Social Entrepreneurs in the Middle East

Victor "Global X" d'Allant
Former Executive Director, Social Edge

Working in a variety of fields including education, microenterprise, social justice and arts and culture, Synergos will facilitate peer learning among members of the group and provide professional development, mentorships, financial resources and strategic connections to help the Arab World Social Innovators strengthen their projects to reach more people and make greater social impacts.

The new class of 22 Arab World Social Innovators are:

Ali Abu Awwad (Palestine) is promoting non-violent practices among those who wish to create social change.
Aref Husseini (Palestine) is introducing new tools and approaches in education to cultivate young scientific minds and critical thinkers.
Ezzat Guindy (Egypt) is helping provide economic opportunities for garbage collectors in Cairo.
Gamal Kamal el-Din (Egypt) is introducing new technology to increase production for sugar cane farmers.
Islam al-Dawi (Egypt) is reviving traditional Berber handicrafts to create income opportunities and preserve local culture.
Jihad Shojaeha (Palestine) is helping promote access to education by raising funds to help students with financial needs attend university.
Kamal Mouzawak (Lebanon) is supporting small farmers and preserving organic agricultural traditions through local farmers markets.
Mohammed Zaid al Kilany (Palestine) is allowing greater access to employment opportunities through mobile phone technology.
Noureddine Amre (Palestine) is working to promote integrated education for the visually handicapped.
Paul Abi Rached (Lebanon) is producing music and carrying out educational programs for youth that helps teach environmental conservation.
Rabee Zureikat (Jordan) is using ”voluntourism” and microenterprise to build awareness and improve conditions in marginalized communities.
Raghda el-Ebrashi (Egypt) is empowering communities to find their own locally rooted solutions to overcome poverty.
Rami al-Hajj (Palestine) is creating an Internet-based social networking platform to promote open dialogue around social issues.
Ramzi Odah (Palestine) is creating “youth parliaments” to help groom a future generation of Palestinian leaders.
Rana Dajani (Jordan) is creating a library in local neighborhoods to foster a love of reading among Jordanian children.
Saadia Zrira (Morocco) is finding sustainable solutions to poverty and environmental degradation in rural Morocco through the cultivation of indigenous plants.
Sameh el-Halawany (Egypt) is using art to transform and preserve culturally unique neighborhoods in Egypt.
Tamer Anis (Egypt) is helping change perceptions and secure rights for the deaf and mute.
Wafa al-Zerrouki (Morocco) is helping women break the cycle of poverty through traditional handicraft.
Younes Naoumi (Morocco) is motivating the growing population of youth to become active participants for social change in their communities.
Yousef al-Deek (Palestine) is building a culture of cinema in Palestine to reaffirm national identity, and build social cohesion.
Zeinab al-Moumani (Jordan) is promoting rural development for women through agricultural cooperatives.