Sameh Abidi

Sameh is a pencil – she is a combination of ambitions, ideas, passion and arts. She is the pencil that agrees to be held by the hand of another, and who is eager to learn. This helped her not only to get her bachelor’s degree in communications, but also to get her master’s degree in cross media.

In addition, her background and her skills in communications allowed her to better integrate into the field of civil society as well as to broaden her networking skills through developing new contacts and, therefore, achieving some key professional and personal goals.

She is the pencil who represents the Fourth Estate that speaks of marginalized citizens to highlight their worries and defend their rights; this is why she worked for local newspapers and was their voices. She is the pencil who is usually there to stimulate and encourage youth. Sameh speaks about her experience with an organization that works on building an environment for entrepreneurial success and growth.

Mohamed Khalil Bedoui

Khalil has a master’s degree in finance from the Higher Institute of Management. He worked as an insurance manager for two years. He also performed auditing and accounting tasks with the NGO SAWTY.

His expertise is oriented around the management of nonprofit projects, from analysis to implementation, up to the evaluation stage. During his time with SAWTY, whose objective is to promote the values of citizenship among young people, he participated in several projects that aimed to promote citizenship, elections, and the constitution either as a member of the project’s team or as project manager. Creativity and proactivity are qualities that he always demonstrates.

Khalil wanted to extend his experience and consolidate his knowledge so he tried volunteered internationally as a prevention facilitator in a Parisian NGO Wimoov.

Lamis Issa

Lamis is a 24-year-old law graduate with an ongoing master’s degree in political science, and she is a Lazord Fellow and project coordinator at ARTICLE19. She started exploring Tunisian civil society by joining several NGO’s and attending various human rights trainings since 2011. She believes that being a part of the Lazord Fellowship will help her to improve her skills and to be a helpful member in society.

Jihene Raach

Jihene studied private law at Central University in Tunisia. She always aims to acquire more experience in civil society through her academic career as well as her professional career. She has had multiple internships and trainings that have contributed to her capacity building; her participation in the program of emerging leaders of Arab regions with World Youth Alliance (WYA) was one opportunity that allowed her to improve various skills . She also values her work with the United Nations Democracy Fund, her volunteer work at the Tunisian Red Crescent, and her internship at the law firm Cabinet El Manar. She decided to join the Lazord Fellowship because one of her professional goals is to work for an NGO’s. Jihene is always looking for different opportunities to apply her enthusiasm and dynamism to noble causes.

Hamdi Guesmi

Hamdi Guesmi, a 24-year-old from Tunisia, received a master’s degree in research in regional development economics from ESSEC Tunis, and is currently a project assistant at the organization Le Lemon Tour. His professional interests focus on international cooperation, local and regional development, and leadership. In addition he is interested in environmental issues and the sustainable development of his country, so he is currently working on a project on ecological sustainability and ecological tourism in Tunisia by the use of alternative means of transportation such as bikes. He is confident that change and development stem from investing in youth and supporting their ability to build a better society. He believes that peace between all the countries of the world is the solution to progress and helps build a better world. Therefore, he will consolidate the principles of peace and good in the community.

Chourouk Amouri

Chourouk Amouri obtained a bachelor’s degree from the Institute of High Commercial Studies of Carthage and is currently a student who is pursuing her master’s in entrepreneurship. Throughout her years in college, Chourouk was involved in various initiatives, both nationally and internationally, in the fields of leadership, arts, volunteering and journalism. These experiences have allowed her to see herself as well as the world around her under a different light, one where change is possible and necessary. She has also acquired different skills thanks to the projects she took part in, such as intercultural management, communication, translation, writing and entrepreneurship. Through the Lazord Fellowship, Chourouk wishes to gain the tools that will allow her to thrive in her career and to have an impact on the causes she believes in.

Salma Ben Tekaya

Salma has been a project assistant with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Libya, based in Tunisia, since July 2017.

As a Lazord Fellow in 2015-2016, Salma was a project assistant at the Tunisian Association of Public Auditors (ATCP), and worked on the, “Fostering Effective and Accountable Government Institutions,” project.

“Thank you to the Lazord Fellowship who enhanced my experiences in community management, engagement within the community, and civic education.”

Marwa Ben Rejeb

Marwa is a 27-year-old Tunisian urban planner who believes in the power of change. For this reason, she has been engaged in civil society since 2007 when she volunteered with different NGOs in her hometown Gabès.

Marwa is currently working and studying at the same time. She is enrolled as master’s student in local governance and was placed as a Lazord Fellow at NGO RAJ Tunisia where she works as a project coordinator.

Last but not least, Marwa’s passion for making a difference is the fuel that makes her develop her personal and professional skills.

Manel Abdelwahed

Manel has a degree in Information Technology from Campus El Manar University.

She began her professional experience at SagemCom for 6 months and at start-up IRIS for 2 months as a trainee. This allowed her to gain experience and to develop communication and team-working skills. It helped her improve her technical skills, as well.

IT developers are often considered geeks who think in a binary manner, but Manel loves social contact and is still addicted to reading books. Life was not that kind to her; she has faced difficulties and dealt with sickness, loss and struggle. That makes her the better person she is today. She would not do anything without her mother’s help. Manel’s mother is her inspiration.

During the Lazord Fellowship Program, she was a program assistant at NGO Kawakibi for Democracy Center. She felt honored to be a part of their team.

Faouzi Zribi

Faouzi Zribi is a young Tunisian activist who is originally from Sfax.

After his Bachelor’s degree in Experimental Science, he continued his studies in the Faculty of Medicine of Sfax to become a doctor. In 2009 he joined the ATL MST SIDA where he began to discover civil society. He also joined other NGOs involved in supporting all aspects of civil society, including the promotion of democracy and citizenship, human development, support for human rights, and poverty reduction.

The more he develops his leadership skills, the more he feels the responsibility to use his skills to benefit society. His main motivations as a global citizen are assisting and advising people in need. Faouzi believes in the importance of the notions of solidarity, listening, and sharing in making the world a better and more humane place.

During the Lazord Fellowship Program, he was a program manager at the ATL MST SIDA.