Aya is an award winning peace activist and renowned blogger. She is the co-founder of the Voice of Women Initiative (feminist collective) and founding Chair of Afrika Youth Movement. Aya’s passion for youth empowerment intersects with a vision for peace. As the Programs Director at World Peace Initiative Foundation, she founded and led dynamic peace projects such as Heya Fellowship for Women and MENA Salam fellowships that trained hundreds of young people to become peace agents and she introduced non-violent communication to over 5000 youth from some 40 countries across Africa and the Middle East. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the International Steering Group of UNOY Peacebuilders and joined the World Refugee Council as the youngest Councilor. In 2012,she was a Fulbright scholar at Georgia Southern University and 2015 Mo Ibrahim Scholar for her MA in African Politics at SOAS, University of London. In recognition to her achievements, Aya appeared on top lists of people to watch at the Huffington Post as well as 100under40 Most Influential Arabs in the World. She is also 2016 Inspirational Woman of the Year Award winner by Women4Africa UK.
