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You are here » Home » Telling Our Story
First Person
Women get involved in the election process, many for the first time
Women Take Pride in Participation
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Photo: Yusef Abu-Eljedian, Tamkeen
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"The elections were a golden opportunity for women to participate in political life,"
said Mai. "It was a challenge for us to prove that we are equal partners in society... With the training,
I wanted to ensure the transparency of the elections and to see our new leader elected by the people."
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Mai Shaheen, a 25-year-old woman from Gaza, was one of nearly 120 Palestinians who received training from
USAID on how to mount election observation campaigns — from the basics of training and fielding monitors to
the complex procedures that should be observed. Based on what she learned from the two-day workshop, Mai
compiled a handbook for election observers ahead of the January 9, 2005, presidential election.
She then recruited 25 volunteers — all women — trained them using simulation techniques from
the course and got them accredited as domestic election observers. Nine of them stayed late for the ballot
count, which ended around midnight. In a society where it is uncharacteristic for women to stay out of their
homes late at night, many were impressed by their determination.
The training provided a chance for women like Mai to be involved in the electoral process for the first time,
both as observers and voters. "The elections were a golden opportunity for women to participate in political
life," said Mai. "It was a challenge for us to prove that we are equal partners in society... With the training,
I wanted to ensure the transparency of the elections and to see our new leader elected by the people."
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