Grantee Profile

Wedu unlocks the potential of young female leaders in South East Asia’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) via mentorship and innovative finance.  Wedu leadership feels that supporting these young leaders is a form of supporting constructive systemic change because these women can eventually influence change in their countries in their chosen fields of interest (eg, health, business, education).  The Wedu model uses local Talent Spotters to select girls and women with unusually high leadership potential.  Participants, called “Rising Stars,” are each selected in one of the 4 application cycles per year.  The Rising Stars get 1-to-1 mentorship for their leadership development and access to funding for university study.  The goal is for participants to repay some portion of the funds received and stay in the Wedu community as mentors, investors, and Talent Spotters. In mid-2014, the number of Wedu Rising Stars reached 50.

About Our Grants

In 2017, the Woodcock Foundation awarded Wedu a $100,000 grant. This grant supports Wedu’s innovative approach to cultivating local female leadership in some of the least developed parts of the world.