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Nationality: Indian

Following the ILP in 2013 Sugandha started working with women farmers as a ‘Gender Specialist” at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). IRRI is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. Sugandha has created a programme called the ‘women’s leadership through agriculture reform’ where women farmers can explore their social, economic and individual leadership. She strongly believes that in India youth has an important role to play to reduce and finally end gender inequality and solve women issues.

Nationality: British

As Director of Strategy at The Care Leaders, Luke set up a leadership fellowship programme. This year, 20 care experienced young people will explore their own leadership by developing a social enterprises to benefit other young people in care. Luke is leading a cultural revolution in local authorities across the UK, ensuring that young people are engaged in the design of the services they use. He was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2018 for his contribution to youth services.

Nationality: Kenyan

Victor Odhiambo is the 30 year old co-founder and executive director of Garden of Hope Foundation.Garden of Hope Foundation creates sustainable social and economic opportunities for youth, women and children in urban slums and rural communities in Kenya. The project has been running for 6 years and has worked with 20,000 youths in 40 schools.

Nationality: Indonesian

Angga is the 34 year old founder of Men up North. The mission of Men Up North is to reduce suicide rates and loneliness for men in the North of England. In 2020 Men Up North had 1200 men through its men’s group doors and in total engaged 3000 men via talks from 14 different heritage backgrounds.

Nationality: British

George has directed and co-founded Populate Co-operative for over a decade, leading creative, community-driven projects across UK cities. A participant in the WYSE International Leadership Programme in 2011 and the Advanced Leadership Programme, George is passionate about co-operatives, grassroots organising, and community empowerment.

Nationality: British
Living in: London, UK

Project Period is made up of a team of five 18 years olds. We spent 10 months fundraising, discussing and coordinating a trip to Kenya in which we give 200 menstrual cups to 7 different schools and deliver workshops for the girls to feel more comfortable talking about periods.

Nationality: German

Attending both of the WYSE programmes was a profound experience, which had a huge impact on me. It made me better able to reflect on myself, be aware of who I am, what my fears and needs are, and most importantly where I want to go and what I want from my life.

Nationality: Syrian
Right after I came back from Brazil, my friend Ahmed (who also introduced me to WYSE) introduced me to the founder Hera. she was looking for people to translate Chayn’s first toolkit “ How to build your own domestic violence case without a lawyer” into Arabic. 

Nationality: Iranian
When I started the program, I realized that it was very different from other education I had experienced in my life. It is not merely an academic or practical course to help you to develop your leadership skills. It is a program, which helps you to know about yourself, your capacities, and your place in the diverse world. 

Nationality: Armenian
After leaving all the success I had in my country I moved to a foreign country where sometimes the feeling of being nobody provokes even the strongest soul. In a new place everything is so different: new education experience, strangers in the street, new friends, different lifestyle. This always sounds exciting and in the beginning it is really so, then gradually I become a part of that “new”, finding surprisingly that I belonged amidst the inescapable nostalgia for my country and my past. 

Nationality: Indian

I came to WYSE at a point in my life when I was in the middle of helping to build a free hospital for 35,000 inhabitants of an Island who have no access to healthcare, electricity and safe drinking water. I had become so action-driven after being affected by the state of the people in the rural areas of India, that amidst building the hospital, teaching in a slum dwelling, going to an orphanage and attending college- I had forgotten who I really was and why I was doing this. WYSE gave me a much clearer perspective towards my goals and life, as well as helped me understand the importance of striking a balance between doing and being. It took just 12 days to form bonds larger than life itself. When I look back, I think about how these 12 days have etched my heart and how I will carry this life changing experience with me for the rest of my life.

Nationality: Indian

One of the things I did post-ILP was to take an oath of honesty and I am going to write this piece in the very same spirit. If someone would tell me that an 'International Leadership Programme' has been life changing for them, I would appreciate their input, respect their context and move on. Would a programme as such have an impact on me? I would have thought - no. No programme can teach you how to be a leader. No person or groups of people can hand you guidebooks, lessons or speeches of what makes a good leader.

Nationality: Indian

Born in the city of Nasik and brought up in a small town that is now a district called Rajsamand, I had always been very adventurous and curious. A true nature lover. The explorer’s spirit has been alive in me since childhood and my parents have always supported me (though not willingly at times). My life took a U-turn when I was involved in making a film as part of my own thesis on Child Sexual Abuse. I worked with several NGOs and met grassroots workers who were doing impactful work to bring a change in India. Concurrently, I was travelling across India with organizations working with youth, children and adolescence on issues related to education, child rights, youth empowerment and trafficking.

Nationality: South African

Since the ILP in 2005 a lot has changed and shifted for me. I left Educo 2010 and went to work for National Peace Accord in Johannesburg. I must say working with ex-combat was a life changing experience for me as I got to understand the staff. These young man and women have gone through much in life. I facilitated a wilderness eco-therapy for the ex-combat. In 2011 I moved back to Cape Town. Currently I am organising to have my own NGO working with people from underprivileged communities, working with youth in violence in my country. I just want to say being part of the bigger circle and partaking in the WYSE programme, has made me to never look back in my life. Always trying to revive opportunities. WYSE programme had awakened something in me that I never thought I had.

Nationality: Australian

Since my time in Lucca Italy I have continued to work in project and event management, community and youth development in various capacities as well as completing my studies in Social Science majoring.

For the past 3 years I have been working as a Community Development Officer –Youth with local government where I have a focus on using art, recreation, music and leadership in a strengths based approach to work towards developing cohesive and connected communities. 

Nationality: Dutch

Last October I participated in the ALP in Italy. For three reasons. 
Firstly because I held and still hold warm and good memories to the ILP. Beautiful people, wonderful insights and completely refueled and energized were the main gifts of ten days in St. Braivels Castle. And, not to forget, a head full of songs which are unexplainable to anyone who didn’t attend. Secondly, because I just started a new job and wanted to make sure that I wasn’t slowing down in my ambitions now I reached this point. And thirdly, because I wanted to know what more there was to learn.

Nationality: Chinese

Hello everyone, my name is Elva, and I am originally from the PR China.  However, I have been studying, living and working in Australia (mainly in Melbourne) for over 10 years now.  In July 2013, I moved to Geneva, Switzerland to undertake a one-year LL.M in International Law with a specialty in International Economic Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID).  Prior to this, I was working as a lawyer in the private sector for about 5 years. I have an ‘incurable addiction’ to traveling and am passionate about connecting with people from different parts of the world, for I see myself as a global citizen with a firm belief in unity and oneness.

Nationality: German

My name is Eva and I'm a doctor from Germany. I volunteer in an initiative called "Medizin und Menschlichkeit" which roughly translates to "Medicine and Humanness". At the core of our vision is the focus on the human being – cultivating compassionate, authentic and empowering relationships with our patients, each other and with ourselves – and through that, to inspire students and young doctors to become change agents for a better and more humane medicine of tomorrow.

Nationality: Lebanese

WYSE? It is When Your Self Expands. Arriving at theILP in Lucca that day, I expected everything except what happened. Some may call it a workshop or a learning experience, but it can only be called WYSE. A unique setting offering a combination of beyond-expectation experiences conducted by professional and passionate mentors, who always succeeded in engaging us until we were the experience ourselves. The twelve-day programme created a major turning point in my life and triggered a butterfly effect. After over three years now, the WYSE self of mine has not ceased to be and it is even expanding. Each year, my understanding grows bigger and I still fetch my WYSE purse when making professional and life decisions.

Nationality: Egyptian
In the International Leadership Program, I was taught to use what I know to try and serve the world, what I know is business and my community really needs all the helping hands they can get right now. So as a mean of active citizenship towards where I come from, here's another chapter in my story, www.Arabisque.org We were asked in the ILP to think of what we are passionate about and what we can do about it. My passions towards Business, Making a Difference & the Arab World are what brought me to think of a way to where social progress can leverage on business models for a stronger impact. There are such beautiful initiatives started by nonprofit organizations all over the world that are unfortunately dependent on the luck of getting a grant in order to make a difference, thinking about why should money stop these initiates from helping make the world a better place, got me to think ''Let's make the money to make a difference!''

Nationality: Kuwaiti

A friend once said, "Imagine a world without judgment," I tried and it didn't compute. She described it as "one in which you can truly enjoy complete and comfortable silence with a companion," I didn't believe her. She went on to say it's "a place where people are considerate, positive and real—where the environment is crucial, food isn't wasted and technology and stress do not take precedence over nurturing talents and appreciating a quiet forest and cool breeze," and that's when I knew she must have been dreaming. To me such a utopian ideal world only exists in the realm of our hopes and dreams. Where people aren't tearing the world apart with their selfish acts. My curiosity got the best of me, and I had to discover if what she was blabbering about really existed or if she just had an amazing summer binged on LSD and went into a trip that she never came back from. And that's when I decided to join the WYSE family.

Nationality: Dutch

My name is Lodewijk Hoekstra. I live in Naarden together with my wife Kristel, son Mels (3) and daughter Diese (4). I am a TV gardener and presenter in the well-known Dutch TV show "Eigen Huis en Tuin" (Own House and Garden) which draws about a million viewers each week. When I was a bit younger I was seeking my identity and did not know very well what I wanted in life. For this reason, my parents suggested for me to go to a WYSE programme. I attended the International Leadership Programme (ILP) in Havelte, the Netherlands in 2002. Having gotten the taste of it, I participated in the Advanced Leadership Programme in Lucca, Italy in 2003. I have experienced the programmes as being very special and intense -- they have benefitted me very much. "What makes your heart sing", that's what's it all about!

Nationality: Italian

During the ILP I took part in September 2011 I met great people, had great experiences and great conversations from the first day I arrived in St. Braviels.  There was just one thing that wasn't as great as the rest during the first days: our lunch! The hostel staff did a wonderful job preparing breakfast and dinner for us, but after 2 days all the participants (especially the Italians) were complaining about the lunch sandwich. That is why we decided to prepare our own lunch and together with the WYSE volunteers, we prepared excellent food for our lunch everyday. We talked a lot about differences and similarities in food culture in our countries and we shared recipes. 

Living in: Georgia
Programmes: WYSE ILP in 2006 and WYSE Advanced ILP in 2009

I have attended WYSE ILP in 2006 and WYSE Advanced ILP in 2009. Sounds like two simple facts, however it affected my life more than anything else in my past.These two trainings were the experience I am never able to put into words. When I am trying to reflect my emotions, I just end up being quiet with my eyes wide open and shining.

I cannot say WYSE gave me answers to all my questions. On the contrary, I think WYSE rewarded my mind with even more questions. And I believe that is even more precious. No, life did not get easier or simpler. And I do not want it to be easier.

Nationality: British

I applied to be part of WYSE at a key transition point in my life. I was about to move to London from my home town in order to make progress in my career. Almost a year of unsuccessful jobhunting had affected my confidence. Therefore my intention for WYSE was to gain clarity and focus for the future. WYSE helped me to explore what had been holding me back over the previous few months. Additionally I appreciated the warmth and friendliness of my fellow participants.

Nationality: German
My Name is Stephan Allmendinger. I am a doctor, working with seriously ill patients in a palliative care unit at the University Hospital in Munich, Germany. 3 Years ago I founded - together with good friends - a small non-profit organisation called "Medizin und Menschlichkeit" (engl.: medicine and humanness). Our vision was to create a competent space where medical students and young doctors can discuss, explore and set into practice topics like self-development, communication skills, empathy and spirituality. We believe there is a need to cultivate heart-centred skills, to include alongside the everyday medical reality. Hand in hand with the scientific knowledge and the technical expertise of western medicine, these 'human qualities' add a very important quality when working with people seeking help.

Nationality: British

No matter how different people seem there is always common ground. A place to relate to each other and realise that despite the 'differences' many of the problems we all face are identical. After going through WYSE young leaders programme I saw the failures of our mainstream global community more clearly - the inequity that penetrates the core of our social systems became ever more apparent. After finishing the programme I was fortunate to meet a group of like minded individuals. We were in our late twenties, all from different backgrounds and had all been through similar life experiences. We decided to pool our resources and skill sets and make a documentary that simplified the complexity of the global economic structures we live under.

Nationality: Italian

Leadership can be a challenging concept to define and a challenging attitude to develop. Things get even more challenging when you have to measure the impact that growing as a leader can have on your life and the people around you. Even after so many years have passed since my first programme, I can still see the 'long wave' generated on my personal and professional life by that experience. When life gets more tough or I have a hard time, I feel the need to reconnect with my experience in Lucca, with the community of my worldwide WYSE friends and with that sense of positive and concrete trust in the future.