Libyan women find out more about self-development

By Taziz Hasairi.

Tripoli, 1 March 2014:

Libyan women of all ages and from a range of backgrounds gathered this weekend to participate . . .[restrict]in a self-development programme.

The four-day event, part of the British Council’s Springboard programme, was held at the Mahari Radisson Blu hotel and attracted women from civil societies and business women, as well as individuals interested in self-development.

Workshops covered areas including skills assessment, goal-setting, confidence-building, image-building and networking. Through the programme women assess themselves, and learn ways to set goals, develop practical skills and enhance the self-confidence needed to achieve those goals.

The main aim of the programme was to give women the skills to make a positive contribution to society, said the vice president of British council in Libya and manager of the Springboard programme, Awatef Shawesh.

So far, she added, the women’s development programme had reached more than 300 women in Libya, and over 15,000 throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The international programme has been tailored to fit with Middle Eastern society and culture.

Springboard was launched in Libya last year, when five Libyan women were sent to Lebanon for training, so they could bring ideas and methodologies back to Libya. Two of the trainees, writer and researcher Turkia Alwair and dentist Huwaida Diab, also the president of a youth and women forum, gave speeches at the event.

The Springboard programme includes four initial workshops followed by another in six months’ time. [/restrict]