As part of AWAM's efforts to build the capacity of young Malaysian women to engage with the media, we started the Writers for Women's Rights Programme (WWRP) in 2005. This project was funded by the generous support of the European Commission.

Targeting those between the ages of 18 and 32, the WWRP offers promising young women writers a unique opportunity to develop:

• their understanding of gender and women's issues;
• their writing and analytical skills; and
• their understanding of media issues and their media relations skills and abilities.

All WWRP members attend a live-in workshop where they receive training in these areas. Those selected will have their workshop food and accommodation costs covered by AWAM. Following this, participants are offered practical training in the form of writing letters to the editor, press statements and media articles for AWAM. Experienced writers and trainers are available to guide them and help get their work published in the media. Several of our participants have written letters to newspapers, and articles and essays for print and online publishing.

Thus far, four WWRP workshops have taken place: March 2005, June 2005, February 2006 and November 2006. A fifth workshop will be held in the last quarter of 2007. Those interested and who fill our criteria of participation are invited to submit applications to AWAM.

Presently, under AWAM's supervision, several WWRP 'alumni' are involved in regular discussion sessions on topical issues as part of on-going efforts to broaden their understanding and sharpen critical thinking skills. An example of this is a participant's writing on a talk given by Zainah Anwar of Sisters in Islam on Gender & Islam at AWAM.

As part of the programme, WWRP 'alumni' submitted work for a book project titled "Young Women Speak Out" which AWAM published in October 2007 (press article in English and in BM).