The European Women's Academy is our annual state-of-the-art training programme, in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and the European Liberal Forum, for female politicians aimed at inspiring and enriching them with the knowledge and tools to be successful in their upcoming elections and in their future political careers.

After successful programmes in 2016 and 2017, the 2018 edition was launched earlier this year. On 8-11 June the 30 ambitious participants from all over Europe gathered for the second session of this year’s programme in Potsdam, Germany.

Wat een prachtige en historische plek! Zoiets voor de @VMStichting vinden @coenbrummer ? #ewa #ELFEvent #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/ujWecglOsc

— Emily van de Vijver (@emily_vijver) June 8, 2018

Second session of #EuropeanWomensAcademy in Potsdam has just started! It is so great to see all my liberal female friends from all over Europe again :) #ELFevent #EWA #ALDEParty pic.twitter.com/xsGQofAIwR

— Joanna Burnos (@BurnosJoanna) June 8, 2018

For this session, the participants continued their work on their campaign plans and developed their skills in canvassing, public speaking, messaging and social media. They also worked on the concrete challenges women face in politics, and how to turn these into strengths.

European #WomensAcademy director @llaussade: “Canvassing is more than convincing someone to vote for you. It's about building relationships with & hearing your voters” pic.twitter.com/AadI1jNnBg

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 8, 2018

The session also included inspirational speeches by 2016 EWA alumna and Chair of the German Bundestag Finance Committee, Bettina Stark-Watzinger MdB and by Ria Schröder, Leader of the FDP Young Liberals (JuLis).

https://twitter.com/llaussade/status/1005163576326348802

.@ria_schroeder, newly elected leader of @jungeliberale: "Women shouldn't see other #women as their opponents - if we choose to support each other, we're so much stronger" #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/q9yFwjjlTI

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 10, 2018

ALDE Party Vice President Annelou van Egmond also joined the participants on their last day to share her personal experience on navigating politics as a woman.

Competition for women are mediocre men, not the other women. @AnnelouEgmond at @ALDEParty #WomensAcademy #ewa2108 #elfevent pic.twitter.com/t0mTX6PXc7

— Karen Melchior😷🧼🇪🇺 (@karmel80) June 11, 2018

Final day #EWA #WomensAcademy #ELFEvent discussing the female force in politics with ambitious political pro’s from #ALDEparty pic.twitter.com/YUE3jisget

— Annelou van Egmond (@AnnelouEgmond) June 11, 2018

The hashtag for the programme #WomensAcademy was trending topic on Twitter in Belgium.

Stay tuned for updates ahead of the 3rd and final session of 2018 on 4-7 October! You can find more information about the first session in April and the names of the 2018 participants here and about the European Women’s Academy programme here.

.@simonbucknall: “Change - it starts in the way people think, feel and act. To create change - that's what you have to work with.” #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/CO6Y8BHFbT

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 9, 2018

Ian Marquardt, trainer on #campaign plan & strategy: “It's easy for people to choose status quo. What they need is a credible alternative - someone who shows they will do a better job for them" #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/pX5Q5lY0d6

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 9, 2018

Once more politically active women all over the Europe is coming together to #EWA to peer learn how to pass on the message and reach out to the communities. Thanks Max for data knowledge. This time in #FNF office in Potsdam #ELFEvent #ELFfamouse #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/ycMcuZ6rH3

— Airis Meier (@AirisMeier) June 8, 2018

.@digitalkatrien, Communication Advisor to @alexanderdecroo: “#Socialmedia is a powerful tool - but only when people see and hear each other” #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/YjGvPM3ewy

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 9, 2018

Full day training on messaging with Grace Pardy: “You all have a story. And you all have a message. You have to make it speak to people & you have to make it stick." #WomensAcademy pic.twitter.com/mRDdaXA5iG

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) June 10, 2018

Session 2 this weekend #EuropeanWomensAcademy #EWA @ALDEParty @ALDEgroup pic.twitter.com/0hPw4VrgM2

— Emma Murphy (@ladublinoise) June 9, 2018

🇪🇺@susanasolisp, diputada de @Cs_Madrid, participa hoy en la II Sesión de formación en liderazgo para mujeres liberales, de la Academia Europea de Mujeres (#EWA) organizada en #Potsdam (Alemania) por @FNFreiheit #WomensAcademy, #ELFEvent pic.twitter.com/eHw337SsZ5

— Ciudadanos Europa 🇪🇺🇪🇸 (@Cs_Europa) June 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/llaussade/status/1005904136578224131