“Olympes de la Parole” is based on a highly successful model launched by the French Association of University Women (AFFDU) in 2000, the idea of two AFFDU members Anne Nègre and Nicole Bécarud. Now in its 11th year, the project has received prestigious recognition by the Council of Europe as part of its the “All Different, All Equal” programme to promote diversity and gender equality among European youth. Funding for the project is being provided by the Women’s Foundation for the Mediterranean and Anne Nègre, IFUW Vice-President, is providing the technical support.
On-site supervision of the national competitions will be provided by new associations of women graduates that will be formed in the two countries as part of the project. The strengthening of Euro-Mediterranean networks of women graduates is a major goal. Anne Nègre reported that the response was enthusiastic in the initial discussions she held the last week of September with university professors and secondary school directors and teachers in Marrakech, Rabat, Casablanca and Tangiers. Many of these are already working in the schools or on gender-related initiatives and special programmes for girls. They saw this initiative as an excellent way of encouraging students to reflect on the place of each boy and girl in school and then in society.
Approval of the Ministry of Education and the Directors of the Academies will be needed before formal planning can go forward. In the meantime, efforts will continue to get a national association of women graduates underway in Morocco. Mme Narges Ben Moukla, of the Women’s Foundation, is to hold similar meetings in Tunisia and it hoped that eventually others countries in the region will be added to the project.
Anne Nègre, IFUW Vice-President
