KUWAIT, Dec 18 (KUNA) -- Seventeen Kuwaiti women from various public and private sectors reached a milestone on the journey to realize their full professional and personal potential , as they completed the first British Council Springboard women's self-development program to be held in Kuwait this year.
In a press release issued Friday, the British Council explained that Springboard was an award-winning holistic women's self-development program designed by The Springboard Consultancy - one of the UK's leading training consultancies.
It has been specifically tailored by the British Council to meet the language and cultural needs of women living in the Middle East.
Fatmah Al-Qallaf, Senior Secretary from the Civil Service Commission and a participant in the program, described it as "a program for searching into your inner soul, and for achieving goals with full determination and enthusiasm. I benefited from it in learning how to live with my existing life conditions and adapt to my circumstances, while striving at the same time to fulfill myself and realize my ambitions and goals. This program is an excellent support to women to be able to keep up with today's technological life, while at the same time to care for herself and her family." During thought-provoking and fun sessions, the women learned more about themselves, identified their values, set their own goals and explored ways to build their confidence.
They discussed issues such as work-life balance and assertiveness and now join a growing network of more than 950 Springboard Alumni in the Middle East. Through this network they can continue to exchange ideas and give support to one another.
Maha Al-Baghli, Senior Manager of Business Development at Kuwait Asia Holding Co, who was also a participant in the program, said, "The program was interesting and was organized in a very attractive way. I enjoyed this experience, which also allowed me to interact with a distinguished group of women from various fields of expertise and different backgrounds. I also enjoyed very much meeting the guest speakers who shared with us their life experiences on their way to success." The Springboard self-development program is one part of the wider British Council Springboard Project now running in the Middle East countries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Other parts of the project focus on establishing and supporting local and regional networks that bring together Springboard Alumni from the Middle East and the UK and setting up collaborative links between organizations in the Middle East and the UK.
Working through local partners in each of these countries, the Springboard Project enables women to play a more effective role - at home, in their communities and in the workplace - contributing to the development of women in societies in the Middle East. Creating professional links with women's organizations in the UK will help improve awareness and understanding about the role of women today in the Middle East and UK.
Denise Waddingham, Assistant Director of the British Council in Kuwait, presenting certificates to the participants, said, "I congratulate these women who are today completing this Springboard course and look forward to seeing them rise to new heights as they work towards achieving their own individual goals." Shirin Saebnoori, the Springboard Trainer at the British Council said, "The importance of this program is in its support for women to fulfill their potential and in empowering women with the required skills to contribute effectively in shaping our society in all its fields and at all levels. The success of this program has encouraged us to run more Springboard programs (in Arabic and in English) in the upcoming months of January to March."