Yousry Badwan, first female mayor in West Bank

Yousry Badwan, 26 years old was elected to be mayor of Azzon east of Qalqilya city, which made her the first female young Palestinian to head this position in local elections. She studied electric engineering in Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie in Tulkarem city, and is known for her political and social voluntary works, which qualified her to participate in the elections.

During an interview with “Arab Today”, she said that, since her graduation, she had been doing voluntary works, became head of “Arab Woman struggle” organization in Qalqilya city, and participated in the local elections in Azzon town and won the position of the town mayor with majority of voices.

Her social activity in the town helped her to gain the residents’ trust and to win these elections despite her young age and her limited administrative experience. Badwan said that, her election as a mayor highlights the importance of involving women in all aspects of the society, and a rejection to the Palestine law that allow only 3 women in every municipal council, adding that, this experiment increased her self-confidence and it will allow her to prove herself and her skills.

She is getting ready for her first time as a mayor and aims to implement development projects that will achieve prosperity to Azzon town, and helps her to build the town infrastructure and to bring more investments.

She said Israeli occupation destroyed Azzon town, as the forces surrounded the town from all sides and put a gate at the town entrance that they open and close according to their own orders. This occupation affected the town political and social position, but Badwan has many ideas that will help improving this situation, including women financial empowerment, because women are more than capable of creating miracles.