Impact
A global network of leaders working to transform their communities
WYSE’s approach is to invest in individuals who are likely to make a contribution to the world, and help build their capacity to create sustainable and transformational change in their communities.
Our programmes create impact on a micro and macro level:
Transformational impact for individuals that supports life-long learning for emerging leaders working for global change.
Alumni go on to create positive change in hundreds of communities around the world.
Thousands of people benefit directly from projects led by our emerging leader alumni, and millions of people are impacted.
What our alumni say
Those 12 days gave me the energy, refuelled my thoughts and determination to maintain my spirit for changes around me. Meeting with so much positive energy in one place, with one goal of “making the world a humane place” gave me an opportunity to have a wider world view.
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.
When I attended my fist leadership training at the International Leadership Programme in Italy I learned so much there on different levels and used these insights with my group at home: I learned to trust myself and to access my inner potential. I also learned that there a many brilliant people in this world, each and everybody with the wish to make this world a better place.
I was happy that the ILP had a space for someone like me where I could reconsider these old-school thoughts and create a new school of philosophy which was ‘good’ and ‘right’ for me.
WYSE gave me a new life. I found my heart again there. Being just short of magic, WYSE is a programme that helps you to find the magic inside of you. It’s great to know that you have a community of people who believe in you, share the same dreams as you to build a better world for everyone. This excitement and enthusiasm will enable you to shine in your world.
I met the most wonderful, inspiring people from all over the world and discovered myself in ways that I have never before. I felt openness, curiosity and confidence in this process through group intelligence and the power of collaboration. I felt a stronger sense of connectedness and group passion about a common cause. Meeting so many different people from different cultures on so many different levels has definitely turned me into a more extrovert person, allowing my relationships with people to become more fulfilling.
The WYSE leadership programme helped me connect with self and external world. It also helped me to realise my potential and how to channel those for a better cause. I felt a I am part of a community which supports each other and where everyone values the relationship.The children I work with are now raising their voices at the United Nations and speaking about their rights.
A truly facilitative self learning approach. Servant leadership, non didactic, innovatively interactive. It helped me in my professional life to be a kinder and nurturing leader while training young doctors manage critical patients.
I have learned many things related to culture and influence. I hope that I will be able to influence my community, not towards the things that I like nor towards my values, but to influence them in a way where they are more aware of their own values and committed to them.
WYSE creates a safe atmosphere for every learner to grow, nurture his or her ideas in the most beautiful way. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. The discourse on leadership, culture and global identity played a big role in shaping my thought process towards the world outside of me.
WYSE is the most interesting way to learn how to lead yourself and actions and encouraging way to put your ideas and vision into actions.
WYSE helped me understand I can be a leader of myself and of others. Despite various challenges there is a common ground that joins us: love, peace, creativity, passion, willingness to change, observation of the world, critical thinking, and the desire to stand as one hand against global challenges.
WYSE ILP is all in all it is by far the most unique adventure I've ever had. To anyone who believes that they want and can have an impact and want to elevate themselves to a whole new level WYSE ILP is highly recommended.
I sincerely invite you to gift yourself a privileged opportunity of experiencing WYSE should you desire to find your own inner-leader that has always been a deep-seated aspect of your being. This is truly the best present I have ever given to myself.
This is exactly the place which can give you inspiration, challenge, knowledge and opportunity to find out your hidden vision and make them realised. It is so surprising how the positive emotions and thoughts I gained from an amazing community can really lead me even long after the programs.
It was a journey where I learnt a lot about myself and how I can use my skills to make a positive difference in the world. To unfold oneself and then to create a positive impact. 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.
When life gets more tough or I have a hard time, I feel the need to reconnect with my experience in WYSE, with the community of my worldwide WYSE friends and with that sense of positive and concrete trust in the future. 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.
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. I'm very grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in those programmes, probably the best investment I ever made.
Our approach
WYSE’s approach is based on a number of core values:
Empowering - WYSE encourages people to understand and believe in their own potential, to see the potential in others, and to work with others in ways that help everyone fully express their best qualities.
Experiential - WYSE creates opportunities for people to learn through experiences and to express themselves through a diversity of means.
Creative - Programmes focus on inspiring participants to explore new ways of thinking in order to create and develop innovative solutions to address both local and global challenges.
Challenge - WYSE creates an environment where participants are supported, encouraged and inspired to fundamentally challenge themselves and to take courageous leaps in attaining and exceeding their leadership and development goals.
Global citizenship - WYSE aims to help people to discover and realise that what they do in their own communities affects people in other parts of the world. Activities are founded on the belief that individuals need to develop a more holistic view of what is happening on this planet and understand that all life is mutually interdependent.
International Leadership Programme
In the past 30 years over 900 people from more than 115 countries have attended our flagship programme, the International Leadership Programme (ILP). Our International Leadership Programmes take the form of a 12 day intensive training, where participants from many different cultures, religions and socio-economic backgrounds come together to form an international learning community. The WYSE ILP provides balance and stability at a time when the world is changing at an unprecedented rate. We empower changemakers to grow and thrive, to meet and share their visions for global change and turn this into action. We reduce barriers for emerging leaders who may experience disadvantage in other educational settings.
Our follow on course, the Advanced Leadership Programme is open to graduates of our ILP. It is designed to deepen awareness and experience for young people who want to make a difference in the world.
Experience
Engaging: 100% of participants found the programme engaging with 94% reporting feeling highly engaged.
Challenge: 95% of participants found the programme challenging with 65% saying that it was highly challenging.
Personal development: 100% of participants say the programme was useful for their personal development with 87% saying it was highly useful.
Professional development: 94% of participants say the programme was useful for their professional development, with 66% saying it was highly useful.
Development
87% of participants say the programme helped them learn how to work with challenge and complexity.
99% of participants say the programme helped them understand their core leadership values.
99% of participants say the programme improved their self-awareness and self-reflection skills.
92% of participants report feeling a sense of active global citizenship after the programme.
86% of participants say the programme helped them understand, and engage with, global issues.
100% of participants felt that working in diverse teams throughout the programme improved their teamworking skills.
We have found that this programme provides:
External
Increased motivation to be of service and take action towards tackling global issues.
Improve the skills required to play an effective and positive role in shaping communities and impacting wider society.
Improved understanding of effective leadership and how to ensure a transformational change in personal communities.
Improved connection to an empowered & diverse network of like-minded people who wish to make a positive difference in the world.
Personal
Increased understanding of personal goals and motivations for leadership within communities.
Increased knowledge of effective tools to aid self-reflection and overcome challenges.
Improved self-awareness and personal confidence.
Increased connection to individual values and sense of purpose.
Increased confidence to challenge existing assumptions and the status quo.
ILP case studies
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 is the 35 year old founder & director of Populate Co-operative & The Oxfordshier Kindness Wave which is a UK based organisation creating and facilitating events and projects in UK cities. The Oxfordshire Kindness Wave’s mission is to facilitate opportunities that can enrich and empower our children whilst supporting the arts & cultural projects.
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 the ILP 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.
WYSE Global Change Makers Programme
A free, bespoke, year-long online coaching programme with a world-class leadership professional for people age 18-35 who committed to making a positive contribution in their community related to the Sustainable Development Goals. In the first two years of the programme 95 participants have received coaching.
Experience
Satisfaction: 100% of participants were satisfied with the programme.
Achievement: 93% of participants achieved what they had hoped.
Gender parity: Our first programme was 46% female, 50% male and 4% non binary.
Supporting youth: 96% of participants in our first programme were under 35.
First coaching experience: At least 75% of our participants had never been coached before.
“I get to interact with someone from a different background and solve common challenges, I think this has been the best thing. It has given me different exposure”
“The last session that I had made me feel like I’ve reached a lot of the milestones in my project so far, my coach was able to recognise that as well, we were able to reflect on how much the ideas and project have developed on t hast four or five months. Being able to see that progress has been really reward inn such a short amount of time It gives you the motivation and energy to keep going.”
“It has been a mind changing event, I am just so excited to have been part of the programme. In the last year, there has been progress and growth, I can see it and it is visible”.
“One thing I know for sure is that I would not have gained a clearer understanding of my project goals if I hadn’t participated in this WYSE programme, I am truly appreciative”.
“My vision for the project I’m working on has grown, it has grown beyond me. Before it was just centred around me but now it is beyond me, there are people who are also passionate about the vision and are running it as best they can. This wouldn’t have been possible if I did not have the sessions I’ve had with my coach”.
“What you guys provide for free, is what people pay hundreds of dollars for and here we are having it free of payment . . . it is a great thing you guys are doing, I really, really appreciate it. You are building a new world and the impact is going to be well utilised.”
Development
Participants report a significant increase in:
Having a clear vision and goals
Connecting to their values in sense of purpose
Clear understanding of what motivates me to be of service
Confidence in ability to achieve their goals
Skills and knowledge to achieve their goals
Motivation to be of service to their community
Impact reports on our other programmes will be published soon.