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


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


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.