Edy Semaan, Lebanon

Editor-in-Chief
Recent graduate in Communications.
Former Journalist at The Daily Star Lebanon.
Former News Editor at The Equinox.
Former U.S. State Department scholar (State alum).
Model United Nations delegate for Fiji.
"The biggest mistake youth can make is staying silent on the things that matter."

Meriem Ayachi, Tunisia

Area Manager for Africa and Middle East & Contributor
Master of International Affairs student at Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.
Recent graduate with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from IHEC Carthage Tunisia.
Former Tunisian Global Youth Ambassador, former U.S. Department of State scholar, former intern at Democracy Reporting International (DRI) in Tunis, former intern at GIZ in Tunis, former intern at Empower Peace in Boston, former intern at Tunis International Bank in Tunis, former in-country consultant at the U.N. Global Education, attendee at Preparing Global Leaders Academy in Amman, Young Leaders Exchange in London, North Africa International Model United Nations in Tunis, MENA Exchange Leadership and Development Seminar in Beirut, International Student Summit in London and Young Diplomats Forum in Athens.
"I like to write because it is the only way I feel that I can express my ideas fully."

Carla Sertin, Lebanon

Editor
Recent graduate, MA in Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Former Media and Communications student at the American University of Beirut, Vertical Editor and Video Producer at Fan First Magazine, Online Editor at Outlook AUB and Media Specialist at the Disaster Risk Management Unit of the UNDP in Beirut.
"I write to explore and to learn. Writing about others is the ultimate form of empathy, and reading is participating in that exercise of empathy. I write about marginalized people to challenge the status quo."

Noha Elmessiri, Egypt

Contributor
Game Artist.
Graduate of ITI 9-month diploma program, Game Art track.
Bachelor of Applied Arts, Helwan university, Cairo.
Former U.S. Department of State scholar, former intern at Rush Art Gallery, former exhibitor at "I in you, you in I" and "No Exit" art exhibits.
"Writing, in my opinion, is a great means of communication. You read something, think about it, then organize your thoughts before you reply."

Said Sabir Ibrahim, Afghanistan

Contributor
M.S. in Global Affairs candidate at New York University.
B.A. in Political Science and Communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Research associate at New York University's Center on International Cooperation.
More than 10 years of experience in the development, nonprofit and research fields, namely working with the U.K. Department for International Development and the Norwegian Refugee Council in Afghanistan.
Participant in several international conferences involving youth, including the Model United Nations in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the U.N. Youth Assembly in New York.
"As a curious and responsible global citizen, I would like to write about issues pertaining our societies and in particular the politics of South Asia and the U.S.”

Zuwaina Al Daraai, Oman

Contributor
Accounting and Finance major at University of Bradford.
Youth Entrepreneurship Support Initiative Oman Ambassador (YESI), NESA exchange program alumni, former SVSU International Students Club member, former volunteer at Saginaw rescue mission.
"Fill your papers with the breathings of your thoughts." - William Wordsworth

Haithem Kchaou, Tunisia

Contributor
Business major at the Mediterranean School of Business
Co-founder of Kids Uprise, an association aiming at awakening the entrepreneurial mindset of Tunisian kids.
"Writing is giving superpowers to my voice. Writing makes my voice reach people I've never met, in places I've never been to. It allows it to subsist when I'll be gone. Writing gives me the possibility to have an impact on you, my reader, without knowing who you are or where you are from. That's why it's so magical."

Charne Thomson, South Africa

Contributor
B.A. in Information Systems from Stellenbosch University (Graduated cum laude with honors).
B.A. in Politics, Economics and Knowledge Management from Stellenbosch University (Also cum laude).
South African delegate at the G20 Youth Summit, China, and the Global Young Leaders Summit, New York.
“I write because even in a world of technology and communication so many South Africans still do not have a voice in the global arena. I write to share their stories, and to learn from the stories of others from around the world.”

Kevin Dupont, United Arab Emirates

Contributor
B.A. in International and Global Studies as well as Anthropology from Brandeis University.
Currently a teacher in Dubai, UAE.
Internet Media Coordinator for the U.S. Department of State Embassy at Tijuana, Mexico.
Served as a Foreign Service intern with the U.S. Department of State Embassy at Baku, Azerbaijan.
Traveled to China, including Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Israel, Palestine and Morocco while researching the role of social media in aspects of collective action and social unrest as a Research Scholar with the Circumnavigator’s Club Foundation.
International Finance and Administration intern at the International Council of Voluntary Agencies in Geneva, Switzerland, while working at the U.N. office in Geneva.
International Policy and Diplomacy Fellow with the Advisory Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, D.C.Bachelor’s Degree in International & Global Studies and Anthropology from Brandeis University (USA).
“I want to help make our world a more connected place for the youth, as we are the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators.”

Christina Fakhry, Lebanon

Diverse News Reporter
Communication Arts/Journalism graduate with a minor in Psychology from the Lebanese American University.
Freelance journalist with a number of local and regional publications including Annahar, ArabAd, Beirut.com and ArabNet. Social media specialist by day. Host of Trendsetter, a weekly TV show that aims to showcase young social influencers, bloggers and entrepreneurs and serve up innovation.
When I'm writing is precisely when I feel like I have a purpose, like absolutely anything is possible, like the world, somehow, makes sense.

Christina Boutros, Lebanon

Diverse News Reporter
MS in Sciences of Information and Communication
Recent graduate in Journalism at the Lebanese University, Photojournalist and freelance writer, member of the Media Association for Peace (MAP), winner of the FUTURE News competition with Reuters and the British Council
“Writing is the tool to explore myself, my thoughts and the astonishing world around me.”