Q1) Tell us about yourself & what did you study:
A mindful consumer and a minimalist by way of my upbringing, I’ve been working nonstop to make the world a better place by being the change I want to see.
I started volunteering when I was only 14 years old. You can say that I’m a life-long political, social, and environmental activist. I became a food activist in 2012. I’ve been a minimalist since 2013. I’m the Co-founder and Executive Director of FoodBlessed, a pioneering national hunger-relief and food rescue-initiative, founded in 2012, led by a group of volunteers working together to combat and help reduce hunger and food waste in Lebanon.
I’ve been a nerd for the bigger part of my life. I hold a B.Sc. in Biology and a Masters of Public Health(MPH) from the American University of Beirut. I also hold an MA in Development Economics and International Cooperation from the University of Rome II. In 2017, I earned an MSC. in Migration, Mobility, and Development from SOAS, the University of London as a Chevening Scholar.
I’ve won several awards including ‘CSR In Action’-Lebanon (2012), King Abdullah II ‘Award for Youth Innovation & Achievement’ –Jordan (2014), LAU’s ‘Spirit of Service Award’- Lebanon (2015), MBC al Amal ‘Humanitarian of the Year Award’ -Dubai (2016), and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Top 24 Women Humanitarians. I also am the winner of the popular Al-Jadeed TV reality show Political Idol “El-Za3im”. As a result, I had the chance to run with “Madaniyya” as an independent candidate for parliament in the district of Chouf -Aley in 2018.
Q2) How did you decide to start your startup food blessed?
It all started in 2012 as part of a competition organized by CSR Al Ahli and my team’s idea won first place and that was the sign me and my team probably needed to carry on with this project. I think if we haven’t won back then, FoodBlessed might have never been born! With FoodBlessed, I was able to turn my passion for food and my pursuit of empowering others into a humanitarian mission that “nourishes” individuals, communities, and public institutions to promote positive change in their country, one meal at a time.
Why FoodBlessed? Poverty and food insecurity have always been prevailing issues in Lebanon. In 2012, it was estimated that over 25% of the Lebanese population lives under the poverty line rendering them incapacitated and constrained to secure adequate food at all times. Simultaneously, one third of all the food produced in Lebanon is lost or wasted daily. This inefficiency has enormous economic, environmental and social consequences but also presents an enormous opportunity for tackling food insecurity. Moreover, being poor or a refugee in Lebanon is tied to bullying, humiliation and ostracism!
At FoodBlessed, the problem that we are trying to solve is the twin problems of food waste and hunger while rebuilding the dignity of those in need and restoring their confidence in their community. FoodBlessed aims to replace the customary food-as-charity, needs-based model with a proactive rights-based approach to food security.
Since the COVID-19 crisis, poverty has reached 40% and is estimated to reach 60% before end of 2020.Our services are needed more than ever. Inflation and unemployment rates are soaring. Lebanon was in deep crisis even before the COVID-19 outbreak which has only exacerbated an already devastating economic crisis and uncovered the inadequacies of the Lebanese social protection system. While we have little control over the flawed policies and sudden shocks that have thrust Lebanon into its worst economic crisis in decades, we can do a lot in terms of hunger-relief.
Both of my teammates left after our first year. I’ve been managing FoodBlessed on my own since 2013! It has been very challenging but a big learning experience.1,000,000 meals later, not a day passes that I don’t learn something new or meet someone extraordinary, all thanks to FoodBlessed!
Facts and numbers:
FoodBlessed believes that achieving zero hunger necessitates – that no more food is lost or wasted. FoodBlessed’s activities are directly conducive to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDGs 2 and 12. Moreover, it indirectly contributes to the enhancement of SDG1,3 and 13). Over the past 8 years, thanks to youth engagement, social responsibility and community leadership, we’ve successfully SERVED 1,000,000 MEALS, RESCUED over 200 000 tons of SURPLUS FOOD, and INVOLVED more than 3000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, including individuals and institutions. To put it in numbers, one food parcel costs us $19 and is enough to provide food sustenance to a family of 4 for 3-4 weeks. To this date, we have successfully distributed 5000 food parcels across Lebanon. Currently, we have 11,000 registered families alone, Lebanese and non-Lebanese. That’s almost $209,000 to be spent on food assistance packages alone. Then of course there are those waiting for registration to resume!
Q3) What is your secret sauce to getting to where you are?
Wow, that’s a tough one. First off, my advice, which is more of my two cents primarily because I believe that there is no one formula that fits all when you decide to be a Changemaker!
In my case, self-belief and being true to one-self were I would say the major ingredients of the secret sauce to where I am today. Turning rejections into motivations, and embracing one’s difference and uniqueness is the only way to make it in the world. I like to lead by example. I read a lot about individuals who have left a mark in this world, and the more I read, the more I’m reminded that being different is actually a good thing.
I believe that every young person should promote change in his or her community by trying to share and embody the values that he or she feels the most passionate about. Although I’m not a doctor (sorry dad), I know that I’m still saving lives on a daily basis and making this world a better place one meal at a time. Know why? Cause I lead by example. And so should you!
Easier said than done, I know. Sadly, the majority of people, including sometimes the people closest to you, will judge you and often mistaken your diligent determination for ego or for aggressiveness since it will be hard for them to understand why you’re doing what you are doing. Nevertheless, I urge you to never lose hope. To be true. And to spend it doing what you love, you only have one life yeah?
At the end of the day, I want to always remember that while many leaders can create change, only great leaders promote change while staying true to themselves. In other words, they passionately and stubbornly hold steadfast to their ideals, so they can positively change the world around them. Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Q4) What would you advise people that are currently fighting for a humane cause?
In this world, there is an extra fine line between the what ifs and between the what is. In order to transform your words into actions, you need to do three things: first you need to shut up (ie listen more). Then you have to stand up and start moving!
Every success story I’ve encountered both in my personal life and in literature involved a change from within. One in which the change maker defies the status quo by refusing to conform to prevailing ideas or practices in his or her behavior or views. So in order to elicit change, you too have to challenge the status quo, AND IN THIS CASE, it really doesn’t matter who you are, what really matters is what you are capable of DOING.
I have always sought to BE the CHANGE I want to see happen around me. With FoodBlessed, I was able to turn my passion for food and my pursuit of empowering others into a humanitarian mission that “nourishes” individuals, communities, and public institutions to promote positive change in their country, one meal at a time. I have always believed in the power of food in bringing people together and in eliciting positive change! Naturally, the particular path I chose to tread has caused me a lot of pain, backlashing and resistance and at many times hate. There were so many times that I felt I just can’t carry on anymore–the physical and emotional burden that comes with my line of work can be very heavy.
It’s very easy to feel like giving up when you feel emotionally drained! In these hard times, I have learned to always remind myself that while I can’t save everyone, I can try and trying is half the battle. Moreover, so many people look up to me –my commitment to the cause, resilience and perseverance have been and still remain to be an inspiration to many. I simply can’t let them down. Faith is what kept me going.
Q5) Where do you see food blessed in the next 10 years?
By building awareness and driving action to solve the twin problems of food poverty and food waste, FoodBlessed’s core work is to increase the opportunities of those deemed in need for help as well as their helpers. It also works on elevating the understanding of people and between people through changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards ‘poverty’ and ‘food waste’. At FoodBlessed, we believe that a person is poor when they feel unloved and/or unwanted! The heart ache that feeling ostracized brings to some feels worse than the stomach ache that comes with sleeping on an empty belly. As for food waste, FoodBlessed believes that it is only when people see and appreciate the value of food that they will stop wasting it less and start sharing it more. Finally, FoodBlessed is entirely community-based and volunteer-driven; thus, the very essence of the initiative is to rekindle the lost bond between the people of Lebanon.
Q6) Who is your biggest inspiration?
Ever since I was little, I always felt that I was different. I used to march-to-the beat-of-my-own-drum. “Girls like you shouldn’t be climbing trees, shouldn’t be so expressive and loud, shouldn’t be so rude, shouldn’t be this, shouldn’t be that”, they would tell me. “Stop acting like such a boy, be a girl!” Be a girl? What the hell did that even mean? I never really identified myself as a girl. I always thought I was just being a kid. I used to tell myself, if he could do it, so can I; and even better. As I grew older, being different felt more like a burden than a blessing. Sometimes, I just wanted to blend in and belong and being the odd one out made it all the more difficult for me to do so. Sometimes, being myself meant that I was left out.
So when I was told to ‘act like a girl’ or ‘like my age’, I did the complete opposite. I wasn’t trying to be a boy or butt-headed, I was just being myself and in most cases that meant that I had to act in a way that might not come across as being ‘girly’ or ‘age- or ‘-culturally appropriate’.
I can’t really think of a time when I DIDN’T have to be defiant, empowered, or fearless. I’m 34 and till this day whenever someone asks me about who inspired or inspires me to be unapologetic-ally myself; it might sound silly, but I always say her name is ‘Mulan’. She is my hero because she defied cultural and gender stereotypes, made a contribution to her country, was brave, and not to mention empowered a whole generation of girls to follow her lead, including yours truly.
Q7) Could you tell us what skills people need to have to be where you are?
The best skill that you have to need to lead a fulfilling life be it in your love life, family life, work life is that of “Empathy” aka putting yourself in other people’s shoes. Second skill in communication, sometimes it doesn’t matter what you say as much as how you say it. Having good communication skills makes life a lot easier.
Foodblessed is all about social cohesion but it is also about mindfulness. It teaches us to be mindful about the way we treat other people and the way we treat our planet! It teaches us to be treat them the same way we want to be treated by. I think being mindful is a great skill to have as well. it’s a lot like empathy but in a more rounded way!
Q8) If you would go back at high school & college today what would you do different that would help you in your career right now?
Nothing. not a single thing. I am blessed to have lived my life to the fullest so that today at the age of 34, I can safely say ‘I did it my way’. it has been hard and strange and painful but also full of joy, pride and memorable moments. I am who I am today as a result of all the experiences that I have been through. I think adversity is important. My life has been full of adversities, emotional, physical, mental, financial. And you know what they say, overcoming adversities makes us better humans. My severe anxiety and depression for instance has made my life hell, there were times when I was suicidal on a daily basis. Despite all the pain I have been through and still go through, I have to say that my mental illnesses has turned me into a better human, they have made me more humane. Thanks to my suffering, I stand now as someone who is more compassionate, less judgmental and more empathetic and tolerant to others.
For more information on FoodBlessed please visit: http://www.foodblessed.org
or check out their instagram page https://www.instagram.com/foodblessed/
For online donations please follow the following link: http://gf.me/u/w45ynj
For bank transfers please follow the following link: http://foodblessed.org/donate/
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