DOHA • Qatar University launched writing workshops, funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), in an event titled "Writing as Self-Discovery," organised by QU Student Affairs Sector and the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy on January 29.

The event also launched the Essay Contest for "Qatar Narratives: Women Speak," an anthology of personal essays written by female residents and citizens of Qatar on wide-ranging topics such as modernization, culture, family life and social change.

Joey Hood, Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy said that the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is "a reflection of the American people's connection with people from around the world." He lauded the freedom and opportunity enjoyed by the people of Qatar, noting however that there was still room for growth of an active NGO sector that "provides a civil society a country needs for an environment that stimulates creativity."

In her presentation entitled "Writing as Self Discovery, Finding Your Unique Voice," MEPI Workshop Leader Carol Henderson outlined the concept of Free Writing which she said allowed students of the workshop to "generate material, ideas and stories, expressing their own experiences in their own voices." The highlighted stories were written

Qatar Narratives follows three phases: the workshop, the essay contest and the publication of the anthology. A Writing Club is in the pipeline as the fourth phase. The contest is open to all women living in Qatar and winning essays will be published in the anthology that will "give a glimpse of what life is in Qatar," said Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, Education Consultant at Qatar University. She noted that, "the sharing and writing of stories calls up our similarities more than our differences."

Deadline is February 12, 2008. Email to both Rajakumar at m.rajakumar@qu.edu.qa and Henderson at cd.henderson@gmail.com for further information and essay submission.