Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI) Mentorship Alumni Regional Meeting in Vienna  

On 7 May 2025, the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP), within the framework of the Young Women and Next Generation Initiative (YWNGI), organised the second Mentorship Alumni Regional Meeting for participants of the YWNGI Mentorship Programme. The event brought together current and past participants of the Programme for an afternoon of reflection, dialogue, and connection. 

Held at the VCDNP premises in the Andromeda Tower, the meeting welcomed alumni based in Vienna and nearby regions. The gathering provided an opportunity for participants across four cohorts to meet in person, share experiences from their mentorship journey, and expand their professional networks. Participants engaged in networking and creative activities, while reflecting on the four editions of the Mentorship Programme. 

Opening remarks were delivered by VCDNP Executive Director Elena K. Sokova, who highlighted the programme’s role in supporting a more inclusive and representative non-proliferation and disarmament field. 

The agenda featured two interactive sessions: 

• Mentorship Speed Round, a fast-paced, dynamic, rotating conversation format enabling participants to reconnect and strengthen peer-to-peer bonds, while sharing professional updates, personal insights, lighthearted anecdotes, and motivational takeaways.  

• Brushstrokes of Experience: A Cross-Generational Creative Dialogue, where alumni and mentors expressed their mentorship journeys and professional reflections through a collaborative painting activity, while engaging in reflective discussions on the evolution of their career paths and lessons learned. 

The meeting concluded with a networking reception, offering participants a relaxed setting to continue conversations and explore future collaborations. 

The event was organised in the frameworks of the YWNGI, a flagship initiative of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (EUNPD) Consortium. The initiative aims to inspire young women and emerging experts to explore careers in arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation through mentorship, capacity-building, and outreach. The programme is made possible by the generous support of the European Union.