July 2021
Image courtesy of Fu Lun Youth Association
Macao Magazine 65
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ducation. Empowerment. Experience. The Fu Lun Youth Association of Macau has been serving the city’s young female community. Fu Lun, also known as the Women’s General Association of Macau, is one of a kind in the city. In 2018, the United Nations granted the association special consultative status and it is the only NGO to represent Macao at the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. As part of its mission to empower women, Fu Lun has introduced several programmes, including the International Affairs Training Program (IATP). Debuted in 2014, the certificate programme now welcomes 100 talented, ambitious young women each year, arming them with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected, globalised world.
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“The local market is small, so we hope to widen local women’s vision of the world,” says a spokesperson of the Fu Lun Youth Association of Macau. “In the programme, they have a chance to explore their potential, expand their knowledge and gain insights into various fields and industries.”
Local talent, global affairs In 2016, 40 participants were selected from 100 applications. In both 2020 and 2021, more than 300 applications were received and 100 participants were selected. The IATP is very competitive and requires a multi-step application process, including an interview undertaken in Cantonese, Mandarin and English; and group discussions and solo presentations on local
