Sawsan Mobaideen
I’m journalist Sawsan Mobaideen. I own Mu’ab House for Journalistic and Media Services and Consultations. I’m also the vice president of the Jordanian Association for Voters’ Rights. I have a TV program, “For All Women.” The goal of all these institutions I work at is fighting discrimination against women, working on blending the genders in public life, and the political development of women to allow them to enter Parliament.
I took a course with the Activism Institute in the Middle East because while I do have expertise, I still wanted to polish that expertise using scientific theories to activate my project, or to realize the goals I’m working on, and thankfully, I really benefited from the course, and I hope all of us continue to work on a project through the Activism Institute that will achieve something, and that can be presented to society as an example of what women leaders can do.
I’m journalist Sawsan Mobaideen. I own Mu’ab House for Journalistic and Media Services and Consultations. I’m also the vice president of the Jordanian Association for Voters’ Rights. I have a TV program, “For All Women.” The goal of all these institutions I work at is fighting discrimination against women, working on blending the genders in public life, and the political development of women to allow them to enter Parliament.
I took a course with the Activism Institute in the Middle East because while I do have expertise, I still wanted to polish that expertise using scientific theories to activate my project, or to realize the goals I’m working on, and thankfully, I really benefited from the course, and I hope all of us continue to work on a project through the Activism Institute that will achieve something, and that can be presented to society as an example of what women leaders can do.
Khitam Abdullah
I’m Khitam Isa Abdullah Khudair. I work on the World Bank project with the Ministry of Social Development. I took a course with the Middle East Activism Institute to learn how to prepare an activism plan. I benefited a lot from this course and I hope there will be more intensive courses later, because we gained a lot from this one. It opened our eyes to many goals that we can work on and put us on the right track.
I’m Khitam Isa Abdullah Khudair. I work on the World Bank project with the Ministry of Social Development. I took a course with the Middle East Activism Institute to learn how to prepare an activism plan. I benefited a lot from this course and I hope there will be more intensive courses later, because we gained a lot from this one. It opened our eyes to many goals that we can work on and put us on the right track.
Jinan Al-Nakshabandi
Engineer Jinan Al-Nakshabandi, I’m Iraqi native Jordanian citizenship. Working in North Jordan, Badiya north Jordan help women in empowering their skills. Today I’m…I’m participate with The Online Activism Institute in the Middle East To help women in Badiya how to manage their projects, how to put our ideas together to get maybe a fund for one of our projects.
Thanks.
Engineer Jinan Al-Nakshabandi, I’m Iraqi native Jordanian citizenship. Working in North Jordan, Badiya north Jordan help women in empowering their skills. Today I’m…I’m participate with The Online Activism Institute in the Middle East To help women in Badiya how to manage their projects, how to put our ideas together to get maybe a fund for one of our projects.
Thanks.
Rasmiya Al-Shannaq
Rasmiya Hamza Al-Shannaq. I come from a remote area in Irbid called Sum El-Shannaq. I’m retired, and I’ve been a social activist since about 1979. I’m the general secretary of the Sum El-Shannaq Association for Social Development and a member of more than one association including Al-Nahda Association for the Physically Disabled and Irbid Cultural Forum. I came here as a social activist after I heard about the Activism Institute course for this year. I benefited a lot from this course because I learned a lot, and I met many people who can help me accomplish a successful project. And thankfully, I finished with excellent results.
Rasmiya Hamza Al-Shannaq. I come from a remote area in Irbid called Sum El-Shannaq. I’m retired, and I’ve been a social activist since about 1979. I’m the general secretary of the Sum El-Shannaq Association for Social Development and a member of more than one association including Al-Nahda Association for the Physically Disabled and Irbid Cultural Forum. I came here as a social activist after I heard about the Activism Institute course for this year. I benefited a lot from this course because I learned a lot, and I met many people who can help me accomplish a successful project. And thankfully, I finished with excellent results.
Yasmeen Hany
My name is Yasmeen Hany Mohammed. I’m a member of the Assembly Party, and I took part in the “Future Leadership” project at the Activism Institute, in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies. Actually, I participated in many workshops before, but this one was the first workshop where teaching was done from a distance, with the trainers using the internet. I’m honestly very pleased with this workshop, and it taught me many things, and it taught me how to implement my plan. I also benefited in that I’m now able to strengthen my good qualities and see my weaknesses and work around them in the future.
My name is Yasmeen Hany Mohammed. I’m a member of the Assembly Party, and I took part in the “Future Leadership” project at the Activism Institute, in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies. Actually, I participated in many workshops before, but this one was the first workshop where teaching was done from a distance, with the trainers using the internet. I’m honestly very pleased with this workshop, and it taught me many things, and it taught me how to implement my plan. I also benefited in that I’m now able to strengthen my good qualities and see my weaknesses and work around them in the future.
Maha Sarrawi
Good evening. I’m Maha Sarrawi. I studied media and journalism, and I’m continuing with my Master’s in the same field. I chose this field because I believe it’s possible to achieve some freedom through [the media], and I hope I can do that. I came across a piece in the newspaper about the Center for Liberty in the Middle East, and I realized how much this course could help develop my inner convictions about women’s freedom and finding justice and fairness for them. I applied to the course, and thankfully, I was accepted, and God willing, I will be able to achieve my goals.
The course was useful to me, especially in increasing my passion and stirring many feelings that were buried inside me, because I had lost hope that I could realize them, but by coming here, I felt it’s indeed possible that I can reach my goal, even if the journey is long. In the end I will get there, with the help of a team and not alone, because things are a bit difficult. And God willing, we will be able to determine and assess some of the issues related to fairness, freedom, and justice for women in our society. Thanks.
Good evening. I’m Maha Sarrawi. I studied media and journalism, and I’m continuing with my Master’s in the same field. I chose this field because I believe it’s possible to achieve some freedom through [the media], and I hope I can do that. I came across a piece in the newspaper about the Center for Liberty in the Middle East, and I realized how much this course could help develop my inner convictions about women’s freedom and finding justice and fairness for them. I applied to the course, and thankfully, I was accepted, and God willing, I will be able to achieve my goals.
The course was useful to me, especially in increasing my passion and stirring many feelings that were buried inside me, because I had lost hope that I could realize them, but by coming here, I felt it’s indeed possible that I can reach my goal, even if the journey is long. In the end I will get there, with the help of a team and not alone, because things are a bit difficult. And God willing, we will be able to determine and assess some of the issues related to fairness, freedom, and justice for women in our society. Thanks.
Buthaina El-Bakhit
My name is Buthaina El-Bakhit, and I’m a leadership member in Al-Risala Party. I participated in the third workshop about the activism plan. My main goal was to learn how to make a plan to reach out to sectors of local communities and most importantly, women, and also to focus on developing women, not only educationally and culturally, but also helping them know their rights and empowering them politically to help them get into Parliament and work together with men to change the policies that matter to Jordanian society, and especially the laws that regulate political and social life, which of course concern women, but our society still looks at them as issues that concern men only. Of course, male culture is still dominant in Jordanian society, and so my main goal was learning how to reach out to and communicate with grassroots groups that can influence and change the prevalent ideas in Jordanian society, and especially in rural and Bedouin communities, to enable women to engage in social, political, and educational fields.
My name is Buthaina El-Bakhit, and I’m a leadership member in Al-Risala Party. I participated in the third workshop about the activism plan. My main goal was to learn how to make a plan to reach out to sectors of local communities and most importantly, women, and also to focus on developing women, not only educationally and culturally, but also helping them know their rights and empowering them politically to help them get into Parliament and work together with men to change the policies that matter to Jordanian society, and especially the laws that regulate political and social life, which of course concern women, but our society still looks at them as issues that concern men only. Of course, male culture is still dominant in Jordanian society, and so my main goal was learning how to reach out to and communicate with grassroots groups that can influence and change the prevalent ideas in Jordanian society, and especially in rural and Bedouin communities, to enable women to engage in social, political, and educational fields.
Mayada Fayek
I’m Mayada Fayek Ahmad, a journalist in Al-Ummal newspaper. I took training in the workshop held by the Activism Institute in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies. I’m pleased I was part of this workshop because it was the first workshop that teaches through the internet. It was new and different. I hope I’ll be able to implement my activism plan and hope to reach the mentorship stage, and I hope I’ll get the scholarship and achieve all I put down on paper.
Regarding the curriculum, it was easy, but I think it wouldn’t have been easy without the trainers and their additions. The technology was great, and the program engineers were excellent. They provided all the help they could, and I think without them we wouldn’t have been able to understand things.
As for the participants, they were engaged, and I think we enriched each other’s knowledge. We took suggestions from each other and started talking and discussing issues. The intellectual interaction between the trainers and the participants created a very good environment. It refreshed our information and added new information, so we learned a whole lot, besides learning to use the internet more and use it in an advanced way.
I’m Mayada Fayek Ahmad, a journalist in Al-Ummal newspaper. I took training in the workshop held by the Activism Institute in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies. I’m pleased I was part of this workshop because it was the first workshop that teaches through the internet. It was new and different. I hope I’ll be able to implement my activism plan and hope to reach the mentorship stage, and I hope I’ll get the scholarship and achieve all I put down on paper.
Regarding the curriculum, it was easy, but I think it wouldn’t have been easy without the trainers and their additions. The technology was great, and the program engineers were excellent. They provided all the help they could, and I think without them we wouldn’t have been able to understand things.
As for the participants, they were engaged, and I think we enriched each other’s knowledge. We took suggestions from each other and started talking and discussing issues. The intellectual interaction between the trainers and the participants created a very good environment. It refreshed our information and added new information, so we learned a whole lot, besides learning to use the internet more and use it in an advanced way.
Rasha Ramadan
My name is Rasha Ramadan Bahaa, and I’m a social activist. I participated in the second course with the Activism Institute and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies.
Actually, the course was excellent, and I benefited from it a lot, and it revealed many talents I didn’t know I had, so I learned how to organize topics in a much simpler way than I imagined. The people, the whole crew was nice and the trainers put a very good effort.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]
The course was excellent in that we studied many people who achieved change in several societies, and it influenced me and my way of thinking…and my goals and what I want to achieve. I learned very good things.
I never thought I’d be part of something like this, but it happened, and it was very useful to me…and I hope to be part of the next course and hope I can go and take courses in George Washington University.
I want to thank all the people who worked with us and encouraged us to take this course, including the trainers and the technicians. They all put out a great effort, and it led to a very good result. Bye.
My name is Rasha Ramadan Bahaa, and I’m a social activist. I participated in the second course with the Activism Institute and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies.
Actually, the course was excellent, and I benefited from it a lot, and it revealed many talents I didn’t know I had, so I learned how to organize topics in a much simpler way than I imagined. The people, the whole crew was nice and the trainers put a very good effort.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]
The course was excellent in that we studied many people who achieved change in several societies, and it influenced me and my way of thinking…and my goals and what I want to achieve. I learned very good things.
I never thought I’d be part of something like this, but it happened, and it was very useful to me…and I hope to be part of the next course and hope I can go and take courses in George Washington University.
I want to thank all the people who worked with us and encouraged us to take this course, including the trainers and the technicians. They all put out a great effort, and it led to a very good result. Bye.
Sabah Abdel Maksoud
I’m Sabah Abdel Maksoud, a lawyer and a member of the Nasserist Party. I participated in the training course about the activism plan, which was organized by the Activism Institute.
Overall, the plan was nice. I hope the Institute will continue spreading its message and target a wider base of people, and I also wish to participate in mentoring.
The six lessons were sufficient and illustrative but need some of the language to be revised. This issue made it harder for the trainers to communicate the information.
The course was very useful to me, it taught me for the first time how to be engaged theoretically and practically. Before that, I had worked with civil society organizations, but this time the Institute added some spirit to the course, in that it taught us how to deal with the internet.
But I have one comment, the case studies like Asma Andraos’s case, she was speaking in English, even though the course is intended to be for Middle Eastern people, and they speak Arabic.
But the whole thing was really great and I hope to participate in mentoring and continue with the Institute, and I have many friends I’m hoping to recommend the course to, and I’m sure that when I go back and tell my friends about the Institute and its idea, they’ll all wish to participate in it.
I’m Sabah Abdel Maksoud, a lawyer and a member of the Nasserist Party. I participated in the training course about the activism plan, which was organized by the Activism Institute.
Overall, the plan was nice. I hope the Institute will continue spreading its message and target a wider base of people, and I also wish to participate in mentoring.
The six lessons were sufficient and illustrative but need some of the language to be revised. This issue made it harder for the trainers to communicate the information.
The course was very useful to me, it taught me for the first time how to be engaged theoretically and practically. Before that, I had worked with civil society organizations, but this time the Institute added some spirit to the course, in that it taught us how to deal with the internet.
But I have one comment, the case studies like Asma Andraos’s case, she was speaking in English, even though the course is intended to be for Middle Eastern people, and they speak Arabic.
But the whole thing was really great and I hope to participate in mentoring and continue with the Institute, and I have many friends I’m hoping to recommend the course to, and I’m sure that when I go back and tell my friends about the Institute and its idea, they’ll all wish to participate in it.
Saneya El-Fekki
My name is Saneya Al-Fekki. I’m a research assistant at the Center for Political Studies in Al-Ahram and a member of the Front Party, which is a liberal party, and I’m a volunteer in Nahdat Al-Mahrousa Association.
[Research assistant in Al-Ahram Center.]
I did training for “Leaders of the Future” with the Activism Institute and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies, and the truth is, the course was very useful to me, because apart from the fact that it’s a new experience, it was my first time doing online training through the internet. So it was very useful to me and taught me how to organize my thoughts, make a plan, build a coalition, and reach out to the media, and I also learned how to promote my plan and how to deal with allies and adversaries. So this course was really useful, and I urge everyone to take it because it will help them organize their ways of thinking and the way they operate, regardless of their field of interest.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]
I hope I don’t stop at this stage, and I intend to take the advanced courses on building youth leadership, and I hope to continue with that and then hopefully do training at Yale or George Washington University. For me, this would be a very useful experience and a rich one that would help me with my work, whether in research or volunteer work in Egypt.
My name is Saneya Al-Fekki. I’m a research assistant at the Center for Political Studies in Al-Ahram and a member of the Front Party, which is a liberal party, and I’m a volunteer in Nahdat Al-Mahrousa Association.
[Research assistant in Al-Ahram Center.]
I did training for “Leaders of the Future” with the Activism Institute and the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies, and the truth is, the course was very useful to me, because apart from the fact that it’s a new experience, it was my first time doing online training through the internet. So it was very useful to me and taught me how to organize my thoughts, make a plan, build a coalition, and reach out to the media, and I also learned how to promote my plan and how to deal with allies and adversaries. So this course was really useful, and I urge everyone to take it because it will help them organize their ways of thinking and the way they operate, regardless of their field of interest.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]
I hope I don’t stop at this stage, and I intend to take the advanced courses on building youth leadership, and I hope to continue with that and then hopefully do training at Yale or George Washington University. For me, this would be a very useful experience and a rich one that would help me with my work, whether in research or volunteer work in Egypt.
Sara Abdel Galeel
I’m Sara Abdel Galeel, a member of the Ghad (Tomorrow) Party and a women’s affairs officer in the south Cairo committee. I did training with the Activism Institute in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies.
[Women’s affairs officer in South Cairo Committee.]
The truth is that the training was really excellent, and through it I learned how to clarify my vision and my goals, and how to form a plan, and God willing, I intend to finish my plan and put it to work, and I hope to continue studying with the Institute and eventually get to study at George Washington University.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]
I’m Sara Abdel Galeel, a member of the Ghad (Tomorrow) Party and a women’s affairs officer in the south Cairo committee. I did training with the Activism Institute in cooperation with the Egyptian Center for Development and Democratic Studies.
[Women’s affairs officer in South Cairo Committee.]
The truth is that the training was really excellent, and through it I learned how to clarify my vision and my goals, and how to form a plan, and God willing, I intend to finish my plan and put it to work, and I hope to continue studying with the Institute and eventually get to study at George Washington University.
[She participated in the 2nd workshop in Sharm El-Sheikh between March 2-6, 2009.]