MUSCAT--The British Council recently hosted here the third Networking event which was attended by 100 women. The event was aimed at supporting the empowerment of women, the primary objective of the Springboard course. In line with the theme, the keynote speaker was Detta Regan: the founder of the Follow the Women's Pedal for Peace in the Middle East.
She owns many interactional awards: Woman of Europe Award 2001, International Woman of Europe 2003, Nominated Nobel 1000 Women for Peace 2006. Deta said "I was pleased to be invited by the British Council to speak at this event on the subject of 'Inspiration and Motivation'. Fortunately the audience was already inspired by the training they had been involved in through the Springboard training.
"I spoke about the women's role in the peace process, the cycle rides for hundreds of women through the Middle East and the Follow the Women organisation. I was so pleased that many people suggested we have a ride in Muscat involving women from all around the world, who could also experience the hospitality of the Omani people and the beauty of Oman.
"I am so grateful to the British Council for the invitation and more grateful to the Springboard women who motivated and inspired me. I feel humbled to be in a room with so many amazing women, it was a very successful and enjoyable event". Paul Doubleday, Director of British Council, added "Springboard is an amazing programme that not only builds the skills and knowledge of the participants but also builds a network of empowered women who want to engage in their society.
"The Springboard programme helps women develop their potential and it is the release of this potential that can support Oman in its development in the coming years. With over 400 women having opportunity to develop, we have seen the programme grow from strength to strength, and I hope that this continues so that this amazing country can reach its goals".
The Springboard self-development programme is designed to encourage women to achieve as much as they can in both their personal and professional lives and the aim of the networking event is to assist them in networking with other women in Oman. Springboard was first introduced by the British Council in Oman in 2009, and since then a number of organisations have adopted the initiative to help develop the skills and confidence of their female members and employees. So far over 400 women have been trained.
With so many women taking part in the scheme across the country, the natural progression was to bring them together to share their experiences, and so the British Council arranged this event to support their networking efforts. Springboard aims towards the development of the role of women within Middle Eastern societies as well as an increased understanding between women from the region and the UK.
To achieve these aims the project consists of a number of strands: the Springboard self-development programmes, the local and regional networks and also the establishment of links between organisations in the Middle East and the UK.
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
