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Women@Dior & UNESCO is a unique international mentorship and educational program dedicated to young women, built on Maison Dior’s unique expertise of transmission and its community of motivated and inspiring Talents. Launched in 2017, the Program has now supported over 2,000 driven young women selected from a wide range of studies – spanning from business to engineering, art and fashion, to hospitality, communication and international relations, and more. To date, Mentees have spanned over 60+ countries and represent almost 90 nationalities.
Through our educational offerings, Mentees are guided by visionary leaders and esteemed guest speakers who delve into vital subjects, such as gender parity and women's leadership, that pave the way for responsible futures. Additionally, Mentees receive personalized support from their dedicated Dior Mentors, navigating the early stages of their professional careers and embarking on professional exploration. Each Mentee and Mentor dynamic is thoughtfully curated, leveraging an innovative approach that underscores compatibility and shared aspirations.
Partnership resonates at the heart of Women@Dior & UNESCO Program, fostering meaningful connections and propelling our Mentees towards a future of boundless possibilities. Guided and nurtured by their Mentors, and in collaboration with fellow Mentees, this transformative experience culminates in the collective creation and realization of the "Dream for Change" project, aimed at fostering empowerment among young women.
The Program is built on 5 core values:
Self-Care & Self-Awareness:
Learning to know yourself in order to self assert, transform, transcend percepts, deconstruct archetypes and enhance inner growth. Connecting body and mind to be able to shine. All of these values and approaches are ones that the House of Dior and UNESCO hold dear, for self-revelation and cultivating singularity; dynamic empowerment, driven by sisterhood, dialogue and cultural curiosity.
Autonomy:
Autonomy is necessary for self-affirmation and accountability for one’s own actions. Access to freedom is an essential foundation for conceiving and creating ethical ways of living together. No impediment to freedom is justifiable, because freedom alone makes creativity possible.
Creativity:
Creativity encourages innovation and inspires ideas for a more responsible future, and a healthier more resilient planet. A passion for culture, heritage and the most contemporary creations are at the heart of Dior’s values. They help us to dream, to come up with visionary solutions that are ever more stimulating and conscious of tomorrow’s major issues, be they ecological, economic or societal.
Inclusion:
Inclusion, offers every voice a legitimate, respected place in society. It is urgent to transform our differences into opportunities to broaden our horizons personally and culturally, to enhance creativity and long-term social responsibility.
Sustainable Development:
Sustainability is essential in rethinking and (re)creating today’s world, for preserving the diversity of both nature and the people who live in it. The program recognizes this interconnectedness by placing. Education, and culture, is at the heart of its mission. These values are indispensible for building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Following the coursework, participants are invited to put what they have learnt into practice by creating a project that supports the empowerment of young girls - the “Dream for Change” project.
Dior joined UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition in 2020 on World Youth Skills Day, becoming the first couture House to do so, by opening its Women@Dior program to over 200 talented young female students from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Jamaica, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. It is a concrete commitment to give disadvantaged young women around the world the opportunity to receive an education, which is of utmost importance when taking into account society’s stakes and the global health crisis.
“Talent is universal, but opportunity is not, especially for a generation of young women whose education has been severely affected by the pandemic. By joining the Global Coalition with an initiative that empowers and carries promise for the future, the Dior Couture House is sending a strong message of commitment and confidence, giving young women from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to fulfill their dreams”
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education
On March 28th, 2024, the House of Dior and UNESCO presented the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2024 Global Conference at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. This committed gathering united Mentees and Mentors, leaders of LVMH, Dior, and UNESCO, alongside inspiring personalities advocating for women’s rights in various fields to showcase the power of sisterhood and celebrate themes that are more essential than ever – education, equity, inclusion, and gender equality.
On March 8th, 2023, the House of Dior and UNESCO hosted the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2023 Global Conference. Discover the behind-the-scenes of this unique event in Episode 1 of the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2023 Global Conference video series, hosted by Women@Dior Mentee Bagdat Akbiyeva from Kazakhstan.
Discover Episode 2 of the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2023 Global Conference video series, hosted by Women@Dior Mentee Olivia Meyer from the USA. Olivia takes you to (re)experience the first half of the morning ceremony of this unique event.
In Episode 3, hosted by Women@Dior Mentee Hiba Allate from France, (re)experience the inspiring guests who shared their visions on gender equality and women's empowerment at the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2023 Global Conference.
In Episode 4, experience the Dream For Change celebrations through the eyes of the Dream For Change 2022 finalist and Women@Dior Mentee, Cwenga Koyana, from South Africa, as she encourages and empowers her fellow Women@Dior sisters who are actively supporting the emancipation of young women in their local communities.
Dive into Episode 5 of the Women@Dior & UNESCO 2023 Global Conference video series to be immersed into the key moments of this unique gathering dedicated to spreading the power of sisterhood around the world.
“The Women@Dior & UNESCO mentorship and education program has been a life-changing experience that has unleashed my human potential to bring a positive impact to the lives of teen mothers in Africa. I deeply appreciate and value how the program is a unique opportunity to bring together young women from all walks of life to inspire them to become the leaders of tomorrow and reach for greater heights. The program has ignited something special within me, a light which I am using to spread love and hope to all my sisters across the world.”
– Cwenga Koyana, South Africa, W@D Mentee, Class of 2022
“From start to finish, the Women@Dior & UNESCO Global Conference spurred creativity, community, and courage. I truly cherished the opportunity to be surrounded by so many talented women who share a passion for uplifting the next generation of changemakers. It was fulfilling to celebrate the value of women and see how the fruits of our ambition can generate positive change in society and transform lives around the world.”
– Olivia Meyer, USA, W@D Mentee, Class of 2023
“My Women@Dior journey has been an amazing self-discovery process to understand my talents and strengths, as well as to learn how to face my fears. I had the fear of initiating something from scratch but, with this program, I was able to start and lead a project, named Green Craft Academy, from scratch with the help of my Mentor and Women@Dior sisters. Each coaching session helped me to re-innovate my leadership skills and supported me in designing and implementing my project that helps young Tanzanian women who are school dropouts to start their eco-responsible businesses. Thank you, Women@Dior, for empowering me.”
- Happy Itros Sanga, Tanzania, W@D Mentee, Class of 2023
“Being part of the Women@Dior & UNESCO program gave me the keys to develop Sisterhood Abroad, my Dream For Change project that I am very passionate about, alongside my career. I have realized that to feel totally accomplished in life, I needed this balance. Today I am happy to be able to participate in the growth and personal development of other young women and to create such a beautiful community where women support each other no matter where they come from. This program has been a wonderful opportunity to inspire and to be inspired by my Mentor, leaders of the House of Dior, my Women@Dior sisters from current and previous promotions, and other committed women who shared their experiences with us all along the program. The Women@Dior & UNESCO program has positively changed my life and the ones of the people we empower with our initiatives!”
– Amah Mbatsogo, France, W@D Mentee, Class of 2023
All participants are selected based on three criteria: talent, ambition and generosity. They are all young women full of promise and potential who are united in the notion that their professional success is related to the sorority.
Applications are reviewed based on the candidate’s demonstrated commitment to social impact, leadership potential, collaborative spirit, personal development, entrepreneurial thinking, innovative problem-solving, and a clear long-term vision. For more information about the Application Criteria and Process please click here.
This is not a recruitment Program for an internship or job position. The Women@Dior & UNESCO Program is a mentoring Program that runs parallel to your studies.
THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO WOMEN WHO ARE:
“Women, who have such strong natural instinct, must have understood that I not only dreamed of making them more beautiful, but also happier.”
Monsieur Christian Dior, « Christian Dior and I »
