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Making a dream come true!

As a child, who did you dream of becoming? A scientist who would find the cure for cancer? A teacher who would mold young lives? A fireman who would rescue people from burning buildings? I dreamed of becoming a politician who would build a better future for our children.

Growing up, most kids had posters of rock stars on their walls; on the other hand my walls were filled with the photographs of political world leaders that I had cut out of newspapers. Back then, very few of those leaders were women and one of them was Margaret Thatcher. We are in 2009 this is still the case, we do not have enough women in politics.

To follow my dream, I studied political science and became involved in politics, working as a campaign manager, a grassroots director, a fundraiser and a lobbyist in USA. After gaining much experience, I returned to my native country of Turkey to run for office. I was selected by my political party to run as a vice president. At the age of 29, I was the youngest person ever elected for this position in the history of Turkish politics.

Being young and a woman I face many obstacles. Many people can say that women and men in politics face the same obstacles especially it is not the case. Even in 2008 American Presidential Election, people and the media talk about more about Palin’s spending on dresses or how Hillary Clinton can be though on policies as a women especially in the time of Iraq War. But we did not hear these cases for male candidates.

Because how the people approaches to the women in politics, there are not many women out there to get involved in politics. So I have decided to create this website www.youngwomeninpolitics.com to help women to run for office and to be elected around the world.

The main purpose of the website is where women around the world can connect, discuss running for office and receive free information and training about “Running for Office”. This website will be the first step in creating a worldwide network of women who are running for office or currently serving in public office, while training young women to enter the political field.

It is my childhood dream which I am trying to make it happen. I want to see more women in politics around the world. As a woman, we need to remember that we can achieve anything we want, we just need to believe in ourselves. I do believe in you! Always remember that the first step to success is to belive in yourself!

Tuğba Kalafatoğlu

Founder - V♀TE

www.youngwomeninpolitics.org
www.womeninpolitics.org