Melissa Cahill is a cybersecurity professional, education advocate, and mentor based in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Washington State, she became involved in advocacy for Palestine after visiting the West Bank and running the Palestine Marathon in 2015. Her work today focuses on helping students in Gaza access higher education and build pathways toward […]
Mr. Nasser Hamad is a senior humanitarian professional with over 25 years of experience in humanitarian response, relief operations, and security management in the Gaza Strip. He has worked with CARE International and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and currently serves with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Melissa spent the first five years of her life in Tripoli, Libya, where she was introduced to—and fell in love with—Middle Eastern culture at an early age. She has long advocated for the arts and education, and while living in NYC for 18 years she volunteered with both the Arab American Family Center and the
Dr. Lubna Saghir is a dedicated philanthropist with a strong belief in educational empowerment and independence. Born in the UK, she is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She is currently based in Qatar, where she practices as a Family Medicine Consultant with a special interest in diabetes and leadership. In light
Dr. Abudabbeh, received her BA and MA from the American University of Beirut (AUB), her PhD from the University of Maryland and continuing education conferences through Harvard University. A specialist in PTSD and trauma, she is presently focused on young adults dealing with identity crisis and navigating multi-cultural influences. Dr Abudabbeh has a strong connection
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Her educational background includes a BA in Philosophy and Sociology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and an MA in Visual Communications and Marketing from American Intercontinental University (AIU) UK. Over the years, she has lived, studied, and worked in Wales, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Canada, and most recently, the United Arab Emirates. As a result,
Muna Aghaalnemer is currently finishing her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bath, UK. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2013 with a Major in Biology and a Minor in Computer Science. She returned home after graduating and has been teaching Biology and Science on the West Bank of Palestine. For the
German-born Dagmar Tawil has been dedicated to the education of Palestinian youth for many years and has supported the LE•O program since its inception. She is married to a Palestinian from Haifa, and they live in Virginia, USA. Amongst her many achievements, Dagmar is licensed in Child Development, a field she has worked in for
Luisa Sonnek was raised in the Washington, DC area by a Lebanese mother and a Sicilian father. A world traveler, she lived in Egypt for several years as well as attending culinary school in Paris, France. Upon returning to the U.S., she continued her culinary education at La Academia de Cuisine, earning a professional culinary
Sally Shami is the Branch Manager and Country Representative at Challenge to Change Swiss Foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Media and Political Science from Birzeit University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is a board member of the Jerusalem Center for Women (JCW) that aims