Inspirational women profiles: Haifa Al Kaylani

Nisaa FM:- Hafia Al Kaylani is seen by many as a female role model in Middle East. She spotlights leadership in ‘cultural and gender issues’ which are of certain importance and speculation in the Eastern World.

Hafia Al Kaylani was born in Palestine and raised in Lebanon. She is the eldest of 5 daughters and is a dual British and Lebanese citizen of Palestinian origin, Jordanian by marriage and a UK Resident since 1976. She speaks English, Arabic, French, Spanish and Italian. Al Kaylani attended the Sherborne School for Girls in Dorset the British Lebanese School for Girls in Beirut. She achieved a BA in Economics at the American University of Beirut  in 1966, later returning to earn a Masters in Economic Development in 1971 after preparing for a Diploma in the same subject at Oxford University in 1967. After completing her education, she went on to work as a junior economist for the United Nations for two years.

Al Kaylani is responsible for setting up the Arab International Women’s Forum, which is an umbrella organization that brings together 1,500 associations, individuals, corporation and partnerships based in 45 nations and six continents of the world. The organization is a base where women of Arab origin can come together and build relationships, exchange ideas and knowledge, take more participation in both local and national government, develop business potential and promote their organizations. The bottom line, Al Kaylani says, to help Arab women to increasingly become “part and parcel of international community.”

Since its establishment in 2001 the institution has helped change many things about the Arab world for women. They have become more heard and voiced. In September 2005, a report from the Forum asked Arab governments to help equal men and women by removing the barriers between the two gender groups.

Source: www.abouther.com