Thanks to the support of GPD Charitable Trust, the Iraq Leadership Fellows Program successfully graduated the first cohort of Fellows in June 2018. The 2017/2018 class of Fellows met three times for intensive and participatory training in advocacy, campaigning and leadership skills. The trainings were led by a world-class, Harvard-educated instructor and featured high level guest speakers. As part of the training, Fellows devised and launched their own campaigns, enabling them to immediately put their new skills into practice. In between trainings, fellows received one-to-one mentoring to help them to further develop their campaigns and to troubleshoot emerging issues.
Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows joined the alumni network and continue to be offered opportunities for further development and support for their campaigns. The Fellows program enabled three of the highest achieving Fellows to participate in an international conference on Middle East affairs in February and August 2018. Three further Fellows have been selected to attend the Perennial Fellows Program in Seattle in October 2018. A range of Fellows have been introduced by Fellowship staff to Iraqi and international mentors and contacts to help them further develop their campaigns and their careers. The best campaigns have been offered opportunities for potential financial assistance. The Fellows have also been active in recommending candidates for the 2018/2019 Fellowship Program.