18 August 2016—The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon held a full-day “Gender and Development Training at the Function Hall of Elite Duroy Hotel, in Australia Street, Raouche on August 13. 

The training was conducted in line with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Gender and Development (GAD) Program and the Embassy’s continuous effort to equip and train its personnel to enable them to provide prompt and effective service to Filipino migrants, especially women.

The 24 participants composed of officers and staff from the Embassy, POLO, and OWWA engaged in group activities and discussions on self-awareness, gender sensitivity, psychosocial concepts, gender sensitive methods, as well as exercises on how the personnel are able to assess the different types of characters of each individual and how you can effectively communicate and avoid conflict particularly on sensitive issues involving female migrant workers in vulnerable situations.

Team in Motion (TIM) Lebanon facilitated the Gender and Development Training.  The said company specializes in activities that promote personnel development, enhance the individual’s self-confidence and encourage employees’ motivation and commitment towards the company’s objectives.

In his message, Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. Enrik Fort Revillas stressed that the training is part of the embassy’s continuing efforts to ensure that Embassy, POLO and OWWA personnel deepen their understanding of current GAD issues, develop greater gender sensitivity and improve their capacity to contribute towards a holistic and comprehensive approach to the task of assisting distressed Filipino migrants. He also expressed deep appreciation to TIM mentor Ms. Roula Eid Sawan for sharing her knowledge and expertise as a gender advocate to the Embassy personnel.  END