The Women in Leadership Programme took place from Wednesday 10 September to Saturday 13 in Paris. The ladies who put it together were Carina, who is President of Emmaus Europe and Emmaus International, and on the Board, and Eve from Emmaus Europe. Carina felt it was important that women take a leadership role. I love that. It said that on one of the training room walls.
The place where the training took place was amazing. Hôtellerie L’Enclos Rey was an old convent and part accommodation, part conference room and part care home. The place was so pretty. In the grounds there were statues, like Ave Maria, for example, and a little cave. We all stayed there on the Rue De Theatre in Paris. It was lovely having people wandering around the grounds. An old man, who we think had dementia, walked into our women in leadership training. Emmaus is about inclusivity, so we let him sit down and join us.
There were 28 of us in total. Four from the UK from Emmaus Preston, Emmaus Hull, Emmaus Mossley and Emmaus Bristol, and people from Emmaus groups in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands (including Holland), Ukraine, Bosnia, Slovakia, and Carina is from Finland.
Powerful leadership style
We learned key skills for female leaders in Emmaus communities, different styles, communication skills and ‘the cushion’. When you’re having to deal with a difficult situation, that it’s important to put a cushion between yourself and the situation to take time before you react. Everyone has a different leadership style and when I presented mine, I was told it was very powerful.
We learned how to motivate other people to act, which was quite interesting as we had to use examples about how to get our message across. You introduce it, you keep it short (maybe with three points) then you summarise. We learned about congrency, being transparent, open and honest. I was surprised to learn 55% of communication when you’re talking to someone is non-verbal. And we learned about building relationships. We did that a lot. We all bonded really, really well. You wouldn’t have known there was a language barrier.
Then we had to choose a woman who inspired us. Some chose their nan or a leader in their country, but when they asked Steph from Hull, she said, ‘yes, Karen’. When they asked why, she said, ‘I’ve read her story, and she has been through some adverse times, and she has used these to help others’. So, I got three rounds of applause.
I got invited to so many countries. Bosnia, the French Alps, Holland… At first, I wasn’t sure if I would fit in, but we all came together easily. The learning and togetherness were so good.
Why I think Women In Leadership training is important
I think women in leadership training is important because I think sometimes as women we do get overlooked as leaders. I think women are stronger in a lot of ways because they have had to be.
At the end, Carina, who is the EI and EU board, said she will be stepping down because she has had two terms and she is thinking of retiring. In October, they will be looking for new board members and she thinks more females should be included. Carina was saying she hopes that she hears from all of us. Being together with other female leaders made you think about what you can do. The Women In Leadership training was an amazing experience. When I came back to work, I felt much more patient and calm.
I was quite happy to hear I wasn’t the only person who had been a companion. Chantelle was a companion in France for three years and then became a staff member. Although it was hard to talk to her, there was an interpreter nearby, so I got to have a conversation with her. It was nice to know, even in France, there are companions moving through the ranks in other Emmaus communities.
Emmaus groups around the world
It was really good to learn what other Emmaus communities do. How different we all are, but we are all the same because we are passionate about helping others.
Certain communities in France don’t have companions, instead they help asylum seekers. Some grow produce, make bread and biscuits and sell these on the market. They brought some for us to try.
In Bosnia, there is a meals-on-wheels style service, where it’s not just about giving other people a meal, it’s about having someone to talk to. In Slovakia, Emmaus works with people who have disabilities who are excluded. And in the Ukraine, Emmaus helps give people, including children, refuge and get by who have stayed in the country during the war.
When we left, people shared such lovely messages. The Ukrainian ladies said, ‘dear friends, I just wanted to say that we, together, have created a wonderful harmonious, calm and productive atmosphere. You made us feel like we were moved from the world of a terrible war which brings fierce suffering and despair into this beautiful atmosphere. Now we are returning home, and we share this feeling of peace and goodness.’
Another wrote: ‘I’m also on my way home. Thank you so much. For all I have learned, for all your beautiful stories and for your inspiration. Yesterday offering the old man a chair and inviting him to join us is comparable to how we are, that is what we do, and I hope to see you all again.’
When it came to my message, I said, ‘I would just like to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you amazing, lovely ladies. I had the most amazing time with you all and made friends for life. Thank you for being so warm and welcoming. It was so nice. It was so amazing.’ I especially wanted to thank the ladies from the Ukraine. The things they must have gone through and seen. They are still there in that country, when a lot of people have gone to a safer place and they are still there trying to help others. That’s what Emmaus is about, that’s what women’s leadership is about.
I think even though we were from lots of different countries, we are all like-minded in the way we all want to help people. We face similar challenges and the Emmaus Women In Leadership training brought us all together. The togetherness was the biggest thing. Every Emmaus is different, but there were no barriers. We all came together so well, bonded and learned from each other.