WORKING WITH WOMEN THROUGHOUT OMAN

Shell Development – Oman recently gave AMIDEAST/Oman a grant to strengthen women’s leadership skills, with a particular focus on volunteerism. The training program, which will be implemented in five regions throughout Oman, builds on the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, who has urged that development projects be linked with local communities and that they enhance the role of women.

With Shell’s Corporate Social Responsibility funding, AMIDEAST will conduct a series of five-day training programs for 150 women throughout the Sultanate. The “Leadership Essentials” workshop is uniquely designed to help leaders-to-be to prepare for the challenges and responsibilities of leadership. Through role-playing, self assessment, and other leadership training scenarios, participants will explore leadership roles as strategist, change agent, coach, manager, communicator, and team member. The training aims to enable the women to realize their potential and inspire others as they work together on common goals, identifying ways that they can address community needs and give back to society.

AMIDEAST is working closely with Shell and with the Ministry of Social Development in planning the program, which will be launched in October in tandem with the first annual Omani Women’s Day (October 17). Using networks of Omani Women’s Associations, Chambers of Commerce and regional government offices, AMIDEAST is now accepting applications for the program in each of the five locations where the program will be offered: Muscat, Nizwa, Salalah, Sohar and Sur.