Ambassador Melanne Verveer Visits the TYO Center
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer visited the TYO Center in Nablus on Wednesday, April 20, 2010. Her time at TYO Nablus included a working breakfast with the Fostering Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus (FWEN) participants and its steering committee members, TYO's Spring 2011 International Interns and TYO staff as well as an informative tour of the TYO Nablus Center and its programming.
Ambassador Verveer gave remarks at the working breakfast that spoke to the importance of innovation in unlocking the great potential of female leaders within their own communities. TYO's female entrepreneurs shared their business plans as well as the successes and challenges they encountered over the last year during which many of them successfully launched their businesses. Each FWEN participant received personalized feedback and encouragement from Ambassador Verveer. The four Spring 2011 Interns also introduced themselves and their work at TYO highlighting the overwhelming hospitality they've experienced since their arrival and the importance of intercultural exchange and direct engagement between American and Middle Eastern communities.
Ambassador Verveer toured the TYO Center with several TYO staff members and had an opportunity to speak to women serving as volunteers in our MEPI literacy project, university students volunteering in our Core Program classes and our Core Program teachers.
TYO was honored to be on Ambassador Verveer's itinerary during her three-day trip to the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel, in which she met with government leaders, civil society leaders and non-government organizations to highlight the work they are doing to promote women's empowerment.