El Djazair Alumni Newsletter_August 2010
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Transcript of El Djazair Alumni Newsletter_August 2010
tion through telling us their
stories and views on this
event.
A.B
August 2010, ten students
from different Algerian cities
were selected by the U.S. Em-
bassy in Algiers to attend the
Women2Women confer-
ence which was held in Lesley
University, Boston, Massachu-
setts from August 3 to 10.
Women2Women is an in-
ternational leadership pro-
gram that was launched by
Empower Peace in 2006; this
organization works to „bridge
cultural and communication
divides between the young peo-
ple worldwide‟ and they par-
ticularly focus on high school-
aged youth in the United
States and Arab and Muslim
world.
120 participants from different
countries, with different ways
of thinking, so many different
cultures and probably few
things in common but their
thirst for interaction, leader-
ship skills and believe in
change.
The participants attended con-
ferences and took part in cul-
tural outings, workshops,
community services and gave
their own presentation; the
multicultural Algerian society
and the ongoing develop-
ment.
The conference was an op-
portunity for young
women to interact with
prominent women leaders
from around the
world (Middle East, Near
East, and the United States)
and meet national and inter-
national women leaders from
Government, Business, Me-
dia and Entertainment sec-
tors. All working together to
help participants to acquire
skills and insight on how to
become future leaders.
This month‟s issue of El
Djazair Alumni Newslet-
ter features the Algerian
participants, their contribu-
W2W For a Better Future.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
August 2010 Volume I, Issue 9
El-Djazair Alumni Newsletter
Special Issue
W2W 2010 Special Issue
Pre-departure Reception hosted by the DCM, Deputy Chief of Mission
William Jordan.
I think my experience there was
unique because we had the chance to
meet people from all over the world,
this enabled us to make friends, get to
know other people and hence erase
all the prejudices and stereotypes that
we previously had about them. As a
teacher, I learned many new things
that I will obviously use with my
students. In addition, the students
picked up the English language and
learned many things unconsciously.
This was undoubtly a great opportu-
nity for them and for me to be in
direct touch with native speakers,
when we went shopping, exchanged
money and/or visited several places
"the linguistic bath". We prepared an
action plan we aim to create an asso-
ciation namely referred to as
“SOSFED” or “SOS Femmes En
Difficultées” - SOS Women in Need -
. The members of the panel really
liked the idea and we really hope we
can implement it in our country,
likewise we would be able to help all
the Algerian women facing problems
in their lives like corporal punish-
ment, bullying and/or domestic vio-
lence. Concerning the environment, I
think Boston is one of the most
beautiful cities in the world, it
is wonderful or rather "wicked awe-
some" as they put it. Finally, I think I
should tell you about the people; they
are very friendly and kind. Mr Rick
and Mrs. Tricia are amazing; they
truly treated us like VIP's. I quite
appreciate that. Even when we went
shopping, people behaved in a very
civilized way which really impressed
me. Before I forget, life in the campus
was really great and despite the fact
that the food was different from ours,
I can assure you that I rarely felt
home sick I truly felt home there.
First of all, I met people of various
nationalities, culture, religion and
traditions too. I had the chance to
share my opinions, ideas and partici-
pate in the negotiation with the other
girls and even experts such as diplo-
mats, members of organizations such
as Human Rights, Children's Health ...
etc.. We even had the chance to visit
two major universities in the world
(Harvard and Suffolk). In fact, what
really impressed me is the civic spirit
of the American people, organization,
civilization and above all, the respect
of the time! The program was fol-
lowed minute by minute and letter by
letter ... Wow!
In addition to the conferences we had
the chance to refresh ourselves a
little playing football, shopping and
especially the attended the Rock and
Roll concert. And the best was when
we moved to Grafton, MA and
moved to Brigham Hill Community
Farm for half a day to harvest vegeta-
bles, wash them, and wrap them in
order to send then at “County
Worcester Food Bank”. At the end, I
will make you aware that we were
doing our best to represent Muslim
women, Algerian, Arab and Kabyle.
Souad HAMIDI, Chaperon, Access Teacher, Oran
Amel Boucetta, Student Algerian Muslim Scouts, Tizi Ouzou
Cerine Ouardia Dilmi, Access Student, Algiers ideas about them. What I will never
forget throughout the week is the community service project where I
was volunteering on community farm. I worked to harvest, wash, package,
and weigh vegetables, all of the food harvested from farm is donated to
feed the hungry.
I participated in group discussions
about the importance of the human
right declaration, and we attended
also a conference in Harvard Univer-
sity to learn the art of negotiation.
On Monday, the last day of the con-
ference, we went to Massachusset
State House where we presented our
action plan to a panel of local leaders,
I played the Algerian anthem with my
flute, and then my classmate pre-
sented the project. At the final cul-
tural night reception, each country
presented something, in my turn I
talked about my country, I played a
traditional song with the flute, and
then I shared with the audience my
documentary about cancer. I will not
forget to mention the amazing
city «Boston» and all the outing we
had. I believe that women to women
lighted my dream and the dream of
each woman because it gives us the
opportunity, tools, relationship re-
quired to lead, and to contribute to a
positive change around the World
and make a difference today!
Throughout the week I had the op-
portunity to learn about the current status of women and girls around the
world. I had exchanged ideas, and developed others from w2w partici-
pants. For instance I had a long nego-tiation with an afghan girl; she told me
a lot about how women do think and live in her country, what were their
problems; in my turn I talked about my country, our tradition, culture,
education, thinking, and Algerian
women issues in general. W2W program was an exceptional
opportunity to meet and establish lifelong relationship with people all
over the world. What I liked was my relation with Jewish people I have
learned a lot from their customs, and education; before I had some wrong
Page 2 El-Djazair Alumni Newsletter
Souad HAMIDI, The Chaperon
Cerine Ouardia Dilmi
Amel during her introduction speech at the DCM’s Reception
Tuesday, August 4, 2010, in the afternoon we were there in Boston
Lesley University! I was amazed by the architecture, the height build-ings, and those small houses with a
garden, everything was different
and it was very calm. Because of jetlag we couldn‟t sleep very early but it was an opportu-
nity to know the others, I met girls from different countries different background and religious, and by the next days we became friends, I
have now friends from USA , Paki-
stan , Kuwait , Egypt…. I was inspired by women there, they came to share with us their
experience and how they were able to face the sanctions in their live,
and they are truly leaders. I really loved the Interfaith Discus-sion with Religious Leaders, we
went to a mosque and a lot of stereotypes were broken. The girls learned about Islam and what is
Islam; when we went to Harvard University the managing director of the school taught me one thing: if
you are a good negotiator you can ask for what you need and get the results you want in your commu-nity. The next thing is Community
Harvard Project, we volunteer to
help in a farm, each thing I did that day I really felt like I am feeding a
hungry baby, we were exhausted
but we had a lot of fun too. Speaking of fun even the schedule
was full however the leisure activi-ties were included, that amazing
Boston tour, the New England Aquarium, shopping and I loved the rock concert. Frankly speaking I
didn‟t like the food everything tastes different even the water! I was eating fruit and cakes. It was
super sad when we had to leave all
of them on Tuesday.
It was a wonderful trip, the best
ever and I will never forget my new
friends and I want to give my deep-
est thanks to the ones that really
helped me to be there and experi-
ence all of that, thank you so much!
the exemplar citizen, in order to
influence my community and make
changes in my whole country. I
learned that there is no community
without unity and together we can
be the voices of all women who
could not let their voices be heard.
I learned that ''When the power of
love overcomes the love of power,
the world will know peace'' like
Jimi Hendrix said. I learned that
even the diversity of cultures,
Taking part in W2W conference
was the great thing that I did ever.
It was so interesting. The meetings
were peaceful, constructive and
the discussions were respectful, full
of cultural exchange. I learned
many things about many new
things. I learned that making my
society better or may be the best
starts by making changes in myself,
changing my wrong behaviors for
the correct ones and trying to be
opinions and religions we still are
humans working for the same aims.
And being far of my family with a
new lovely one had really improved
my sense of leadership, maturity
and responsibility.
I really feel myself ready to take the
challenge and make changes since
my action plan for the future is to
create an association called SOS
Women in Troubles fighting for
women's rights, encouraging
Soumia Hadjab, Access Student, Setif
Yousra Amina Bettioui, Access Student, Algiers
Hayem Hadj Aissa, Access Student, Batna
felt that I did something, I helped
the poor children and I made a
change. I will never forget this
experience which gave me hope to
move forward and realize that I
was born for a reason which is
leaving a print in my life, so I could
know deep inside me that I'm living
for myself, for women and for my
country.
How could I describe my experi-
ence, or the opportunity that I had
which was the best thing that ever
happened to me. I had a big chance
to learn more about myself as a
woman and about others. I liked
everything about this conference
like the lectures, the rock concert,
the cook off and maybe the food
too, but it was a very short time
even though it was enough for me
because I had the chance to show
my real religion and true culture,
not to forget the farm day when I
Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 9
Yousra Amira Bettioui.
Soumia Hadjab
Hayem Hadj Aissa
Thankfully, and as an Alumni Ac-
cess student I was accepted to
attend the W2W program under
the name of Empower Peace Or-
ganization (EPO), where I met
engaged leaders and was in touch
with so many people such as politi-
cians, diplomats, panels, association
founders, Media heads, etc. During
each single conference we dis-
cussed women issues and chal-
lenges and raised many social,
political and economic points as
questions, answers, debates and
even points of view.
The fruitful panels' meetings that
we used to attend helped me find
the power of leadership inside me,
made me adopt the idea of running
a political office so that I will be
able to improve both the small and
the large skills I learned from the
conference. Moreover, put my
action plan; the project we - the
Algerian delegation members- were
supposed to supply the program
with; into practice in my country.
The Algerian delegation action plan
was “founding an association called
SOSFED as SOS Femmes En Diffi-
culties “through which we can help
women in troubles in Algeria.
With the help of Mr Rendon, Mrs.
Reynard and all W2W and EPO
staff the conference successfully
and positively put its print not just
in my life but in one hundred and
ten female delegate‟s lives from
different parts in the world. We
were all like a family defending
women's rights which are a part of
human rights. What was amazing is
that the W2W program schedule
we were given as soon as we ar-
rived contained other activities
beside of the panels' conferences.
Among those activities: shopping
trips, soccer course, Rock and Roll
band night, community service
(helping in the farm), etc
Amira Djabrouni, Access Student, Ouargla
Fatima Zohra Himlili, Access Student, Bechar
beautiful places like aquarium,
soccer clinic, Harvard ... I spent
great time. I learned how to be a
great leader and how to take the
responsibility for myself. I felt in
control I‟m so happy because there
is a big change, the best thing that I
liked and I‟m proud of is I told
them about our customs, I showed
them our traditional clothes, we
discussed about religions as well. I
gave them courses about our tradi-
tions I was able to make friends
and we worked hand in hand. I
learned how to negotiate; I learned
a lot of things I have never learned
about them before. I have never
thought that 7 days make a differ-
ence, a change and let me become
a STRONG WOMEN. I didn‟t like
the ending it was so sad everyone
went back home it was so difficult
to say goodbye because I lived with
them unforgettable days full of
happiness and work. For sure, it
will be stuck in my mind forever!
I am really happy because during
the W2W conference I felt being a
strong leader, representing my
country. The special thing I loved
is that the conference has attracted
young women from all over the
world so that I had the opportunity
to meet national and international
women. I learned a lot of things
from them; they really inspired me
with their works. Boston is won-
derful you can find whatever you
want, the climate is fantastic I have
a great honor to tell you that peo-
ple are friendly especially when I
got lost I found the help. I visited
Page 4 El-Djazair Alumni Newsletter
Amira Djabrouni
Fatima Zohra
Himlili
W2W Participants W2W Conference at Harvard University
Caption describing picture or graphic.
The W2W journey was the
most amazing one for me be-
cause of my first trip in the US,
and the program was really
enriching as I have learned
many things that I didn't know
before. I knew that woman all
over the world do not have the
same rights as man even in the
US, and I have learned that to
be a future leader I need to be
more confident and more un-
derstanding. I have learned how
to negotiate and the key to be
a good negotiator is to listen to
the others and try not to fight
but to convince and persuade
them with the best arguments.
The program wasn't the only
thing I appreciated, I also loved
the city of Boston, it is a great
city and its people were very
nice to us.
The food wasn't so bad, I al-
most ate ham but fortunately I
noticed before it was late. All I
can say it won‟t be enough to
describe this week which I'll
keep in my memory forever!
or lose confidence in our self al-
ways stand up and speak about
what we are thinking, And this is
what I did and I have never imag-
ined myself to have the confidence
and speak in front of 120 delegates.
So I'm proud of myself and I hope
that I can do more in my commu-
nity.
First of all I wanted to thank all the members of the US Embassy for
that great opportunity. I really enjoyed the week , and I learned a lot of things about giving , sharing
and the most important thing lead-ership....when I was there I made a lot of friends nearly from all over
the world .
It's true that the program was full
but it was very interesting to meet
all the speakers and diplomats, I
learned something: never be shy
Ines Harfi, Access Student, Bejaia
Sara Zoulim, Access Student, Oran
Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 9
Sara Zoulim
Ines Harfi
Pre-Departure Meeting
Listening to DCM, Deputy Chief of Mission, William Jordan.
Last Picture Back to Algeria.
U.S. Embassy Algiers http://algiers.usembassy.gov/
Contact your
Alumni Coordinator/Educational Adviser:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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What is the Competitive College Club? The Competitive College Club is an EducationUSA program that assists high
school students who want to apply to competitive US universities; it pro-
vides guidance in the admission process for highly selective US universities
that will meet each student‟s academic and financial need.
Students meet monthly and participate in lectures, book clubs, community
service activities, cross cultural exercises and test preparation. The activities
help ensure that students are properly advised as they go through a process
of preparing themselves both academically and socially for a US university
and find schools that might be a good fit.
Who can apply?
The CCC is open to Algerian high school students who:
Secondary and high-school students aged 14 -17
Have good academic records
How to apply?
Send an email to: [email protected]
Send scanned copies of college/high-school score records Send a scanned photo
The Competitive College Club starting date is September 2010.
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