Arab Women's Leadership Institute Honors Community Members

Amman – The Arab Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI) held on Dec. 10 the second annual forum of its members.  It honored a number of local and Arab civil society women activists.  The forum was held at Kempinski –Amman Hotel.

AWLI Board Chair Tami Longaberger expressed her happiness for the presence of women from the Middle East who are capable of leading their community projects and of aiming with their ambitions for the better.  She valued the efforts of the working and training staff and the women who participated in the training courses of AWLI, which opened its offices in Amman three years ago to serve Arab women.

Longaberger indicated, in the presence of Jeffrey Lilley, director of the IRI-Jordan Branch, and a number of ambassadors and Senate members, the importance of dialogue and networking between the members of AWLI and leading women on supporting civil society, especially at present concurrently with the Arab Spring.

Longaberger added that the Arab revolutions, which are still raging, will blossom and contribute to supporting women's aspirations.  She stressed that AWLI has worked to include the outcome of the Arab Spring in next year's plans through the participation of Arab women, who will discuss their ideas on development and on their social conditions.

On the sidelines of the forum, AWLI presented honorary plaques to five women who succeeded in benefiting from the courses offered by AWLI, and who contributed to serving their communities through competition for the Leadership Challenge Award for 2011.

The "Social Networking Advocate" Award was won by Hasnaa Chehabi from Morocco for taking a leading role in democracy promotion and community advocacy through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networking sites, or through a website they created and/or blogging. 

The "Pacesetter Award" was granted to Jamila Khrichef, from Morocco, for her programs and contributions to advocating for issues on the national or local levels.

The "Shepherd Award" was won by Fatimah Al 'Aqarbeh from Jordan, for managing and sponsoring a local civil society organization and supporting community issues through courses and seminars. 

The "Blossoming Champion Award" went to Imen Benhamed from Tunisia, for showing exceptional leadership and potential to support her community and country.  The "Service Award" went to Hiyam Al-Amro from Jordan, who occupied a government position.  The award goes to women who assume important posts and utilize their capabilities in official work and decision-making.

The annual awards presented by AWLI under the slogan "Leadership Challenge Award" aim at improving the lives of the most needy segments, to include improving health care, providing access to potable water, education, environment cleaning, and providing opportunities for attaining jobs or economic opportunities.  That also includes ensuring labor rights, improving wages and benefits, working to lower violence and crime in the local communities, and other activities that make life a little better for the members of the local communities.

Longaberger said in a statement to Al-Ghad that AWLI has been working for over three years to support women in the Arab world and to provide them with additional skills to lead their projects aimed at serving the local community.  She pointed out that AWLI's plans for next year, and in consultation with the members, will address major changes and challenges associated with the situation in the Arab region, especially with regard to the spring of revolutions.

Longaberger said: "We admire the achievements of the Arab people.  We will work to create new opportunities for a large number of women, who are selected according to what the woman can prove in serving or improving the lives of other members of the community."

On the advancement of the Arab women as far as development projects are concerned, Longaberger indicated that this is difficult to measure, for no research papers or studies are available to measure the development of the local community service.  At the same time, she indicated that seeking change toward the better is measured by the extent the Arab women seek to acquire training for their leadership projects, which would increase opportunities provided by AWLI to effect a change for the better.

On support and finance, Barbara Broomell, the Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa programs at the International Republican Institute, said that AWLI is affiliated with the IRI.  She pointed out that the project was established through funding by the National Endowment for Democracy.  It then started to support itself by seeking funding from individuals, civil society organizations, and women seeking to support other women in different areas.  She stressed that the AWLI is currently working to be self-financed and self-supported.

Dr Eman al-Hussein, vice chair of AWLI, said AWLI has been for some time holding meetings with the members to draft plans for next year.  She added that the presence of women leaders and women decision-makers at the second AWLI conference has proved AWLI's efforts to serve effective women in civil society and guide them toward the better.

According to Amie Woeber, AWLI executive director in Jordan, women can join AWLI by contacting the AWLI office in Jordan, which also provides a special website for on-line communication at http://www.arabwomenleadership.org in both Arabic and English, in addition to a Facebook page.

Woeber stressed that all the courses in which women participate are available in Arabic, and that it is not a requirement for participation for women to have any linguistic capabilities.

AWLI has been working since its establishment to promote democracy development for women in the Arab region through providing the skills, resources, and contacts necessary for their success as elected or appointed officials within the civil society framework, and their success as local community leaders.

AWLI roots its foundation in the belief that the path toward a democratic Arab world is only possible with the integral political and social participation of women.

The staff of AWLI is made up of Executive Director Amie Woeber, Program Officer Feda’a Al-Qudah, and Office Manager Saria Haddadin. The AWLI Executive Board is chaired by the successful American businesswoman Tami Longaberger.  She has seven chairs from different Arab countries.  These are Dr Wajeeha Sadeq Al Baharnah, Dr. Sundus Abbas, Dr. Eman Al-Hussein, Wafa'a Abdulqader Al-Jasem, Mariam Kairouz Aucar, Dr. Najat Zarrouq, Dr. Lilly Fiedy.  The Executive Board provides guidance and follow up for the work of the Institute.

Published by Al-Ghad Newspaper, written by Sawsan Mikhil

December 11, 2011

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