Last week, participants of the Mahal-li project gathered in the city of Sakhnin and the village of Jaljulia to discuss the challenges and opportunities for local female leadership and empowerment, in the presence of partners Khitam Waked and Maysam Jaljuli. 

In the first part of the meeting, the women listened to a Hanan’s, a fellow participant, inspiring story for change and the process she went through to reach her goals and accomplish her aspirations.

In the second part of the meeting, the women talked about the values that helped them overcome obstacles and challenges in their personal and professional lives, and what values will accompany them on their way to leadership in the future.

During the meetings, the women shared inspiring and moving personal stories that were full of tribulations, but were motivating nonetheless.

“Wherever women are present, change is present,” said Asmahan Jabali, participant of the Mahal-li project and founder and director of the “Our Right to Live” organization, during a discussion with human rights defender and social activist Hanan Al-Sanea.

It is worth mentioning that the Mahal-li project to promote local female leadership is being held for the second year in a row, with the goal of building women's local leadership in Palestinian Arab cities and villages for positions in local authorities, promoting influential social and public initiatives, as well as building a supportive network of women from various fields. 

The project is the result of collaborative work between the Mossawa Center, the Friedrich Ebert Fund, Naamat, the Association for the Advancement of the Status of Women - Beit Jinn, and the Kahn Association.

The Mahal-li sessions were hosted by the Histadrut department in Sakhnin and the Jaljulia Local Council. We appreciate all of the outstanding and notable women who contributed to the initiative through lectures and seminars.