Bahrain: Bahraini women on cultural trip

SIX young Bahraini women will soon get a taste of American culture and politics, under an international youth leadership programme.

They are taking part in the United States' Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), which aims to enhance the knowledge and leadership skills of students from the region.

Dana Abul, 21, Noor Nass, 20, Mariam Rahimi, 18, Aysha Mohammed, 23, Marwa Badow, 20, and GDN reporter Noor Toorani, 20, are taking part in the six-week programme, which starts on Monday. They will be staying at various host universities across the US and will visit places of cultural and political significance, such as Washington DC, New York, Chicago and Boston.

"This programme mainly focuses on the students discovering the real American way of life and experience their politics and culture," said US Embassy cultural affairs assistant Janan Shaikh Abdulla.

"It teaches them to cope in the world and develop leadership skills. Students from both sides will learn that stereotype ideas we see in movies are not true.

They will have the chance to understand real Americans and vice versa," she explained.

Ms Badow is an English literature major at Bahrain University and will stay at University of Delaware, while Ms Rahimi, an economic and finance major at Ahlia University, will stay at Montana State University.

Ms Abul, a marketing and management major, will stay at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Ms Nass, an international business major will stay at Roger Williams University, Rhode Island.

Ms Toorani, an international studies major at AMA University, will stay at Benedictine University, Chic- ago, while Ms Mohammed will stay at Wayne State University, Michigan.

They will attend lectures and seminars and learn about democracy, economic growth, educational excellence and women's empowerment. They will also participate in community service, study tours and visit a host family.

This is the fifth group to be chosen, based on essays submitted, character, skills during the interview session and extra-curricular activities.

"There were two main essays on the application form on the importance of MEPI in the student's future and solving a social or political problem Bahrain faces today," Ms Abdulla said.

The answers won them nominations, that were sent to the MEPI Office in Washington, where the participants were hand-picked.

A total of 110 students from 17 Middle Eastern countries are participating this year and will be distributed among the six host universities. "I have been with MEPI for three years and I definitely see a difference when they return. "They become more outgoing and outspoken and jump head first into a project or discussion. "Their political and cultural awareness increases," Ms Abdulla said.

---Gulf Daily News