Ms.
Budson's colleague, Andrea Friedman, then led a
discussion about political and cultural norms that
perpetuate male dominated decision-making bodies.
Ms. Friedman, the Vice President & Senior
Counsel at the Global Justice Center uses
international law and human rights as tools to
restructure societies in ways that enable women.
Ms. Friedman and Ms. Budson led a spirited
discussion that engaged and challenged the
participants to identify problems around the world.
"Whenever I used to talk with women at home they would say 'If I didn't have any family, I would have accomplished many great things.' However today I met an incredibly successful woman who was able to achieve balance between her outstanding work and family" said Mayar Alerameh of Beirut, Lebanon, after the discussion. "Although Victoria Budson gives a great deal of devotion to her work, she still considers her family as her first priority. She inspired me to pursue such a glamourous dram of being successful both at work as well as catering for a loving family! This is the first lesson that I learnt on the first day of W2W Leadership Conference."
Mayar's countrywoman, Aya, said that today "was a fruitful one. We first listened to Victoria Budson as she spoke about her experience being the Executive Director of WAPPP. What impressed me most is that Victoria considers her family as her first priority besides her commitment to her work. I always thought how I might be able to manage between my future family and career. I think Victoria is an authentic role model for me as well for other women of my age."
Aya continues saying "Nevertheless, Andrea Friedman also introduced us to CEDAW which is a convention that works on the elimination of discrimination against women. It would be interesting for women of my age to know about CEPAW and be able to join organizations that endorse the same mission in our home country and abroad."
"Whenever I used to talk with women at home they would say 'If I didn't have any family, I would have accomplished many great things.' However today I met an incredibly successful woman who was able to achieve balance between her outstanding work and family" said Mayar Alerameh of Beirut, Lebanon, after the discussion. "Although Victoria Budson gives a great deal of devotion to her work, she still considers her family as her first priority. She inspired me to pursue such a glamourous dram of being successful both at work as well as catering for a loving family! This is the first lesson that I learnt on the first day of W2W Leadership Conference."
Mayar's countrywoman, Aya, said that today "was a fruitful one. We first listened to Victoria Budson as she spoke about her experience being the Executive Director of WAPPP. What impressed me most is that Victoria considers her family as her first priority besides her commitment to her work. I always thought how I might be able to manage between my future family and career. I think Victoria is an authentic role model for me as well for other women of my age."
Aya continues saying "Nevertheless, Andrea Friedman also introduced us to CEDAW which is a convention that works on the elimination of discrimination against women. It would be interesting for women of my age to know about CEPAW and be able to join organizations that endorse the same mission in our home country and abroad."
August 10, 2008
Empower Peace kicked off its 3rd Women2Women International Leadership Conference today at Lesley University in Cambridge. In total, more than 80 young women representing 13 countries and 10 American states are taking part in the week long educational conference.
Today the young women took at trolley tour of Boston and Cambridge where they learned the history and culture of the region.
In the afternoon the young women took part in their first of two sessions to get to know one another. In the afternoon "ice-breaker" session, students introduced themselves to each other, talked about their similarities, and answered the question "Why did you want to come to the W2W conference?"
Aya Al Bawaab, from Beirut, Lebanon said that the conference "is a great opportunity for young women from different countries to get to know each other and bridge the gap between them, spread peace, and most of all, acquire leadership skills so that young generations could be able to make a change in this world."
Vija Lietuvninkas, a 16-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, said she came to the conferennce to
"help other people in other countries, who are not as fortunate as most of us here in the US."
In the evening, the Empower Peace officially welcomed the young women. Empower Peace founder, Rick Rendon told the young girls to enjoy the week, but to learn from each other's lives.
Todd Patkin, one of the main sponsors of the Women2Women conference, advised the young girls to never judge a book by its cover. Speaking from experience, he told the young women to ask questions and to get to know one another. Executive Director Tricia Raynard and Co-Chair Diane Caldwell also spoke.
After another session at night of ice breakers, the young women were treated to a concert by Peace Train, featuring Sharon Katz.
The core theme of Women2Women 2008 is International Women's Rights. Sub-themes will involve: cultural leadership, government and public service, and media technology and media literacy.
The goal of W2W is to provide young women students from around the world with the opportunity to learn, network, and acquire the leadership and professional development skills needed to succeed. Participants will also meet and interact with their counterparts from around the world.
Empower Peace kicked off its 3rd Women2Women International Leadership Conference today at Lesley University in Cambridge. In total, more than 80 young women representing 13 countries and 10 American states are taking part in the week long educational conference.
Today the young women took at trolley tour of Boston and Cambridge where they learned the history and culture of the region.
In the afternoon the young women took part in their first of two sessions to get to know one another. In the afternoon "ice-breaker" session, students introduced themselves to each other, talked about their similarities, and answered the question "Why did you want to come to the W2W conference?"
Aya Al Bawaab, from Beirut, Lebanon said that the conference "is a great opportunity for young women from different countries to get to know each other and bridge the gap between them, spread peace, and most of all, acquire leadership skills so that young generations could be able to make a change in this world."
Vija Lietuvninkas, a 16-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, said she came to the conferennce to
"help other people in other countries, who are not as fortunate as most of us here in the US."
In the evening, the Empower Peace officially welcomed the young women. Empower Peace founder, Rick Rendon told the young girls to enjoy the week, but to learn from each other's lives.
Todd Patkin, one of the main sponsors of the Women2Women conference, advised the young girls to never judge a book by its cover. Speaking from experience, he told the young women to ask questions and to get to know one another. Executive Director Tricia Raynard and Co-Chair Diane Caldwell also spoke.
After another session at night of ice breakers, the young women were treated to a concert by Peace Train, featuring Sharon Katz.
The core theme of Women2Women 2008 is International Women's Rights. Sub-themes will involve: cultural leadership, government and public service, and media technology and media literacy.
The goal of W2W is to provide young women students from around the world with the opportunity to learn, network, and acquire the leadership and professional development skills needed to succeed. Participants will also meet and interact with their counterparts from around the world.
August 11, 2008
The first full day of the Women2Women conference focused on leadership and conflict negotiation. To begin the day, Joseph Moore, the President of Lesley University, officially welcomed the young women to the campus. Lesley University has been the home to all three of the Women2Women conferences.
President Moore told the participants about how technology has helped bridge the gaps between people and cultures. He said, in his own experience, he is able to stay in touch with friends and colleagues around the world through the use of the Internet. Furthermore, he said, that experience has helped him get a better understanding of the world and the people in it.
The morning keynote address was given by, Victoria Budson, the Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy program at Harvard University's JFK School of Government. Ms. Budson spoke about the challenges facing women around the world. She also talked about how hard work led her to creating the Women and Public Policy Program(WAPPP) at Harvard.
Ms. Budson's colleague, Andrea Friedman, then led a discussion about political and cultural norms that perpetuate male dominated decision-making bodies. Ms. Friedman, the Vice President & Senior Counsel at the Global Justice Center uses international law and human rights as tools to restructure societies in ways that enable women. Ms. Friedman and Ms. Budson led a spirited discussion that engaged and challenged the participants to identify problems around the world.
"Whenever I used to talk with women at home they would say 'If I didn't have any family, I would have accomplished many great things.' However today I met an incredibly successful woman who was able to achieve balance between her outstanding work and family" said Mayar Alerameh of Beirut, Lebanon, after the discussion. "Although Victoria Budson gives a great deal of devotion to her work, she still considers her family as her first priority. She inspired me to pursue such a glamourous dram of being successful both at work as well as catering for a loving family! This is the first lesson that I learnt on the first day of W2W Leadership Conference."
The first full day of the Women2Women conference focused on leadership and conflict negotiation. To begin the day, Joseph Moore, the President of Lesley University, officially welcomed the young women to the campus. Lesley University has been the home to all three of the Women2Women conferences.
President Moore told the participants about how technology has helped bridge the gaps between people and cultures. He said, in his own experience, he is able to stay in touch with friends and colleagues around the world through the use of the Internet. Furthermore, he said, that experience has helped him get a better understanding of the world and the people in it.
The morning keynote address was given by, Victoria Budson, the Executive Director of the Women and Public Policy program at Harvard University's JFK School of Government. Ms. Budson spoke about the challenges facing women around the world. She also talked about how hard work led her to creating the Women and Public Policy Program(WAPPP) at Harvard.
Ms. Budson's colleague, Andrea Friedman, then led a discussion about political and cultural norms that perpetuate male dominated decision-making bodies. Ms. Friedman, the Vice President & Senior Counsel at the Global Justice Center uses international law and human rights as tools to restructure societies in ways that enable women. Ms. Friedman and Ms. Budson led a spirited discussion that engaged and challenged the participants to identify problems around the world.
"Whenever I used to talk with women at home they would say 'If I didn't have any family, I would have accomplished many great things.' However today I met an incredibly successful woman who was able to achieve balance between her outstanding work and family" said Mayar Alerameh of Beirut, Lebanon, after the discussion. "Although Victoria Budson gives a great deal of devotion to her work, she still considers her family as her first priority. She inspired me to pursue such a glamourous dram of being successful both at work as well as catering for a loving family! This is the first lesson that I learnt on the first day of W2W Leadership Conference."
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Women2Women
Cultural Connection & Leadership
Program
August 12, 2008
Attorney General Martha Coakley told the young women about how she got to where she is today. "Sometimes you have to push the envelope" she said about pursuing dreams.
"Growing up, I thought I could do anything...and I decided that because I like to argue...and I like law, that this was a good career for me," she told the crowd. She also told the young women that conferences like Women2Women are so very important because you get to meet people face-to-face and understanding them.
Attorney General Coakley talked about her travels around the world. She said she is fascinated by examining other cultures and how they tackle various issues.
Later in the morning, the participants walked over to Harvard Law School for a session on Negotiation with Susan Hackley. Among the things Ms. Hackley told the young women, was the fact that women in general tend to negotiate better for other people as opposed to for themselves.
In the afternoon, Walter Bender, the person behind the One-Laptop-For-All initiative talked to the young women about technology its role in shaping the world. He told the young women about how getting computers and the web into people's hands is one of the best ways to change the world.
At night, the young women were welcomed to the home of Swanee Hunt, a former Ambassador to Austria. Her Cambridge home is filled with relics of her travels from around the world.
Attorney General Martha Coakley told the young women about how she got to where she is today. "Sometimes you have to push the envelope" she said about pursuing dreams.
"Growing up, I thought I could do anything...and I decided that because I like to argue...and I like law, that this was a good career for me," she told the crowd. She also told the young women that conferences like Women2Women are so very important because you get to meet people face-to-face and understanding them.
Attorney General Coakley talked about her travels around the world. She said she is fascinated by examining other cultures and how they tackle various issues.
Later in the morning, the participants walked over to Harvard Law School for a session on Negotiation with Susan Hackley. Among the things Ms. Hackley told the young women, was the fact that women in general tend to negotiate better for other people as opposed to for themselves.
In the afternoon, Walter Bender, the person behind the One-Laptop-For-All initiative talked to the young women about technology its role in shaping the world. He told the young women about how getting computers and the web into people's hands is one of the best ways to change the world.
At night, the young women were welcomed to the home of Swanee Hunt, a former Ambassador to Austria. Her Cambridge home is filled with relics of her travels from around the world.
