The second Jussoor workshop is taking place in London this weekend, on the 11th and 12th of February. Last year saw Jussoor successfully pilot its first workshop, building the foundation for a network of dedicated young leaders interested in supporting the development of the Arab region. This year, we are continuing in the same vein, bringing together a wide range
of motivated and passionate university students, young professionals and field experts.
The first day will focus on the broad theme of Arab development, asking where change will come from post Arab spring, as well as exploring different challenges and solutions faced by development organisations. The second day seeks to build up the necessary vision, skills and confidence needed by young people to get more deeply involved in Arab development efforts. Participants will get the chance to hear from and interact with a number of inspiring leaders from different fields, including civil society, human rights, the private sector, government and media.
Through this thought-provoking weekend, we hope that participants will come away with renewed optimism and the skills and connections required to start making a difference in the Arab world.
We would like to thank all the keen footballers and supporters who attended the first Jussoor five-a-side tournament. Through their participation we raised £200 for our projects in Egypt.
Also a special thanks goes out to:
LSE Arab Society for covering costs
Mohammed Alradi and Nadim Lahoud for organization and logistics
Marie-Liane De Beauregard for Bandanas
And Beesan Alajaji (Alfanar’s summer intern) for certificates and filming
The success of our first tournament has provided us with the momentum and encouragement to host many more events in the near future.
A testimonial from Zeiad Idris, another one of our brilliant Jussoor finalists –
“The Jussoor work shop was an intense weekend of debate, presentations, ideas and fun.
You are being chucked right into the deep end with a bunch of people you have never met and expected to do presentations, share ideas and thoughts about development issues in the Arab World. However one thing the guys at Alfanar are great at doing is breaking the ice, through light hearted team building exercises which include screaming at each other! Jussoor brings together the most diverse range of young personalities and backgrounds you could imagine, but at the same time they are all passionate when it comes to development. Exceptional speakers were invited to share their directly relevant knowledge and understanding with us and they often had conflicting views – the outcome was a rigorous and fascinating experience.
I would recommend Jussoor for those serious about contributing to development in the Arab World and wish to be challenged in a practical and intellectual manor. The time was very well spent and the experience was inspirational.
Alfanar is a pioneering organisation in the Arab World tackling complex issues and is not afraid of taboos. I was drawn to Alfanar because I believe such an organisation, and venture philanthropy in general, has been long overdue in the Arab world and it provides the ideal forum to discuss, plan and implement development solutions. Alfanar definitely has a bright future!”
Below is a diary entry from Norah Alajaji, one of our workshop finalists:
“Welcomed with happy faces and wide smiles, I entered the Jussoor workshop, not knowing what to expect, who I would meet or what I would learn. After being introduced to Alfanar’s team and the 17 other workshop finalists, my first impression was: wow! I was impressed by how diverse the group was, the different backgrounds, the different nationalities, the different specialities, and most interestingly, the different viewpoints.
My first impression was echoed in my last impression, the wow-factor was prevalent throughout the workshop. I was and still am very impressed with all we got to do in such a short time. The workshop was intense, challenging, and very insightful. I learned what venture philanthropy is all about, I met very interesting speakers and I worked with very distinct individuals. I liked how unique every session was, from the speakers’ panel to cafe conversations and from mind-mapping to working on case studies. The process was indeed stimulating.
Alfanar is all about improving lives and communities, and it was great to be part of a very good-willed team. Realism and optimism were some of the main things we learned, along with the ability to gain a clear perspective on successful development projects in the Arab world. I loved how everyone shared the same ambition of progressing the Arab world and creating a space where the needs and dreams of children, women, and families in general are considered and developed.
All in all, Jussoor was a unique experience. The things we learned, the people we met, and the networks we created have given us a push to go ahead and work towards what we all dream of: a flourishing Arab world.”
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