Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA)

Donation Summary
Payment Amount
Giving Frequency	One time
Donation Total

Donation Summary

Payment Amount

Giving Frequency

One time

Donation Total

I am more than just enough, I was Born to Rock!

Your Support Matters

The Guyanese Girls Rock Young Women Leadership Academy (YWLA) supports the development of young female leaders in the Guyanese community. Through a series of instructor-led lessons and workshops, young women and girls are given a unique opportunity to learn from and build trusting relationships with female professionals and mentors. This bi-weekly Saturday program focuses on 3 key areas: building identity, developing self-confidence, and learning leadership skills.

You MUST complete both forms below to be accepted into the program.

Complete the 2026 YWLA Application – New Students Only
Complete the 2026 Supplemental Application – Returning Students Only
Complete the 2026 Liability Media Waiver Form – All Students

Deadline: December 27, 2025. (Extended to January 15, 2026 – APPLY TODAY)

Download Flyer: YWLA 2026 Flyer

For more information regarding the program, please send email: ywla@guyanesegirlsrock.org or call 929-206-8876

Building Identity

YWLA aims to build identity as the first step to developing effective leaders. Examining identity allows participants to assess the unique set of challenges that they face as young women. YWLA offers young women and girls the chance to learn from other female leaders about issues that exist in their academic, social, and professional communities.

Encouraging Self-Confidence

YWLA aims to foster a community of sisterhood that supports participants as they gain confidence in their identities and leadership abilities. Participants are encouraged to find their own voice and be a bold inspiration for other individuals in their communities. The young women in the program serve as positive role models for each other, creating a supportive network of peers that extends beyond their year in the program

Leadership Training

YWLA empowers young women and girls by supporting their growth as leaders. As emerging leaders, participants will learn to evaluate their own strengths and growth areas as key leadership skill.

During each session, YWLA participants engage in fun and energized discussions and classroom exercises facilitated by experienced mentors from various professional backgrounds. Mentor also help students to define individual goals and ways to achieve those goals.

Job Shadow:

Job Shadow offers students a unique opportunity to visit a professional work environment and gain insights into a particular career. We believe in the mutual benefits of pairing students with professional mentors as a positive step toward preparing them for the workforce.

Students participating in this program will get to identify and experience the skills needed for a potential job positions and learn about the requirements needed to earn that position

During these visits, we aim to broaden the girls’ horizons by exposing them to the working world of women in positions of leadership, ownership, and power. Students will have the opportunity to learn about different sectors and professions and engage in Q&A sessions with positive role models.

Through our Cultural Enrichment Program, students engage in education and activities related to arts and cultural related industries for through events, workshops, site-visits to the movies, museums, and plays, theatre.

Dining Etiquette Training

In partnership with industry professionals this life skills initiative aims to raise awareness and educate our young women in some of the following areas.

Proper Etiquette
Goal Setting
Money Management
College Readiness
Performing Arts
Stem Education

Participants will also have the opportunity to attend other youth-related activities and conferences with their peers.

The “Day In The Life of” Site Visits involves tours to corporation and businesses to promote career exploration. During these visits, we aim to broaden the girls’ horizons by exposing them to the working world of women in positions of leadership, ownership, and power. Students will have the opportunity to learn about different sectors and professions and engage in Q&A sessions with positive role models.

YWLA also provides participants with opportunities to attend events and conferences with their peers and opportunities to speak publicly.

If you are a female business owner or hold a position of leadership and would like to host our young women, please contact us below.

Dates: Every other Saturday beginning January 13th, 2024 to JULY 13, 2024
Attendance: All registered participants are expected to attend all sessions.
Time: The program begins at 10 am and end 12:30 pm.
Cost: There is no cost to participate in the program.
Location: We meet on a hybrid bi-weekly schedule; one week at the Queens Central Public Library Teen Center (89-11 Merrick Blvd, Jamaica, NY. 11432); and one week virtually via Zoom.
Registration: The program is open to high school girls in grades 9 – 12 who are of Guyanese Heritage.