In their Own Words: Qatari Women Speak Out

“Writing can help women find their unique voice”, said Mohana Rajakumar, Qatar University Education Consultant, emphasizing that acquiring and applying writing skills can help Qatari women form and deliver opinions.   With the support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, female students of Qatar University are participating in a 6-week writing workshop, to be concluded in February 2008.  Carol Henderson, an experienced U.S. trainer and an award-winning columnist, has been teaching female students how to think creatively and craft thoughts in a written piece that shows their unique perspectives and opinions.  Henderson has also coached these students on how to utilize research and critical thinking in forming and communicating their opinions about life in Qatar.

Writing is a skill acquired for life, and these trained female students will be able to use this skill throughout their personal and professional life, according to Rajakumar.  After completion of the course, participants intend to go a step further and establish a Women Writers’ Club at the University.

As part of the project, Qatar University has also invited female residents and citizens of Qatar (including workshop participants) to submit a written essay describing their own views about current issues and social change in Qatar.  Produced essays will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and the winning 12 essays will be compiled into an anthology, presented to the media in a press conference, and uploaded on the University’s website.

The project was covered by local press including Gulf Times, MENAFN, and The Peninsula.