The study visit of Ms. Iman AbdelRahman Musa, Director of HIWAR Center for Youth and Women’s Empowerment, Palestine in Bulgaria (8-12 May 2017) under project "CSO WINS: Capacity-building in the Southern Mediterranean to Open Policy Dialogue and Monitoring for Women in Society", coordinated by IE Med and financed by EU, was very fruitful for all of us.

Center of Women’s Studies and Policies organized meetings of Ms. Musa with our colleagues from the Bulgarian School of Politics, the Director of the Sofia City Library, NGOs working on women’s issues and gender equality in Bulgaria, gender researchers from academia, politologists, women from the Sofia City Council and women who have been candidates in local and national elections and are experienced in the electoral process.

We have learned a lot for the women’s situation in Palestine, we have discussed their participation in the electoral process as voters and as candidates, the possibilities for successful women political careers in Palestine and also the role of the mentoring in electoral process. We have discussed the needs for practical trainings for women, who have chosen to pursue political careers in very complicated political situations and the possible future partnerships with Bulgarian NGOs, cultural institutes and women business and entrepreneur’s associations.

We are very thankful to Ms. Iman Musa for her passion and sincerity, that deeply touched our hearts!