Power and woman is a perfect combination
As confirmed in the 2007 About Women and Power Conference in Curaçao

Willemstad – Support and mentors are what helps the woman who wants to, and who is conscious of what her possibilities are, to move forward. This was one conclusion of the fourth annual women conference in Curaçao, ‘About Women and Power’, that took place last weekend at the Holiday Beach Hotel in Curaçao. The conference was held because of the International Woman’s Day.
‘About Women and Power‘ was a total success and each speaker went eloquently in depth with their thoughts, opinions and knowledge on the topic of women and power. The opening of the conference was accompanied by youth choir ‘The Angel Voices’ directed by Rosalind Martina and musical director Sharine Gregorio.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles Emily de Jongh Elhage did the official opening of the conference emphasizing the importance for women to have this kind of forum where they can gather information, knowledge and motivation to move forward.

Keynote speaker was former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles and three times head of state Maria Liberia Peters who caught the attention of the audience with her presentation named ‘Women and Power’, that did not leave any doubt on what the necessary ingredients are for a woman to achieve success in her life. Mrs. Liberia Peters spoke of different challenges and headaches that a woman in a leadership position must confront when she has to deal with her family combined with state responsibilities.

She emphasized the importance of the family under any circumstances.
Former chairman of the board of directors of the Maduro & Curiel’s Bank in Curaçao, Nicole Henriquez spoke about ‘Power by intuition’. She dynamically gave a report how she succeeded in her life, by developing her intuition, to make decisions that helped her in every work and project that she did. ‘It is important for a woman to know that she must not loose time by worrying about things that are not here yet but that she must follow her feelings to make the right decisions in life. A woman also needs a mentor who knows more than she and who can guide her’, according to Nicole Henriquez.
Psychiatrist Glenn Helberg from Holland spoke on his turn about ‘Power vs. Strength’. He showed in his presentation how women and men developed during history and how women always had the internal strength that is still not acknowledged historically.
‘Women must recognize and understand their internal strength and know how powerful this is’, according to dr. Helberg.
The last speaker was lawyer Joyce van Genderen Naar from Brussels, Belgium who showed in her speech ‘The Power of change’, how highly educated women still find it difficult to have a career when they choose to also have a family. She showed despite the fact that she herself is a mother and wife, that it is not easy to combine family and career and that especially young ambitious women must think and prepare themselves very well when they want to combine family and career.

Organizer of the annual women conferences Reyna Joe was satisfied with the reactions and especially because the participants got a lot of valuable information that, they will be able to use in their professional life. She thinks that it is remarkable that this conference, like the former three conferences accentuated the same: that women, to really be successful, need support from other women and mentors.
All the speakers got as a gift a ‘palu di funchi’ the typical wooden Curaçao cooking utensil considered a power tool, beautifully painted by artist Saida Hernandez.

The next annual women conference in Curaçao ‘About Women and........’ will be on March 7 and 8, 2008. For more information please call 599-9-767-9255 or via www.reynajoe.com.

On the pictures moments during the fourth annual women conference on March 2 and 3, in Curaçao ’About Women and Power’.

Curaçao, March 7, 2007

Press release

With picture

Zelma "Teacher Chèma" Maduro honored
with the 2007 'Outstanding Woman Award"

Willemstad - Zelma “Teacher Chèma” Maduro was honored last Friday March 2 with the ‘Outstanding Woman Award’ in Curaçao. This award was given for the second time as part of the annual women conferences in Curaçao. The first ‘Outstanding Woman Award’ was given during the 2006 conference to entrepreneur Nilda Juliana who during more then two decades had helped and empowered women working in her cleaning company. The choice fell this year on Zelma “Teacher Chèma” Maduro who has worked for 52 years as a kindergarten teacher in Curaçao, preparing thousands of kids for their future career.

The ‘Outstanding Woman Award’ is symbolized with a high heel shoe with a very fine point just like the logo of the annual 'About Women and....'. Conferences.
The shoes symbolically stand for opportunity for women who can and will use it to kick away any obstacle that they encounter in their professional career. Those that will get this recognition must have had a career where they showed to be able to walk over visible and non-visible barriers in a career that served and benefited other women.

The Award will only be given to professional women in the Caribbean region, older than 60 years who, who without much publicity developed and empowered women. These women can be presented as role models to younger women.

Please contact BISInc for more information on the ‘Outstanding Woman Award’ at 599-9-767-9255 or via www.reynajoe.com.

On the pictures we can see:
1. Moments that those present at the opening of the 2007 Conference 'About Women and Power' applauded Zelma “Teacher Chèma” Maduro.
2. Zelma “Teacher Chèma” Maduro surrounded by the speakers and organizer of the annual conference for women ‘About Women and Power’.