The majority of women in the Levant face barriers - such as high pregnancy rates, gender gaps in literacy, less access to job opportunities, and limited political representation - that limit their entrance into the formal labor force. 

In a region that more traditionally depends on charities and loans, Fida was the first to adapt business incubation for the Levantine context - boosting job creation, supporting more women entrepreneurs and diversifying local economies. Fida’s mission is to economically empower women in rural areas of the Levant through a grassroots venture capitalist approach. 

That the women targeted become visible members of society working to raise and improve the socioeconomic development of their country and that her venture capitalist model be replicated outside of the Levant, across the region.

The high number of unemployed youth in Morocco has caused instability at social, economic, and political levels. High school and university graduates are not being equipped with the problem-solving and analytical skills necessary to enter the job market and have a passive mindset that leads them to rely on the government to secure jobs for them.

Working directly with schools as well as individual students, Adnane drives a more innovative educational system and fosters changemaking mindsets in youth. He is encouraging a focus on creativity and student-led innovation in schools through a training program that explores community, business, and personal development and engages all school stakeholders to achieve lasting change.

To transform individual student mindsets as well as create a more creative and innovation-oriented education system.

In many Arab countries, women face obstacles to achieving economic independence, including traditional gender ideologies, reduced access to education, and a lack of support from existing institutional and legal frameworks. Even more prevalent conservative social norms in rural areas prevent women from working outside of the home or seeking opportunities for education.

Zeinab has organized the first agricultural union in the Arab region, creating a platform to amplify Jordanian women’s voices and providing opportunities for them to start their own income-generating activities. Through this union and additional agricultural cooperatives, she has shifted the perception of women’s roles in rural communities, empowered them to participate in decision-making processes, and provided training and marketing support.

To replicate her model throughout the Arab region in order to increase women’s access to economic and social opportunities and organize self-sustaining organizations that enable women to leverage their collective power.

A large number of Egypt’s population over the age of 60 requires assisted-living or home healthcare, but the country’s healthcare system lacks quality services, and private care has become increasingly expensive. Most doctors and nurses are not reliable and do not understand the compassion needed to support this population. 

Magda has established an entirely new profession in Egypt - that of home healthcare providers who are providing high-quality care to the elderly and others who are homebound. Through a comprehensive curriculum, she is creating jobs and transforming the country’s healthcare system by training providers to integrate care and compassion into their practice. 

To transfer a mindset focused on compassion and effectively train a large network of home healthcare providers, widening opportunities for employment in Egypt and ensuring that the population in need of home healthcare receives quality attention and assistance.

The lack of sewage systems is one of the major causes of high levels of pollution in Egypt and has had negative consequences on rural communities. In many villages, sewage waste affects groundwater used for drinking and other agricultural needs. Poverty, low-quality education, and current government policies inhibit the application of technologies that could mitigate this environmental challenge and the attached health-related risks.

Sameh has introduced new technologies into rural areas, building and maintaining low-cost sewage systems tailored to village contexts as well as inviting communities to participate directly in establishing a framework for sanitation.

To cultivate a sense of ownership and pride among rural and village populations, engaging community members in decision-making processes to improve their local environment, public health, and quality of life.

With around 19 million students and only 8% in private schools, Egypt’s education system suffers from low-quality and rigid conventional teaching styles. Schools lack the technological resources to support teaching and meaningfully engage the growing number of students.

The first to use the “crowd-teaching” model in Egypt, Mostafa encourages communities to take responsibility for their education. He is transformed access to Arabic content online and dramatically expanded technological resources for educators and students through his online platform.

To democratize access to education in the Arab world and instill in teachers, parents, and students a responsibility for the development of innovative learning opportunities and value for education.