The Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) is Miriam College’s specialized center for research, training, and advocacy on women’s rights, gender equality and non-sexist learning in support of the leadership of young women and students.
WAGI is a Filipino word, which means “win” in English. The term epitomizes the long term objective of the Women and Gender Institute, which is to achieve women’s empowerment and gender equality in society as this will, in the end, result in a win-win situation for both women and men.
VISION
An institute that promotes a culture of non-violence, non-discrimination, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Â
MISSION
WAGI advocates non-sexist learning, feminist scholarship and training, young women’s leadership formation and gender mainstreaming in public policy.Â
GOAL
The mission of WAGI is to chart directions for the school’s women and gender programs through initiatives in gender-fair education, feminist research and advocacy on women’s rights. It does so by offering a cross-discipline perspective on women’s empowerment that is interlinked with democracy, human rights, social justice and value formation.Â
Activities for Students
Young Women’s Leadership Program
To prepare today’s young women to become tomorrow’s leaders, the YWL program conducts leadership seminars and workshops for young women, by young women. The program traverses class, ethnic, political and religious boundaries to bring young women together. Collectively they envision, create, and collaborate as social change agents, encouraged to build their own feminist paradigms that uphold gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Young Women’s Leadership Training
The Women and Gender Institute, in partnership with the HEU Office of Student Affairs conducts an annual leadership training for student leaders. Various activities and learning sessions are conducted during the training to help the students hone their feminist leadership.
Young Women’s Leadership Conference
WAGI brings together young women from different colleges and universities to discuss issues of young women today. This conference aims to encourage leadership skills, hone feminist lenses, and build networks among young women.Â
Women's Month
In celebration of the International Women’s Month, WAGI in partnership with the Miriam College community holds a series of events such as webinars, training sessions, and conversations on pressing gender issues.Â
These are some activities for students conducted during Women’s Month:
PROGRAMS
Gender Fair Education (GFE) Program
Building a culture of gender fairness in our schools is one of WAGI’s top priorities. The GFE program develops the capacity of educators and school administrators in gender-fair learning, non-sexist language, feminist research methodologies, among other gender-fair pedagogical approaches. By integrating perspectives, values and strategies related to the mainstreaming of women’s rights, and gender equality and inclusion in all aspects of education, WAGI works with schools to create pillars for a gender-fair society.
Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Program
Recognizing the voices of women in conflict and post-conflict situations is essential to building just and lasting peace. The GPS program seeks to do exactly this by highlighting the gender dimensions in war, militarism, conflict, peace and security. The program articulates an alternative security paradigm that is gender-responsive and inclusive of women's initiatives to end war and contributions to peace building.
Gender and Development (GAD) Program
In helping to build a democratic and equitable society for women and people of all genders, the GAD program collaborates with government agencies, private institutions, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to hold interactive gender training activities. Through these collaborations WAGI promotes critical gender awareness, equal opportunity policies, and socially inclusive practices be it in the workplace, school campuses, or household.
Young Women's Leadership (YWL) Program
To prepare today’s young women to become tomorrow’s leaders, the YWLD program conducts leadership seminars and workshops for young women, by young women. The program traverses class, ethnic, political and religious boundaries to bring young women together. Collectively they envision, create, and collaborate as social change agents, encouraged to build their own feminist paradigms that uphold gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Feminist Research Program
When advocating for women’s empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion, WAGI understands that the barriers to a gender equal society are constantly evolving. Through the IFR program, WAGI’s annual journal Quilted Sightings, features new thinking and feminist research studies on a wide array of topics. With a focus on local, national, and regional issues, the journal aims to contribute to the enrichment of a feminist global south perspectives, that engage and challenge traditional frameworks and western notions of feminism.
Mid-Year Training Institute
The Midyear Training Institute is WAGI’s commitment to teaching and life-long learning of gender related theories and practices. The WAGI Training Institute targets schools, government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, offering week-long intensive courses on topics such as Gender-Fair Education (GFE), International Women’s Human Rights (IWHR), Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB), Migration and Development (MD), and Gender, Sexuality and Student Youth Well-Being (GSSYW).
The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund
The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund is a tribute to WAGI’s first Executive Director. The face of southern feminism would not be what it is today if it were not for Prof. Gigi Francisco’s valiant efforts and perseverance. She was at the forefront of the women’s movements in the Philippines and has co-founded various organizations such as the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI).
The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund is committed to supporting research and training primarily in the area of gender, development, and economic globalization.
This program is a collaborative project of WAGI and the MC Department of International Studies.
Internship and Volunteer Program
WAGI is proud to have a set of volunteers providing assistance to the center. Some of these volunteers, also known as WAGIRLS, have become part of the WAGI family because of their commitment and determination. They are empowered young women (and men), who are always ready when called upon. They do not shy away from any task that is given to them. Whether it be to dance, assist high-profile individuals, or gather students together in a campaign, these young people will ensure the task is done.
We need vibrant, creative, and empowered individuals who can stand up and speak out on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment! The tasks students or individuals are given range from assisting in our Annual Mid-Year Training Programs to organizing events, research, pub mats, and administrative responsibilities. The volunteers and interns of WAGI have become a close-knit group and are a part of the WAGI family. Our veterans have learned to be empowered rise to the occasion, and offer their talents and services when called. Skills and lessons they learn from WAGI are most often useful after they graduate.
Email at <wagi@mc.edu.ph> & <wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph> and attach a copy of your resume and cover letter addressed to our Executive Director, Ms. Melanie Reyes, DSD.
Resource Materials
Other Training Services
WAGI offers training and research services for government, private sectors, NGOs, academe, etc. locally and globally. WAGI works in hyflex. Training sessions can be conducted online or in person. Some of the topics we offer include:
Gender Fair Education [includes training on gender fair language and safe online education]
International Women’s Human Rights and Governance
Migration and Development
Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting
Gender, Sexuality, and Student Youth Wellbeing
Research on Women ang Gender
Links
Connect with us!
Staff
Melanie Reyes, DSD
Executive Director,
Women and Gender Institute
mmreyes@mc.edu.ph
wagi@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Aurora Javate-de Dios
Senior Project Director, Women and Gender Institute
oyiededios65@gmail.com
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Shenina Badua
Technical Assistant,
Women and Gender Institute
sbadua@mc.edu.ph
wagi@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Frances Therese G. Zabala
Project Coordinator
Women and Gender Institute
fzabala@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Susan Albao
Finance Admin,
Women and Gender Institute
salbao@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Gracia Francesca C. Abuel
Documentations Officer,
Women and Gender Institute
gabuel@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
1st floor, ESI Building, Miriam College, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, 1108
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