The Big Sister / Little Sister (BS/LS) idea was born last year at the IFLA Congress in Durban, at a brainstorming meeting lead by the Women Information and Libraries (WIL) conveners to establish future objectives for the Discussion Group. The idea is to start an international mentorship scheme lead by women willing to help other women to learn their way around the IFLA structure and to develop their professional skills to their full potential. WIL DG conveners agreed to take this idea forward and put it to you at this year’s Conference. Although the original idea was suggested by colleagues from developing countries, the BS/LS scheme does not intend to be for professionals in developed countries to mentor professionals in developing countries or vice versa, but for all to be part of a multi-cultural, cross-sectoral mentorship scheme where women professionals from all over the world would contribute their time and knowledge. For the BS/LS mentorship scheme to take off, we need your involvement; we need both mentees and mentors willing to add their names to the mentorship database which will be created in the new IFLA website, and maintained by members of WIL

L’idée du Big Sister/Little Sister est née l’année dernière au congrès de IFLA à Durban dans le cadre d’un brainstorming (remue-méninges) mené par le Groupe de discussion (DG) sur les femmes, l’information et les bibliothèques ( WIL) dans le but d’établir de futurs objectifs pour le Groupe. L’objectif est de démarrer un projet international de mentorat mené par des femmes désirant aider d’autres femmes à s’approprier le fonctionnement de IFLA et à développer leurs aptitudes professionnelles à leur pleine capacité. Les organisateurs de WIL DG ont convenu de mettre de l’avant cette idée et de vous la présenter cette année à la Conférence. Bien que l’idée originale ait été suggérée par des collègues de pays en développement, le projet BS/LS n’a pas pour but de demander aux professionnels des pays développés de servir de mentors pour les professionnels des pays en développement ou vice-versa, mais bien pour tous de faire partie d’un projet de mentorat multiculturel et transectoriel dans lequel des femmes professionnelles du monde entier contribueront de leur temps et de leurs connaissances.

the next generation of nonprofit leaders: A practical guide for managersAbout the Academy for Educational Development Founded in 1961, the Academy for Educational Development (www.aed.org) is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to solving critical social problems and building the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to become more self-sufficient. AED works in all the major areas of human development, with a focus on improving education, health, and economic opportunities for the least advantaged in the United States and developing countries throughout the world. About the AED Center for Leadership Development Through exchange, training, and education opportunities, the AED Center for Leadership Development seeks to offer present and future leaders experiences to elevate their skills, stimulate their creativity, and enhance their impact and effectiveness. The Center leadership programs encourage civic responsibility and participation, grassroots development, networking, and coalition building. The Center focuses on programming in three areas:

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The piece that follows was sent to me by Andy Roberts in the U.K. and is reprinted with his permission.