Biography
Since 1996, Naila Ayesh has been director of the Gaza-based Women’s Affairs Training and Research Center, a non-governmental organization devoted to empowering women to be full partners in Palestinian society, particularly in the areas of development and social change. Among the Center’s offerings are programs in communications, delivering instruction in journalism, grassroots campaigning, and civic education; development, in which women learn all aspects of micro-enterprise projects from feasibility to marketing; and institution building, providing training in gender mainstreaming, administration development, lobbying, and NGO program planning and management. In operation since August 1991, the Center’s programs and activities have evolved with the changing needs and opportunities of women in the Gaza Strip. Through research, training, and lobbying, the Center seeks to understand the various obstacles that confront gender equality in our society and to develop the necessary tools and collective strategies to overcome them. It also strives to promote the exchange of experience and information between women’s movements and organizations in Palestine with women’s movements and organizations throughout the Middle East. In 2007, Naila was a co-recipient of the Woman of the Year International Prize Presidency of the Regional given by the Council of Valle d’Aosta under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic. (02.2010)