Young Women Emerge | Jeune Femme Emerge

**Who We Are**

Young Women Emerge (YWE) is a movement of transformation, hope, and possibility for girls and young women in the DRC.

We believe in the power of emergence—rising from the shadows of poverty, violence, and inequality into strength, visibility, and purpose. YWE is here to light the spark and nurture it—offering the right support at the right moment to turn silent struggles into bold steps forward.

Think of YWE like a chrysalis—holding space for growth and transformation. We provide what’s needed when it’s needed. We don’t give them power—they already have it. We help them see it, trust it, and use it.

Through education, vocational skills, mentorship, and leadership training, we open doors where there were once walls. We help them build confidence, claim their rights, and make life-affirming choices for themselves and their communities.

Because when young women rise—everything rises with them.

**Our Mission**

To empower girls and young women in vulnerable situations with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to break cycles of inequality—so they can shape their own lives and become leaders in their communities through education, training, and mentoring.

**The Problem We Address**

Across the DRC, adolescent girls and young women—especially those in conflict-affected areas—face systemic barriers that rob them of their agency and future:

* Limited access to education due to poverty, instability, and cultural norms

* Early marriage and teenage pregnancy, often coerced or forced

* Gender-based violence and insecurity, both at home and in public spaces

* Minimal access to vocational skills, economic opportunity, or mentorship

* Patriarchal systems that exclude girls and women from decision-making and leadership

**Why We Exist**

Young Women Emerge (YWE) was born from a powerful partnership rooted in purpose.

In 2020, two passionate individuals—Therese Nzale, from RD Congo, and Danielle Prince, from the USA—met when working together in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). What began as professional collaboration quickly evolved into a deep bond grounded in shared values, vision, and a commitment to justice.

Through their work, Therese and Danielle discovered a profound synergy. They realized they were not only effective partners but also co-dreamers with a shared passion: empowering young women to overcome the systemic challenges of gender inequality, poverty, and violence.

In 2024, that passion became a reality. Together, they founded Young Women Emerge, a grassroots organization shaped by Therese’s lifelong dream and the urgent needs of girls in the DRC. YWE was created to be a space where girls can reclaim their futures, be mentored, gain skills, and emerge as leaders in their communities.

With over 55 years of combined experience promoting human rights, education, and women’s empowerment, Therese and Danielle bring a legacy of advocacy to YWE. Their work spans continents and causes, but their focus remains constant: to support girls and young women in building lives of strength, purpose, and possibility.

YWE is the result of years of vision, trust, and collaboration. It represents what’s possible when women come together to build something bold—something that doesn't just serve, but transforms. Because when one young woman emerges, communities change—and the future begins to shift.

**Who We Serve**

YWE serves vulnerable girls and young women—those marginalized by poverty, displacement, or discrimination—who demonstrate resilience, determination, and a desire to change their lives through education or training. These are girls and young women in vulnerable circumstances (orphaned, from one-parent homes, a parent or girl has a disability, war-displaced, survivors of sexual violence/rape, young mothers of sexual violence) who:

* Show promise in academic or vocational pursuits

* Aspire to contribute positively to their communities

* Need opportunity, support, and mentorship to rise

**Our Unique Value**

Unlike many interventions that simply include girls in existing structures, YWE reimagines and reshapes those structures through a feminist lens. We:

* Prioritize access to male-dominated professions and trade sectors

* Build a cohort-based mentor-mentee system that fosters sustainable, intergenerational leadership

* Create a feminist network to amplify women’s voices, solidarity, and influence

**Theory of Change**

**If** we provide vulnerable girls and young women in the DRC with timely access to education, vocational training, and mentorship,

**then** they will develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills to lead,

**and** they will emerge as agents of change in their communities—building a more gender-equal, inclusive society.

**Strategic Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)**

Our work contributes to:

* **SDG 1: No Poverty** – through economic empowerment via education and job readiness

* **SDG 4: Quality Education** – by ensuring equitable access for girls and young women

* **SDG 5: Gender Equality** – by transforming patriarchal norms and promoting feminist leadership

* **SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities** – by supporting marginalized youth in conflict zones

**What We Do**

Inputs

* Qualified staff and dedicated mentors

* Partnerships with educational and vocational centers

* Learning kits, financial aid, and transportation support

* Collaboration with schools, NGOs, INGOs, and community groups

Partners

* Government ministries

* Local schools and apprenticeship centers

* Mentors and women leaders

* Youth and feminist networks

**Our Program Interventions**

Phase 1: Identification & Agreements

* Identify vulnerable girls and assess their support needs

* Conduct interviews with candidates and their families

* Select appropriate schools and vocational centers

* Establish service contracts and pay training costs directly

* Secure commitments from the selected girls and young women

Phase 2: Monitoring & Evaluation

* Conduct regular field visits to monitor educational progress

* Continuously assess and respond to evolving needs

* Facilitate career and academic guidance

* Deliver workshops in key areas:

* My Environment - factors for success

* Human rights & gender equality

* Feminism

* Sexual & reproductive health

* Leadership & mentoring

* Self-esteem & personal development

* Prevention of sexual and gender-based violence

Phase 3: Mentorship

* Identify and train mentors (including JFE staff/board)

* Organize cohort-based mentorship with rotating leadership

* Facilitate regular mentor/mentee sessions (group and individual)

Our Organizational Conduct & Values

* Transparency in communication and decision-making

* Trust among staff, partners, and participants

* Respect for commitment, time, and growth

* Accountability to girls, their families, and funders

* Love of work and belief in every girl’s potential

* Feminist approach across all programs and operations

* Motivation and affirmation as core practices

Our Operating Model

* Ensure participant voice in designing and adapting support

* Maintain transparent, collaborative partnerships

* Regularly monitor progress and adapt strategies

* Scale up sustainably and responsibly

* Celebrate and communicate success to inspire others

**Expected Results**

Outputs

* Girls and young women educated in JFE’s thematic focus areas

* Peer educator groups and mentor networks established

* Functional professional networks for job searching and placement

* Girls learn democratic processes through leadership rotation within mentor cohorts

Short-Term Outcomes

* Increased knowledge of rights, confidence, and independence

* Development of mentoring skills and leadership identity

* Recognition of success by families and communities

* Prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancies

* Greater freedom in life decisions (study, marriage, career)

Long-Term Outcomes

* Transformations in gender roles and societal expectations

* Breaking taboos through intergenerational learning

* Greater value placed on women’s work and leadership

* Higher female representation in the public and private sectors

Vision

A world where girls and young women are self-determined, confident, and courageous—leading their own lives and shaping a society grounded in gender justice, dignity, and human rights.

3-Year Projection

| Year | Girls/Young Women | Mentors | Trainings |

| 2024–25 8 2 6

| 2025–26 15 2 10

| 2026–27 18 3 10

We grow intentionally, prioritizing impact and individualized support over rapid expansion.

Our Aspirational Endgame

Young Women Emerge envisions a feminist ecosystem—a resilient, interconnected network of women who have emerged through education, training, and mentorship, and who are now driving systemic change. These women will rise to leadership, transform communities, and mentor the next generation.

In this way, YWE (JFE) doesn’t just support individuals—we catalyze a movement.