Academic Year 2007-2008

Voices of Moderate Palestinian Youth Leaders
April 22, 2008, 5:30PM
Speakers: Mohammed Zaid Al-Kilany, Ahmad Omeir, Linda Abu Elhalaweh, Yazan Alnabulsi, Su'ad Soboh, Amani Samara, Ruwwad Youth Corps, Palestine

Ruwwad Youth International Exchange Participants Biographies:

Ahmad Omeir, 23 years old, is a Ruwwad Youth Corps member who has led and organized numerous Ruwwad activities and leadership trainings and now serves as an intern at the Ruwwad project's main office. In addition to his extensive participation in Ruwwad's activities, Ahmad is an active volunteer with the Abu Raya Rehabilitation Center. Recently, Ahmad represented West Bank and Gaza at the World Children's Parliament in Finland and at a conference for creating artificial limbs in Egypt. Ahmad holds a degree in Occupational Therapy from the Arab American University in Jenin.

Linda Abu Elhalaweh, 25 years old, is Ruwwad Youth Corps member who joined the Corps after participating in Ruwwad's Community Based Needs Assessment. Linda works with many other organizations, including the US-based CHF International, where she serves as office manager for their Hebron Office. She graduated from Bethlehem University with a major in Mathematics and IT,

Amani Samara, 21 years old is a student in her second year at the Arab American University, majoring in English Literature. Amani developed and now supports a new academic program that helps students improve their writing skills and connect with their teachers. Amani also works as a creative writing mentor with the Freedom Theater, which operates out of the Jenin refugee camp. Recently, Amani provided English translation for a book titled Refuge that tells the stories of Palestinian children who are refugees.

Mohammed Zaid Al-Kilany, 25 years old, serves as a leader of the Ruwwad Youth Corps. Mohammed assumed a leadership role with Ruwwad after participating in several of Ruwwad's trainings, initiatives and activities. Mohammed has worked for the Palestinian Telecommunication Company as a Systems Developer, and also as a technical support person of a local SMS messaging service, which is a technology used as means of communication between Ruwwad's Volunteers. Mohammed graduated from the Arab American University with major in IT.

Yazan Alnabulsi, 24 years old, joined the Ruwwad Youth Corps after participating in the Nablus Schools Clean-up initiative and a Ruwwad leadership training. Yazan is currently a university senior studying electrical engineering and communications. Yazan is also one of the founding members of the Nablus Youth Council, where he now serves as the Council's international relations officer.

Su'ad Soboh is a 20 year old member of the Ruwwad Youth Corps. During her internship with Ruwwad, Su'ad was instrumental in coordinating a Breast Cancer Screening and Awareness campaign in the West Bank. Su'ad was born in Mexico, but returned to her native West Bank, where she became engaged in community service through her Ramallah –based, Quaker high school. Su'ad is now an active volunteer with organizations throughout the West Bank, including the Ta'awon Youth Forum, the YMCA, and Ruwwad. Additionally, Su'ad has represented Palestine through other international youth exchange programs. Su'ad is now a second year student of Economics and Political Science at the Birzeit University.