2013.03.22

[Session 1] International Women’s Day

Women's Education – Voices from African female students studying at Japanese universities

In 1975, the United Nations designated 8 March as the International Women's Day.  Every year on this day, people around the world, discuss about the achievements reached regarding woman’s empowerment and gender equality as well as about further challenges to tackle.

Women’s empowerment can contribute not only to the countries’ economic development but also to the creation of a fair society. In particular, women’s education holds a key to promote their participation in the society.

This year, UNIC Tokyo’s interns interviewed African female students studying at Japanese universities which are the members of the UN Academic Impact (UNAI). The theme of the interview is “Education and Women’s Empowerment”. 

Women’s education in a changing society

Commemorating this year’s International Women’s Day, UNIC Tokyo’s interns have decided to hear the voice of some of the African women who are studying in Japan and to exchange views about the advancement of women.

We interviewed six Egyptian female students who are enrolled in Ph.D. and Master’s degree programmes at Kyushu University. Topics included women’s current status in Africa, challenges the students face, their contribution to the development of Egypt where pro-democratic movements still continue, and the importance of education to further advance women’s empowerment.

 

Following are six students at Kyushu University who joined the interview:

●Walaa Hassan, 4^th year Doctor of Graduate School of Medical Sciences

●Mahitab Elsayed, 1^st year Doctor of Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

●Mohamed Eman Ahmed Abd, 2^nd year Doctor of Graduate School of Sciences

●Rasha Mohamed Sabry, 1^st year Doctor of Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

●Noha Mashaal, Doctor of Graduate School of Sciences

●Noha Zommara, 1^st year Master of Graduate School of Systems Life sciences

 

As the main speakers, Ms. Walaa Hassan and Ms. Mahitab Elsayed responded to UNIC Tokyo’s interns’ questions. The other four students, however, also actively participated in the discussion, presenting their own thoughts and feelings.

 

Female education in Egypt

First, we asked if they had ever experienced any restrictions in studying in Egypt and Japan. All the six students replied that their families and their husbands have supported their will of studying. Moreover, they all highlighted that the people around them inspired and encouraged their aspirations and ambitions. However, there seems to be some differences between the urban and the rural areas. In the cities, female students seem to get better understanding and more support, while in rural areas they sometimes face restrictions. Noha Mashaal, who is from a suburban area in Egypt, added: “It is not always true. I come from a rural area where many women are well educated and supported by the people around them”.

 

Students’ feelings about Japan

Both Mahitab and Walaa said that they were satisfied with their current experiences in Japan and were very glad that they have made friends with the Japanese people. However, they sometimes find difficulties in communicating in Japanese, both at their workplace and in daily life. Walaa, who is studying at the Faculty of Medicine about HCV virus, said that she needs a proficient command of Japanese so that she can communicate with her patients more smoothly.

Next, we asked a question about their future. One of the most impressive responses came from Mahitab, saying that she plans to return to Egypt in the future so that she can make use of the knowledge gained in Japan and contribute to the people of Egypt. Mahitab, a mother of two children, dedicates almost all her time to her research on pancreatic cancer, for an improvement of her skills and knowledge.

 

Women’s education for social development

Asked about how an educated woman can influence her society, all the students stressed the importance to be confident with her opinion. And, for this purpose, it is essential to build a good environment in the society. Eman, who is studying science in her second year of PHD, said, “Women account for the 50% of the global population. That means, educating women will solidify the way towards social development”.

 

The role of women in society

UNIC Tokyo’s interns have a strong interest in the democratic movements that spread out in the North Africa and the Arab States, including Egypt, as well as the United Nations’ role in promoting democracy on the planet.  We asked to the students about the environment that they are experiencing in Egypt. A student from Kyushu University, said that the Arab Spring has a significant impact on them. Unlike the previous period under President Hosni Mubarak’s rule, students in Egypt are now able to go out to the streets and demonstrate against people and entities that violate human rights. However, they were careful in specifying that they join peaceful demonstrations in order to peacefully show their will of equality, justice and freedom of expression. Zommara, who has spent eight years in Japan, said: “It is actually too early to see tangible changes between the old and the new Egypt. But now people can talk without being afraid of expressing their needs to the government. This never happened in the past.”

 

Future Egypt

The hope of Rasha Mohamed for the future is that Egypt will be a leading country in modern fields such as science, technology. At the same time, as Walaa replied, maintaining attention to old traditions and habits will lead to create a good balance between the old and the new. Noha Zommara, was very impressed from the behavior of Japanese people during and after the Great East Japan Earthquake (11 March 2011), saying that democracy is not just having the freedom to express their opinions, but it is something more which is related to respecting each other as human beings and follow this behavior throughout one’s life.

 

The role of women in politics

The role of women in Egypt is increasing and more women are being recruited in ministries within the government, Walaa pointed out. One of the problems, which are still present is whether Egyptians give their vote to female candidates in elections and whether female contenders have built trust with their voters. On this point, Eman added: “It is necessary to teach young generations and children to respect women. That would change the society in the right direction.”

 

Message from students

“You must never feel afraid of speaking out.”

“Every girl, every woman, everyone should have a dream.”

“I want more communication among us women.”

“I have a hope that the status of women in Egypt will continue to improve.”

These are the messages that the Egyptian students sent to UNIC Tokyo’s interns at the end of the interview. These thoughts helped interns realize how strong and deep the will of these women is. They sincerely hope to give a real contribution in changing and improving the institutions and the people’s mind in Egypt.

This interview has had a great impact on us – interns and staff of UNIC Tokyo. First of all, because we realized that their families, their husbands and generally the people around them actually understand their aspirations, ambitions and their own life’s choices. Raising children, being housewives but, at the same time, they are building up their careers and continuing their studies with the moral support of their families, relatives and friends. This also represents the ideal work-life balance that the Japanese women would hope to see in their own social environment.

We were also impressed with the Egyptian female students’ determination to change and develop their own country. Listening to their thoughts gave us a precious opportunity to realize what women’s empowerment actually means.

 

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