The program was initiated to train young women and inspire them to take up leadership for global gender equity in different aspects of life.

The first program was held in the summer of 2000 at Manhattanville College. There were 28 women, age 18-24 from 15 different Latin American countries. They were selected from a pool of 100 candidates nominated by affiliates of Women’s World Banking, The Inter American Development Bank and local professors.

The majority of the students enrolled for the summer courses at ELI (the English Language Institute) to improve their English proficiency and graduated with Action Plans to implement in their countries. 

In 2001 a diverse group of young women age18-34 from Africa and Latin America were selected. Similar to GSL 2000 the students were nominated by Women’s World Banking affiliates and created Action plans to implement when they returned.

In 2002 the plan included 5 former participants to engage as interns and 1 program coordinator. 30 participants had been identified; however, following September 11th tragedy in New York the impossibility of gaining short-term student visas resulted to program postponement.

GSL2003 comprised 8 young women age 18-28 from Africa and America. These students launched the GSL Website. After the program they were set to return home to implement their Action Plans and have continued to build on their experience via the GSLNET.

The 2004 summer training was cancelled due to failure of obtaining visas to the USA. Michaela Walsh and President Berman visited Schools and Universities in Africa. As a result Memorandum of Understanding were signed, strengthening GSL affiliation and brought into play new partner schools

GSL2005 involved two programs, the first of its kind held at the University of Dares Salaam in Tanzania, 26 male and female students with professors. While the program at Manhattanville College, New York had 8 participants from Africa, America and Europe. After the 6-week intensive training they too returned with hope of bringing positive change to their communities.

This year we again held two trainings at University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with 26 Participants from East Africa, USA and Rwanda. The Manhattanville College New York program had 6 students from Europe and America. The Students were sponsored by IPPF, OSI Roma Participation Program and Banco de Bogotá WWB affiliates Colombia.

For 2007 we are hoping former students, help sponsors identify potential candidates for the next summer for both the GSL Africa and USA programs.  Recruitment for GSL2007 is already in progress.