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New and Old Networks Come Together, Strengthening Both

The Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative Fellowship Program (WIFP) recently held their final training session in Egypt before the 2012...

The Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative Fellowship Program (WIFP) recently held their final training session in Egypt before the 2012 Fellows graduate in March.

A key component of the WIFP is the training and enabling of the Fellows to share what they have learned from the program with other women around Egypt, growing the network of the WIFP beyond the 14 Fellows. The final all-day training session of the WIFP, conducted for women in the Fellows’ personal networks, was the culmination of those efforts.

WIFP Fellow Sara Galal said, “We are here sharing these huge experiences and knowledge with other women and it makes me feel fulfilled, happy and giving back to our country.”

Throughout the year, the Fellows have been expanding their networks, bringing together their previous contacts and friends with their new connections from the Women's Initiative Fellowship. Expanding their individual networks allows the Fellows to make a more significant and powerful impact on their country.

The final training session of the 2012 WIFP was designed to help broaden and strengthen the Fellows’ networks even further and to provide even more women with the knowledge and skills needed to create lasting change. Research shows that with a strong professional network, a woman is better able to prosper in her field and expand her influence. The 2012 Fellows will leave the WIFP not only with new and strengthened skills, but with an entirely new network to draw support and encouragement from.

The Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative Fellowship is the signature program of the Women's Initiative. The Fellowship Program is designed to enhance the leadership skills of women around the world with an initial focus on women in the Middle East and North Africa.

This post was written by Charity Wallace, Director of the Women's Initiative at The George W. Bush Institute.