In the heart of rural villages, urban slums, and underserved communities across the Global South, there are women with unshakable potential, mothers, daughters, dreamers, who are brimming with talent, resilience, and the desire to thrive. Yet, they are held back by systemic inequality, lack of access to quality education, and economic barriers that limit their freedom, voice, and opportunity.

This isn’t just a gender issue it’s a sustainability crisis.

Empowering women isn’t a fringe benefit of development; it’s the cornerstone of any lasting, inclusive, and sustainable transformation. And that’s where the UPG Sustainability Leadership Program steps in, not just as an educational initiative, but as a global movement that is equipping changemakers to rewrite the narrative.

The Urgency of Upskilling: Why Women in the Global South Deserve More

Across the Global South, millions of women are trapped in cycles of poverty not because they lack ability, but because they lack opportunity. They are underrepresented in leadership roles, underpaid in labor markets, and underserved by training institutions.

Upskilling, through digital literacy, sustainable entrepreneurship, financial education, climate-resilient farming, and more, isn’t just about jobs. It’s about dignity, agency, and power. It's about giving women the tools to lead, not just survive.

And it impacts far more than individuals. When women are empowered, families stabilize, communities flourish, and economies grow. In fact, studies show that closing gender gaps in education and labor participation could add trillions to global GDP.

Yet, without a conscious, inclusive push, led by leaders who understand local context and global frameworks, progress remains too slow.

UPG Sustainability Leadership: A Launchpad for Changemakers

The United People Global (UPG) Sustainability Leadership Program exists to bridge the gap between intention and impact, equipping everyday leaders with the knowledge, mindset, and network to drive real change rooted in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For changemakers working on women’s empowerment, particularly in upskilling underprivileged women, UPG is a game-changer.

Here’s how:

Comprehensive Training: Fellows receive free, world-class sustainability training rooted in actionable solutions, including gender equality (SDG 5), quality education (SDG 4), and decent work (SDG 8).
Local Project Development: Participants are guided to design and implement community-level projects many of which focus on empowering women through vocational training, digital skills, health education, climate-smart agriculture, and more.
Global Network and Mentorship: With fellows from over 100 countries, UPG creates a cross-cultural ecosystem where ideas are shared, strategies co-developed, and collaborations sparked—turning local projects into global models.
Visibility and Scale: Top candidates are invited for a fully funded immersive experience in the USA, where they hone leadership skills, pitch ideas, and forge connections that elevate their work to new heights.

Stories of Impact: Real Women, Real Change

Across the Global South, UPG Fellows are rewriting the rules:

In Nigeria, a fellow launched a sewing and digital literacy hub for teen mothers to achieve financial independence.
In India, a changemaker trained rural women in solar panel installation and repair, transforming them into climate warriors.
In Peru, a young leader helped indigenous women market eco-friendly crafts globally, preserving culture and generating income.

These are not exceptions. They are the seeds of systemic change, planted by leaders who chose to rise and took UPG’s hand in doing so.

Beyond Training: Building a Sustainable Sisterhood

What makes UPG unique is its heart. It's not just about data points or policy briefs, it’s about people. It’s about creating a sisterhood of support, where underprivileged women aren't seen as victims, but as co-creators of their futures.

And for the changemakers, whether you're a grassroots educator, social entrepreneur, tech trainer, or policy advocate, UPG gives you the tools to design solutions that work and the community to back you up.

Conclusion: This Is Her Moment. And Yours.

In every underserved woman lies a leader. A builder. A voice the world desperately needs to hear. But she can’t do it alone. She needs someone to teach her to code, to manage finances, to speak up, to grow food sustainably, to lead with confidence.

Maybe that someone is you.

With the UPG Sustainability Leadership Program, you can become more than a changemaker. You can become a torchbearer for the future, one woman at a time.

Empower her. Empower yourself. Join the movement. Build the world we all deserve.

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Joey Prescott

Empower Her Future: How UPG Sustainability Leadership Champions Upskilling for Underprivileged Women in the Global South by Joey Prescott