A week-long course aimed at getting more women into Government and private organisation boards ended on Friday with participants being presented certificates. 

The course was run by the United Nations and the Samoa Institute of Directors (S.I.O.D) and attended by 31 participants. There was only one male.

The five-day training was organized and delivered by the Institute of Directors in partnership with the Women in Leadership in Samoa (W.I.L.S.) Project for aspiring women directors and male champions on gender issues to raise and increase awareness and understanding of the requirement to successfully engage in the Corporate Governance and management of organizations in Samoa.

The professional training also looked at understanding the application process and entice them to apply for directorship.  Also, to increase their understanding of the requirements to successfully engage in the directorship of any size.

 The participants for this month's training are from private sectors, non-profit and agriculture sectors as well as the public service. 

On the successful completion of the Director Programme, the Participants were all issued with a professional qualification, allowing the use of the post-nominal GSID.  This certificates certified that the individual named on the award has successfully completed all of the requirements necessary for the Governance and Management of organisations enabling them to apply for Director positions that may become available.

The Resident Representative for U.N.D.P., Jorn Sorensen said highlighted that the Women in Leadership project is helping to boost women by empowering them to take up these leadership roles and to help change mindsets about women’s own abilities and capabilities when it comes to being board directors.

"And that’s where this training course comes in. Whilst the increasing number of female directors is encouraging there’s still a long way to go," he said 

"Women’s leadership contribution at all levels of society needs encouragement, support and acknowledgement."

Mr Sorensen is hopeful that the training would have equipped everyone with the necessary skills and mindsets to consider applying for directorship positions in government and private force. 

He urged everyone to stay connected, share thoughts and innovation and mutually support one another. 

Rev. Lui Faitaua, the only male participant of the training course and a board member of the National Kidney Foundation shared that the course was very important in trying to improve women's leadership skills. 

"It will contribute to my work as a board member and  as a Catholic Reverend  to enhance the service that I provide," he said 

He said that he was a bit hesitant and shy on the first day when they did introductions as he was the only male out of all the ladies that were present.

"But what I felt wasn’t important, I felt that what was more important was the training that I came to be a part of and the lessons that I had learned," he added

Mr. Faitaua is an advocate for women and he fully supports women in leadership. The second training course will be in August.