On 15 September 2025, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP) launched the 5th edition of Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme, an activity of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) established by the VCDNP in 2021 on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).
The Mentorship Programme pairs 20 young women (mentees), chosen through a highly competitive selection process, with well-established experts in the field (mentors). Mentors and mentees engage in a mentoring relationship that envisions, among other things, regular video or in-person meetings. Through a dedicated Sponsorship scheme, mentees are also offered an opportunity to attend conferences, seminars, social events, and other activities, allowing them to benefit from networking and career development opportunities.
Welcome remarks were delivered by the VCDNP Executive Director, Elena K. Sokova, and the EUNPDC Chair Sibylle Bauer, who both played pivotal roles in creating the Programme and highlighted the importance of supporting and empowering young professionals to drive positive change in non-proliferation and disarmament.
Two former mentees, Amanda Narhan Pereira (2022-2023) and Maya Hammam, (2024-2025), together with former mentor Ana Sanchez Cobaleda, and returning mentor Yasmin Afina, shared their personal experiences participating in previous editions of the Programme as well as recommendations for the new cohort.
After a round of introductions, VCDNP Senior Research Associate Federica Dall’Arche offered an overview of the Programme, discussing expectations and opportunities for mentors and mentees, as well as upcoming activities, including the EUNPDC Annual Conference in Brussels, which was presented by Ettore Greco, Executive Vice-President of the Istituto Affari Internazionali.
Karolina Proprentner, Office and Events Manager at the VCDNP, presented the dedicated social media spotlight campaign which features mentors and mentees and introduces their backgrounds and interests to a wider audience in the non-proliferation and disarmament field.
The VCDNP looks forward to working with this new cohort of bright and motivated mentees and thanks returning and new mentors for generously volunteering their time and expertise for the 2025 edition of the Programme.
The Young Women in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (YWNPD) Mentorship Programme is made possible thanks to the generous financial support of the European Union.
