Institute participates in US-Afghan Women’s Business Council Meeting
December 22nd, 2008Oklahoma based Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women’s president Terry Neese attended the US Afghan Women’s Council meeting. “I am thrilled that the President and Mrs. Bush understand the important work that our Oklahoma based Institute is doing around the world,” said Mrs. Neese. “As we educate women in Afghanistan we are assisting that country in building a stable democracy. It was exciting to see one of our Peace through BusinessTM alumni on the video conference call talk about her knowledge gained while in the United States and how she is teaching other men and women to open and sustain a business.” The US/Afghan Women’s Council was transitioned on Thursday from the State Department to Georgetown University. Mrs. Bush told the Council members she will remain a member of the Council and serve as a private sector contributor to continue her work in Afghanistan. The President and Mrs. Bush will be launching the Policy and Freedom Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, TX.
Terry Neese and Lin Weigel, Director of Program Development, attended a reception at the residence in the White House, a luncheon for the Council members at Georgetown University (new home of the Council), and a reception and dinner hosted by Ambassador Jawad at the Afghan Embassy.
At the Afghan reception, Undersecretary Paula Dobriansky read a letter from Secretary of State Designate Hillary Rodham Clinton committing her support to continue the efforts of the US/Afghan Women’s Council and thanked Georgetown University for their commitment to the Council.
Peace through BusinessTM will continue its mission by offering business courses again in 2009 in both Afghanistan and Rwanda. Council meeting at the White House on Thursday, December 18th. First Lady Laura Bush chaired the Council meeting that included satellite video hook up with the American Ambassador to Afghanistan in Kabul. Mrs. Bush thanked the Oklahoma Institute for the work they are doing to empower women in Afghanistan and asked the Institute to continue its efforts.
