Dana Shyoukhi

Dana is a currently a project officer in the operations unit at INJAZ, which supports the creation of opportunities for Jordanian youth. Having graduated from the University of Jordan with a B.Sc. in management information systems, Dana has worked for INJAZ for almost five years, the Lazord Fellowship being the stepping stone to her career at INJAZ. “I could see myself with the INJAZ family, and I like to witness the impact on youth and how they become leaders in their community. I myself, was thrilled when I became a Lazord Fellow.” She has been in charge of many projects reporting and conducting intensive (almost daily) follow-up with around 40 colleagues across Jordan; this is a challenging task as it requires collecting information and reporting it to upper management in a dynamic and accurate method. “I have been taking on more responsibilities in the last 5 years and I think I have a lot to learn on how to improve my leadership skills, on a professional and personal level.” Dana believes that, “Today, our survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”  She hopes for success for all and for herself in all of their endeavors.

Qusai Tayseer Al Amayrih

Qusai studied business economics in college. His passion was to work with youth, so upon graduating from Tafila Technical University, he looked for an opportunity that would allow him to continue to work with young people. The Lazord Fellowship gave him this opportunity; through the fellowship and his placement at INJAZ, Qusai had real hands-on experience with young people, his work being to connect them with job opportunities. Since 2014, he has worked hard on decreasing the rate of unemployment in Jordan.

Asia Alsadawi

To empower others, you should be strong, dedicated, confident, and have hope. All of us have the potential to bring about change but need a little push to start, great effort to continue, and no way to end.

Aya Sabry

Aya Sabry is the regional fellowship program manager at Ashoka Arab World. Her work involves supporting and working with Civil Society Organizations across the MENA region and Ashoka Fellows, who are the leading social entrepreneurs in the region, to expand their work and scale their impact. In 2017, Aya was recognized as a Professional Fellow by the US Department of State and worked in the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism in Washington D.C. focusing on researching potential donors as well as evaluating proposals by CSOs in DC. Her main expertise includes research, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, dialogue facilitation and graphic design. Aya has an undergraduate degree in Applied Arts and upon graduation; she was awarded the Lazord Fellowship from the American University in Cairo due to her deep passion towards perusing a career in the development field. She also has a Diploma in NGO Management and a Diploma in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a master’s degree in development studies from the Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex, United Kingdom

Waheed Yaghi

Alaa Tayseer Othman

As a Lazord Fellow, Alaa started her placement at the Families Development Association (FDA) as an administrative assistant on October 2014.  In her position, she was a very hard worker, quick-witted, responsible and reliable. This resulted in her being hired on the FDA staff.

Hiba Al-Hamaideh

Hiba is the Programs Manager at LOYAC, an NGO for youth empowerment and development.

As a Lazord Fellow, she was placed at LOYAC, and consequently was offered a job after finishing the fellowship program. She is passionate and eager to help and support youth.

Before joining the fellowship, she worked as a lawyer from 2012 to 2014.

Hiba graduated from the University of Jordan in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in law.

Rawan Thabet

Rawan is deeply passionate about empowering youth for change and excels in managing youth projects. She actively advocates for youth and has extensive experience working with refugee communities and youth across Jordan and the MENA region to establish and manage vibrant networks. Moreover, Rawan is committed to supporting communities throughout the MENA region, amplifying youth voices, and fostering impactful civic engagement. She has successfully managed the largest youth network in Jordan and spearheads a life skills project aimed at enhancing the capacity of 50 thousand youth across Jordan. Rawan’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in management.

Abdullah O. Abusham

Abdullah graduated from Petra University in 2014, and after several months of searching for a job opportunity, he realized that the Lazord Fellowship could provide him with the right opportunity to work and acquire new skills. After the yearlong fellowship he found that his passion for social work grew, particularly after working with youth at the Jordanian Hashemite Fund For Human Development (JOHUD), where he met many inspiring youth who aspired to achieve positive change.

Through the Lazord Fellowship he received several training sessions at INJAZ that had a great impact on his professional and personal life. This gave him the opportunity to be more engaged in the field of development; recognize different skills and abilities in himself; and continuously strive to achieve positive change in his community. This is why he continued to work at JOHUD after the fellowship, and is currently a project coordinator for the program YouthPower.

Abdullah’s advice to new Lazord Fellows is to embrace community work even after graduating from the fellowship. “Also, never give up, because the beauty of life is in doing what you love.”

Ahmed Hassan Solyman

Ahmed Hassan is a curious individual with a passion for social studies, psychology, strategy, and change management. Over the years, he has developed a deep interest in understanding human behaviour and societal dynamics, which drives his commitment to making a positive impact in various aspects of life. As a Supply Chain Manager with a background in strategic planning, he has cultivated skills in analysing complex systems and implementing effective solutions. Beyond his career, he enjoys immersing himself in literature and discussions about social studies, constantly seeking to broaden his knowledge and perspective. His journey is guided by a humble approach, a thirst for knowledge, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to the world around him.