The U.S. Department of State and espnW are proud to announce the mentor organizations and international emerging leaders participating in the 2014 Global Sports Mentoring Program, September 7 - October 9. Now in its third year, this program supports the Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports Initiative, advancing the rights and participation of women and girls around the world by using sports as a vehicle toward greater opportunity and inclusion. Past program participants have been inspired to launch initiatives in their home communities, such as 2013 emerging leader Hayam Essam, mentored by executives at the Professional Golf Association of America, who established a basketball program that teaches girls in Egypt life skills through afterschool basketball sessions and youth development activities in a safe setting.

This year, the emerging leaders hail from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Haiti, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

Top U.S. women executives in sports will work side by side with 17 emerging female leaders from around the world to share valuable business and leadership skills. The mentors will also support the emerging leaders as they develop strategic action plans aimed to create additional sports opportunities for underserved women and girls upon their returns home. Through sports, women and girls learn about peaceful competition, hard work, leadership, and teamwork -- all attributes that equip them to help create stronger, more productive, and stable communities. This year, mentors represent the following companies and organizations: Burton Snowboards; DLA Piper; ESPN; NCAA; the National Hockey League; Procter Gamble; the Professional Golf Association of America; Playworks; Saatchi Saatchi; U.S. Olympic Committee; Wasserman; Women in Cable Telecommunications; Women’s National Basketball Association; Women’s Sports Foundation, and Women’s Tennis Association.

This collaboration between the U.S. Department of State and espnW, facilitated by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, aims to engage, inspire, and empower a new generation of women and girls through sports.

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #EmpowerWomen.

For more information, please contact of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECA-Press@state.gov or Tara Chozet, ESPN at Tara.C.Chozet@espn.com.