Women for Election are delighted to join VoteRunLead, Towarzystwo Edukacji Antydyskryminacyjnej, Forum 50%, Brand-Sofi and Stowarzyszenie Aktywne Kobiety for this project.

Learn more about VoteRunLead’s INTERNATIONAL WORK