Selected alongside nine other women to receive the Susan Skinner Memorial Fund Scholarship, Collé was able to connect with her fellow scholars and learn from leaders around the world by attending various workshops, networking events and seminars.
Before I didn’t feel able to take part in the group of decision makers. It seems a bit silly, I have been engaged in my NMO for 18 years… Now I am ready to advocate on women’s issues.
—Yannick Collé, 58, France, 2022 SSMF scholar
The goal of the scholarship—created in honour of the late Susan Skinner—is to promote the engagement of women and girls in the global bleeding disorders community by providing them with opportunities for education, training, and networking. “I made genuine connections and gained valuable skills that will help me further my involvement in the bleeding disorder community,” said Dara Dowling, 22, from Ireland. “In my application for the scholarship, I mentioned I’d like to help my NMO with succession planning. I now have the necessary tools and connections to do so.”
For women and girls whose struggles often go unheard, the SSMF scholarship aims to create an inter-generational bridge of women from around the world who can learn from one another, and empower each other. “I learnt so much from the experiences of other women and how they deal with [different] situations… We must overcome these challenges and work together,” said Esra’a Hussein, 29, from Jordan. Through the spaces that were created for collaboration and exchange, Hussein and other scholars said they felt empowered and supported. “When I need information,” she continued, “I know there are highly experienced people who are always ready to help me. My family and I are not in this alone.”
There is no end to the flame that is ignited when you allow a group of women to have a space to be heard and the confidence to lead through action. The Susan Skinner Memorial Fund directly supports the WFH vision of Treatment for All, where all people with inherited bleeding disorders have access to care, regardless of their type of bleeding disorder, their gender, or where they live.
You can elevate the voices of women and shape the next generation of our community’s leaders. Donate today at give.wfh.org.