“Every person has something to give to the community, and they do it beautifully, they do it strongly, and they do it with passion,” says Nibal Fetouni, director of initiatives at Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa. With over 6 million athletes of determination registered across the globe, the Special Olympics is spearheading a revolution, “the revolution is inclusion,” says Nibal. Her own journey as a pillar of the inclusive community began with her supporting her stepfather in bringing the Special Olympics to Lebanon.  In 1989, while studying at the American University of Bei ..read more

Growing up it was obvious to me, and anyone who looked at me, that I had a disability. I was born with microtia, which means I have an undeveloped ear. This stood out to me from a very young age as I was the only member in my immediate family who was born with a visible deformity. Being raised in Zimbabwe in the 90s meant I knew what it looked like but not what it was called or what caused it. I remember having to go for multiple hearing tests when I was younger, not knowing the importance of it and thinking it was something all the kids had to do. Now as an adult, I see that was my parents’ w ..read more

For generations, women have been forced to be hyper-efficient, to deal with their needs and put them to the side as fast as possible. Society has told women in more than one way to treat their very natural menstrual cycle as something to be hidden, something shameful, something that happens in the background and doesn’t need much attention.  The shame in some places extends to the bigger problem of “period poverty,” or the lack of access to basic reproductive health education, necessities and sanitary solutions. Millions of women and girls across the globe, in all communities, have to con ..read more

My brother is my favorite person. There is no one in all of the world that loves me as he does. He is the reason I’m an empath and have learned to hold space for all kinds of humanity, but in a world that cannot define his existence through their oppressive and limiting language, they label him a liability. There is a disconnect due to society being unable to see disability issues as a human issue. To them, it is an alien experience. I don’t find him “special.” He is still my brother and I want him to have an unapologetic existence, to not have to preface his whole life. At the start of our jo ..read more

“I acknowledge my voice in my own country and in the region as a Khaleeji. It’s powerful if you as an individual can make sure that you and your household takes responsibility to change without waiting for a government entity to tell you,” says 26-year-old Nourah Al-Sulaiman.  Nourah is the project manager of Ensaniyat, a program by Migrant-Rights.org that focuses on spreading knowledge and awareness about migrant workers’ rights in the GCC. Her efforts are focused on the cyclical student exchange program that involves students in Qatar and Kuwait, working to change the perceptions around ..read more

Following the August 4th blast that devastated Beirut last year, Dayna Ash got on her moped and hand-delivered food and other essentials to those in need. In the face of disaster, sitting down to map out an action plan and her place within it is not how Dayna works. Instead, she moves, and keeps moving until her community has what it needs.  An unwavering force amongst the ever-changing cultural landscape of Beirut, Dayna is working to break the hold that subjugation has on life, on queer life. As an activist, writer, founder, and executive director of the non-profit arts organization Hav ..read more

Dubai may not be known as the epicenter of hip-hop culture, but over the years the youth have found a dedicated love and loyalty for it, ushering in designers and creatives who are redefining what it means to have the best of both worlds.  ByHaneenBader is a homegrown streetwear brand by founder Haneen Bader, a 23-year-old Palestinian-Jordanian who calls Dubai home. She majored in Fashion Design and Pattern Making at ESMOD and says she was essentially raised by Fifty Cent and Tupac. “My style, the baggy clothes, and the chains come from them. I just want to normalize looking comfortable a ..read more

“I go between hopefulness and hopelessness and anger and grief and fear and love 50 times a day,” writes Palestinian writer and filmmaker Ayah Bazian.  As the ongoing injustice against occupied Palestine continues, we asked Ayah to write freely about how she is currently feeling as a Palestinian in diaspora. She tells us how we can do more for Palestine and lists creative resources for becoming more educated: I am unable to think or focus on anything else, I am furious at the insidious brainwashing of the Zionist Hasbara machine, I am furious that people still want to push a two-state sol ..read more

“I always remind women that we’re women – our biology is unpredictable in comparison to men.” Amal Murad is setting out to empower women to better understand and listen to their bodies and cycles as they focus on fitness.  “During the menstrual cycle, each week is different. Your hormones affect your blood glucose which affects your hunger and how your body stores fat, and it affects your mood,” says Amal. The 28-year-old is a personal trainer who became the first Emirati woman to practice in the male-dominated space of parkour.  She chose the sport for its great mental and physical ..read more

Nelly Attar is a strong advocate of movement and its ability to change lives.  The Lebanese dancer, Nike trainer, and award-winning founder of Saudi’s first dance studio Move, Nelly grew up with dance and movement all around her and made it her mission to give others that experience.  “I can’t remember myself without dance and movement. Dance was always a part of the family gatherings, meetings with my friends, and also at school. I used to dance at performances and it was just who I always was and who I am today.” With an MSc in Psychology, Nelly worked as a life coach and mental he ..read more