On Thursday, January 9, the Embassy hosted a breakfast with a group of female students from Castilleja High-School (California) who were on an intensive study tour in Paris entitled “Women and Immigration” organized by Studio Praxis organization. The students actively participated in a lively discussion with Cultural Affairs Officer Jennifer Rasamimanana who shared her experience as a female diplomat and raised issues such as “what does it mean to be an international woman?, “how to be comfortable and succeed in roles and societies where women are a minority.” The Embassy then hosted a discussion between French actress Aïssa Maïga and the students. Ms. Maïga told the audience about the obstacles she faced as an immigrant woman and how she had achieved her dream of becoming a nationally-known actress.
This program confirmed Embassy Paris’s commitment not only to youth and minority outreach but also to women’s empowerment. It was the occasion to inspire young American female students to be curious and adventurous and not be afraid of making their way in unfamiliar situations.
