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| WIT Connections |
Winter 2010 Newsletter |
Dear Friends,
Women in Technology concluded 2009 with unprecedented impact having trained 60 local women's organizations and 7,000 women in the Middle East and North Africa -- 2000 in Yemen alone! The Middle East Partnership Initiative of the U.S. Department of State continued its strong financial and logistical support from Washington and through the U.S. Embassies in the nine countries where we operate. We are grateful for their ongoing spirit of partnership and trust.
Our other key partner, Microsoft, recently won theof the Year from the Un 'Best Arab Corporate Social Responsibility Award' ion of Arab ICT Association in recognition of its significant contribution to empowering women through programs such as WIT. According to Zaki Khoury, Business Manager, Microsoft Gulf, "This recognition is providing us with even more incentive to pursue our support to technology-enabled women's initiatives." We are proud to work with Microsoft to achieve its goals around women's empowerment.
Sincerely,
Heather Ramsey, Director
Women in Technology, IIE
West Coast Center, San Francisco
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 When Nahid Al Hajri*, a mother of four, first joined the WIT training program, she never imagined that she would one day join the ranks of women who use technology to educate others. As a student Nahid stood out as one of the most active and dedicated in her class. "I believe that technology develops our personalities and enables us to catch up with the future," she states.
Nahid intended to find a job when she completed the program but faced many obstacles as professional opportunities for women are scarce. WIT Bahrain's program manager recognized Nahid's drive and dedication to furthering women's education and offered her a position as a trainer for the WIT program. Nahid eagerly accepted and is excelling as a trainer for WIT Bahrain. Her new position brings a sense of accomplishment and allows her to make a difference in the lives of her students.
*Name changed for privacy
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Like most of her classmates, Kholoud had never heard of a 'blog'. Introduced to this new form of communication through WIT, she now enjoys writing her thoughts and sharing them with people around the world. Kholoud posts as often as possible and continually works on the design of her blog. She isn't afraid to discuss controversial topics and frequently posts her opinions on various socio-political issues.
Last month, Kholoud submitted her blog to WIT Yemen's first Blogging Competition. The contest, which has received 40 entries so far, will award prizes to the top three blogs created by WIT participants across Yemen. Blogs will be selected based on content, layout and overall quality. Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), a GSM company, is donating cell phones for the winners and calling cards for participants of what is possibly the first blogging competition for women in the country. The WIT program in Yemen has trained more than 500 women in blogging since January 2009.
While Kholoud is hopeful that her blog will be amongst the finalists, she is absolutely certain that irrespective of the result, she will continue to blog.
Check out her blog: http://kholoudambition.blogspot.com/ |
 WIT Lebanon Program Manager Nada Hamzeh was honored to meet with a delegation of distinguished U.S. Congress members who visited Lebanon in November 2009 to strengthen partnerships with the Lebanese Parliament.
Nada was selected by MEPI (Middle Eastern Partnership Initiative) to share the achievements of the WIT Lebanon program and its impact on Lebanese communities. She was one of only twelve NGO representatives from Lebanon invited to speak.
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Too often women have questions but no place to voice them and seek potential answers. This holds especially true in Saudi Arabia where women are faced with limited mobility and restricted access to information. The WIT Professional Development Network (PDN) at Effat University recognizes and meets this vital need for information. Women who participate in WIT have the rare opportunity to network and discuss topics in a safe and open atmosphere outside of their homes. For many women, the PDN serves as the first point of information for crucial topics such as cervical and breast cancer, sex education and many more.
One recent event, a session titled Prepare Yourself for Marriage, provided women with an introduction to sex education. The lecture, given by a local doctor, discussed sexual relations between a husband and wife from a scientific point of view. For many women in the audience, it is likely the only instruction they will ever have on the topic. Other recent wellness lectures have focused on women's health, family issues, physical fitness, nutrition and skin care. Ultimately, access to this information allows women to be proactive and make informed decisions that so many of us take for granted.
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 In November 2009, WIT's Professional Development Network (PDN) in Rabat gathered with representatives from a local University and leaders from the Center for Women and Democracy in Seattle to share techniques and strategies for career development through social networking and blogging.
WIT participants began by expressing their enthusiasm for the WIT blogging training and shared how blogging has transformed their personal and professional lives.
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Rudwan glows when she talks about her experiences with WIT. "When I heard about the program, I believed that it would help me achieve my ambitions and I have found that WIT has brought me closer to my goals in the area of IT as well as my relationships." Her positive sentiment is shared by fellow WIT graduate, Ameera Al-Ma'taitah who also gladly shared her personal experiences.
The WIT program helped both Rudwan and Ameera overcome several challenging obstacles.
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 Heather Murphy, WIT Program Officer, traveled to the United Arab Emirates in December 2009 to meet with program stakeholders and see WIT training centers in action. The visit was a valuable opportunity for Heather to speak with local women who benefit from WIT.
Heather states, "the overwhelming excitement that these women display is humbling. They truly are the backbone of this project and so eager to take advantage of additional trainings. Their thirst for knowledge is tangible and WIT goes a long way in answering their needs."
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| Please feel free to contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing your opinions and suggestions. |
| Women in Technology (WIT) for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region is funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State, managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) West Coast Center and implemented in collaboration with Microsoft and local partners in nine countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen. |
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