The University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass Donahue Institute

University of Massachusetts Civic Initiative

Economic Empowerment 2023

Achraf Kaakoua (he/him/his)

Morocco

Achraf Kaakoua is a business student  in his fourth year at the national school of business and management in Morocco. Combining sustainability with business values is one of his main interests in addition to his passion to work with people from different background and supporting dynamic,   diverse and open discussions. His will to make a difference ended up with being the leader of so many international movements in his local community that support youths to start their entrepreneurial journey, encourage social businesses and guarantee an authentic experience to learn on an international scale. He believes deeply that culture is an iceberg, so he looks forward to discovering the American culture and its history, He loves to share his tradition and makes lifelong friendships. During his SUSI journey, he hopes to be able to deepen his knowledge when it comes to the American economy, its financial system and all the technics and strategies used in the American companies in terms of marketing and management in order to have a clear and wide vision that will enhance without any doubt his leadership skills and let him shift his experience to his local community.

 

Adham Ghallab (he/him/his)

Egypt

Adham Ghallab is the founder of the Shagaf Initiative that helps children find their passion and determine their ambition. At the same time, he is the CEO and founder of a startup that creates eco-friendly decorations and furniture from recycled dead seagrass. He is currently studying robotics at GIU. He is an enthusiastic, energetic, and multitasking person who always pursues to achieve his goals and help others through community engagement and always strives to make a change and leave a mark in the place where he is. As a result of his lifelong passion for learning entrepreneurship, he was able to win many entrepreneurship competitions at the local and regional levels. A strong believer in human empowerment, he dreams of establishing an academy to teach robots and linking it to entrepreneurship to empower youth and children economically to help them have a better future.

 

Ahmed Maknine (he/him/his)

Tunisia

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Global Student Leaders on Economic Development

Ahmed Maknine, a 23-year-old young man from Tunisia, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business with a major in finance. Alongside his studies, he has set ambitious professional and personal goals. Ahmed aspires to become a role model for the young generation in his country, utilizing his social media presence to inspire and educate. He aims to make a local impact by raising financial literacy through engaging video content. One of Ahmed's proudest accomplishments is the establishment of a thriving community on Instagram, where he has garnered over 100 thousand followers. His influential presence has made him a notable figure in Tunisia, and he has been recognized for his talent in videography and photography through various awards and competitions. Beyond his studies and online influence, Ahmed has diverse interests that include understanding the economy, maintaining fitness, and pursuing video making. Through the SUSI program, he hopes to expand his horizons and build new networks with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Ahmed envisions using these connections to promote his country in a positive manner and learn how to establish international collaborations on a larger scale.

 

Ahmed Aziz Boussaid (he/him/his)

Tunisia

Ahmed Aziz Boussaid is a third-year software engineering student from Tunisia. He is a civically-engaged individual who has demonstrated his commitment to making a positive impact on society. As a project coordinator in the E-cautiousness project, his primary objective was to combat cyberbullying. Ahmed takes great pride in this accomplishment, as it allowed him to contribute to creating a safer online environment for individuals. Apart from his passion for software engineering, Ahmed is interested in using new technologies to find innovative solutions for social problems. He aspires to play an active role in developing his community by harnessing the power of technology. Furthermore, Ahmed hopes that participating in SUSI will not only allow him to showcase his own culture but also provide an opportunity to learn about other cultures. Through this exchange, he aims to broaden his horizons and gain a deeper understanding of the world around him.

 

Amir Mansi (he/him/his)

Egypt

Amir Mansi is a rising senior student from Egypt. He studies economics & big data at Nile University, and is interested in data analysis, Middle East economic development, research, and international trade. Aside from academics, Amir is the representative of his school in the student’s union where he tries his best to the voice of his community, he had an internship in a youth initiative called Future Zone that aims to empower teenagers and aspiring leaders through unique and different educational opportunities. Amir published his first research titled "The Effects of Extracurricular Activities & GPA on the employability chances of College Students" at MSA - Management Sciences Journal. He's most looking forward to meeting people from all over the world and taking a step closer towards being a global citizen through SUSI.

 

Fadi Benzaima (he/him/his)

Algeria

Fadi Benzaima, an aspiring leader hailing from Algeria, is currently pursuing a degree in computer science at the Higher School of Computer Science in Sidi-Bel-Abbes. With a deep passion for technology and entrepreneurship, Fadi proudly serves as the co-host of the AlphaGeeks podcast, a weekly show dedicated to exploring the realms of tech and innovation. As a self-taught web developer, Fadi has honed his skills and achieved notable success in the field. Beyond his professional endeavors, Fadi holds a keen interest in philosophy, finding inspiration in its profound inquiries. His goals are twofold: professionally, he aims to embark on a successful career as a web developer, and personally, he seeks to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding among people from diverse backgrounds. Fadi looks forward to participating in the SUSI program, as it presents an opportunity to enhance his web development skills and broaden his cultural horizons. Through meaningful interactions with individuals from various cultures, Fadi plans to share his Algerian heritage and provide valuable insights into his rich cultural background.

 

Fatima Younis (she/her/hers)

Jordan

Fatima Younis a Jordanian studying in the third year of planning and project management, have my own startup business of unique art pieces since 2018, and interested in economic empowerment of young girls to help them gain financial and intellectual independence. She a great passion for music and the arts, and in my free time I volunteer in art workshops in extracurricular educational centers in my area, I am very excited to be part of the SUSI program in order to increase my experience in economic empowerment and spread my culture in American society in order to remove the wrong impression taken from the media.

 

Hamzeh Hassouneh (he/him/his)

Jordan

Hamzeh Hassouneh is a fourth-year university student from Jordan. He studies computer graphics and animation at Balqa University. He is interested in studying the science behind animation and the implementation of code in computer graphics. In addition to his academic interests, he spends his free time learning new techniques of marketing for his project (Animators for Humanity) that helps small local businesses, he also was honored from his collage to have the best animated short film of 2023. He loves working out and look forward to sharing his creativity and his Jordanian culture with Americans during his SUSI on economic empowerment. During his SUSI program, he wants to learn more about how to empower local business owners into taking advantage of the online market.

 

Ilyass Ribah (he/him/his)

Morocco

Ilyass Ribah works as a communication manager at "Centre d'addictologie", a rehabilitation center assisting drug addicts and homeless young adults in Agadir. He also works as a part-time English tutor. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Ibn Zohr in Agadir, Ilyass is majoring in English language & linguistics. Ilyass has successfully managed to design, develop, and implement the "Sparks of Hope" project in favor of homeless young adults, and "The Source of Change" community service program, with a particular focus on SDGs, in favor of students at Abdelkrim El Khattabi public high school, both of which took place in Agadir. Ilyass is a curious learner, visionary leader, and creative seeker. He is a Moroccan youth in pursuit of excellence at change and peace making.

 

Lamiss Boughamoura (she/her/hers)

Tunisia

Lamiss Boughamoura is a third-year university student from Tunisia. She studies finance as a major and business analytics as a minor at Tunis Business School. She is interested in economic empowerment, financial literacy, and social entrepreneurship. In addition to her academic interests, she spends her time in clubs, organizations and engaging in startup activities. Her passions include makeup. She loves its artistic aspect and the way it allows them to express herself through art freely. She also loves to bake waffles, discover different genres of music, watch shows, and read books. She looks forward to sharing the Tunisian culture, including its diverse cuisine, art, music, and history with Americans during SUSI on Economic Empowerment. During her SUSI experience, she wants to learn how to engage in different entrepreneurial activities to be a better, more engaging leader in her community. Her most important achievement is being selected for this program since it was her dream to be an exchange student. She aims to evolve on a personal and professional scale through Susi, to become a skilled financial analyst, who is dedicated to entrepreneurship as well.

 

Lina Nour Slama (she/her/hers)

Algeria

Lina Nour Slama is a second-year student at the Higher National School of Artificial Intelligence from Algeria where she pursues an engineering degree, as she is interested in the deployment of AI in business and creating machine learning models to generate the best business decisions to maximize income value for corporations. In addition, she is the founder and leader of a charity labeled Ihssan Team which organizes occasional donations for families in need, besides being an active member in several scientific clubs, Lina has won the "Hackathon of mobile apps" organized by Anvredet Research Center and took part of Techgirls 2020 US exchange program. She loves to share the different Algerian customs with other peers from diverse backgrounds and get to know their culture as well. During her SUSI on economic empowerment experience, she aims to discover more about the Financial and cultural side of American society and engage in community service to support US local businesses and gain real-life experience that will be beneficial in her follow-on project when returning home. 

 

Manar Habib (she/her/hers)

Egypt

I am a 22-year-old student at Applied Arts, Benha University, in my third year at the Department of Interior and Furniture Design. In addition to my academic studies, I have volunteered for over four years in various extracurricular activities to meet my interests in entrepreneurship and sustainable development and how to connect both with my study to produce a better social influence. Beyond that, mentoring and training have been a passion of mine for the past few years, and me participating in SUSI program on Economic Empowerment is my start shoot. As a part of my volunteer work, I work as a training facilitator in several organizations in sustainable development advocacy, that encourages me to pursue opportunities related to sustainability to improve my personal and professional skills and to realize my vision of achieving better social, environmental, and economic impact within my community.

 

Meriem Nejjar (she/her/hers)

Morocco

Meriem Nejjar is a fourth-year university student studying international business at the National School of Business and Management in Tangier, and is interested in the entrepreneurship world, international business news, and the influence of digital evolution on people's lifestyles. In addition to her academic interests, she spends her free time working on their personal and family businesses, and leading teams in some NGOS that enhance leadership among the youth. She loves martial arts and practice taekwondo regularly and look forward to sharing Moroccan culture and traditions with Americans during SUSI on Economic Empowerment. During her SUSI experience, she wants to improve their leadership so she can lead a diverse team in their future businesses and support their community by sharing new and useful ideas that they learned through their journey!

 

Mohamed Sayed Mohamed (he/him/his)

Egypt

Mohamed Sayed is a sophomore university student styding pharmacy at Future University in Egypt. He is a strong believer in mental health awareness and an education activist who believes in the power of education to transform our communities into better places. Moreover, he is the youngest alumnus of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Orange Corners incubation program. He looks forward to sharing his Egyptian culture, traditions, and values with all the nations that will participate in the SUSI Economic Empowerment program. He wants to expand his international connection as much as possible and improve his interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills during the SUSI program period.

 

Mohammad Krayem (he/him/his)

Jordan

Mohammad Krayem is a fourth-year university student studying translation at Yarmouk University and is interested in getting to know the American culture and language more to enable him to translate better. In addition to his academic interests, he spends his free time in doing community service like teaching kids and teenagers English and teaching university student how to write a resume. He likes making new friends, and he looks forward to sharing Jordanian culture with Americans during SUSI on Economic Empowerment. During his SUSI experience, he wants to learn about the economic system in the U.S, gaining economic information that can apply in his home country, meeting entrepreneurs, and learning more about project management.

 

Montaha Manaa (she/her/hers)

Tunisia

Montaha Manaa is a second-year university student studying business administration at Tunis Business School, and she is passionate about social entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder of a startup that tackles the issues of water scarcity and bad water quality using advanced technology. She is also the president of a consulting firm that offers market and marketing research services. Montaha is dedicated to nurture her knowledge about sustainability and to create a long lasting impact on her community. In her free time, she loves to write poetry, perform in theater plays, dance, and read books. During her SUSI experience, she wants to share the Tunisian culture and to discover new various cultures. Also, she aspires to enlarge her personal and professional networks, and to strengthen her entrepreneurial skills.

 

Naima Kebir (she/her/hers)

Algeria

Naima Kebir, a second-year medical student at Oran 1 University in Algeria. She is highly interested in medical research and projects leading. Also, she sees herself getting deeply involved in programs that take care of sustainability and environmental development. She really likes situations where she applies her public speaking skills like she was in the Arab Reading Challenge with her peers, this experience makes her proud and confident about her skills! Being a participant in SUSI is a great chance where she aims to develop her personal & professional network with other like-minded people.

 

Nouhaila Chab (she/her/hers)

Morocco

Nouhaila Chab, a fourth year software and artificial intelligence engineering student. With a strong passion for the field, she actively seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge. Nouhaila holds the role of being the leader of Girl Up Morocco, where she dedicates herself to empowering girls and advocating for gender equality in the technology industry. She is also Google Women Techmakers Ambassador, utilizing her platform to champion diversity and inclusion in tech. Nouhaila actively engages in voluntary activities in leadership programs. Through these experiences, she has gained a deeper understanding of the importance of social impact and sustainable development. Nouhaila's creativity extends beyond technology, as she finds joy in expressing herself through art. As a participant in the SUSI on Economic Empowerment program, Nouhaila is eager to enhance her skills. Her aim is to better support and empower women in their entrepreneurial journeys, particularly in the face of societal challenges. Nouhaila is excited to contribute to program discussions, share her perspectives on economic empowerment, and build meaningful connections with fellow participants. Learning from industry experts and gaining insights into global economic trends will enable her to drive positive change in her community and make a lasting impact.

 

Sina Rustom (she/her/hers)

Jordan

I am a second-year university student from Jordan studying business administration at the American University of Madaba, and I am interested in the business-related topics such as privatization. In addition to my academic interests, I spend my free time doing my internship with an NGO that facilitates early childhood-related programs, and also, I am a trainer in the debating field and currently working with Intellect and Debate Society in Jordan. I personally love to read both books and articles online and I am looking forward to sharing my Jordanian and Circassian culture with my peers during SUSI on Economic Empowerment. During my SUSI experience, I want to gain more knowledge about the U.S. economy and engage myself more on all the different aspects of being an exchange student in this program.

 

Yousra Farhani (she/her/hers)

Algeria

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Global Student Leaders on Economic Development

Yousra Farhani, a third-year computer science engineering student at the Higher National School of Computer Science from Algeria. I'm the leader of Women Tech Makers Algiers Community, a junior data scientist and a quantum machine learning enthusiast. I am a winner of many national and international competitions about leveraging technology for social good. I'm interested in entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. During the SUSI program I want to sharpen my leadership skills and get to know how to implement the projects I have been working on, I also want to learn about the American culture and the American economic models. I'm a digital artist, a UX/UI Designer and design instructor who loves creating pieces of digital art. I also love cooking and writing. I'm excited to share the Algerian culture with the SUSI participants and Americans during this summer.

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