On Saturday 18th March, 2023 the Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) Belize National Chapter hosted a Women’s Transformational Leadership Session and Member Engagement meeting aimed at strengthening women’s full and equal participation in leadership spaces in Belize.
CIWiL, a non-partisan and independent, flagship networking organization is committed to advancing women’s transformational leadership, and to increasing the numbers of women in leadership and decision making in political and civic life. The CIWiL Belize National Chapter is one of nine chapters currently established in the Caribbean.
The interactive session was attended by some 30 women who represented various geographic, professional and political backgrounds. They openly shared about their personal experiences of challenging gender stereotypes and systemic barriers and also explored practical tools for supporting women on their leadership journeys.
The session facilitator and CIWiL Regional Board Member, UnaMay Gordon shared that she was filled with gratitude to be surrounded by the women leaders. She commented, “Women are a mighty force. It was evident that all the women in attendance today were all eager and committed to advancing women’s leadership nationally. The discussions were rich and engaging with many “ah ha!” moments. One theme in particular that stood out was acknowledging and paying tribute to the women in our history who fought for women’s rights and whose legacy we walk in today. There is a true desire to further that legacy.”
Vice chair of the CIWiL Belize National Chapter, Dr. Deborah Mencias-McMillan also shared her major takeaways. “As we interwove discussions with moments of reflections, there were two particular topics that I kept thinking about: the need for us to stop saying that women do not support each other and the urgency of tackling those barriers to our participation in all leadership positions.” She added that the workshop was favorably attended by multiple generations of women, which provided hope on the future of women and girls in Belize.
The event concluded with a Member Engagement meeting which was attended by existing members as well as women interested in joining the CIWiL Belize National Chapter. The women engaged in networking and discussions on future gender equity initiatives for Belize.
Persons with interest in joining or learning more about the CIWiL Belize National Chapter can email ciwilbzenationalchapter@gmail.com or follow CIWiL Belize National Chapter on Facebook, and CIWiLBZE on Instagram and Twitter.