Feedwise: Nourishing Society in Kuwait
Feedwise is attempting to tackle a variety of issues, from feeding the hungry to addressing environmentally stressed areas to raising mental health awareness.
Samyah Alfoory
Former Research Associate
Samyah Alfoory is a former research associate at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Samyah Alfoory graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in Arab Studies, concentrating on the Gulf and gender. Her past research includes a project for the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security in which she examined women’s agency in the Bahraini uprisings of 2011, a project which examined military expenditures in the Arab Gulf as they relate to post-Arab Spring political developments for BAE Systems, and field research conducted in Kuwait among second-generation migrants which focused on citizenship and gender and how the two intersect to impact young women’s lives.
Samyah was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Kuwait from 2012 to 2013, during which she conducted extensive fieldwork to examine women’s groups and activism within the opposition movement. She obtained her bachelors’ degree from Colorado State University in Political Science. She has previously worked as a news writer, translator, and a freelance journalist.
Millennial Gulf content-type in which the post is published
Millennial Gulf content-type in which the post is published
Embrace Doha: Generating Cross-Cultural Dialogue in Qatar
Embrace Doha began with the simple idea that a two-way dialogue can create sustainable friendships and connections, and at the same time aid in the preservation of Qatar’s traditional identity as it undergoes intense development and transformation.
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Transforming Art in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province: LOUD Art and Huna Art
In 2012, Raneen Bukhari had graduated from university and was back home in Khobar in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
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Jedareyat: On a Mission to Beautify Kuwait's Cityscape
In the cities of the Gulf states, white and unmarked walls are the standard. But in Kuwait, Jedareyat is doing something unusual and innovative: organizing local artists to paint colorful murals on buildings around the city. Aiming to combat visual pollution in Kuwait, Jedareyat is a volunteer group founded by Sulaiman Alrodhan in early 2016. The team, which also consists of Abdulaziz Alreshoud, Hind Francis, and Ameena Almutawa, scours the city and crowdsources for dead walls and artists who can transform them into picture-worthy landmarks. AGSIW spoke with Sulaiman about how the initiative works as a medium between building owners and artists, the messages the group hopes to portray through the murals, and the strong spirit of volunteerism that runs through the team’s work.
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Riyadh Writing Club: Empowering Female Writers
When Hala Abdullah started the Riyadh Writing Club with her best friend, Mashael Alblehed, in 2009, they had in mind an easy way to meet and get inspired by other writers.
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Al Balad: Raising the Bar for Omani News
Oman’s first online newspaper, Al Balad, is run by a group of local youth: Turki Al-Balushi, Ali-Alansari, Noora Almeer, Rahma Al-Judaili, Firas Altubi, Salah Al-Balushi, Rahma Alsawafi, Talib Alabri, and Ghalib Alabri.
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Maitham Al Musawi: Storytelling from Oman through Film
Maitham Al Musawi is a rarity in Oman. In addition to being an orthopedic surgeon, he is an award winning independent filmmaker.
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Sirdab Lab: Cultivating a Startup Community in Kuwait
Since its inception, Sirdab Lab has hoped to positively impact Kuwait’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, aiming to become a hub and gathering space for all the country’s startups and entrepreneurs.
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Intellect Jeddah: Educating Youth in the Kingdom
Intellect Jeddah is a grassroots organization initiated by young Saudi women Renad Amjad, Amna Fatani, Refaa Sindi, Jawaher Abbar, and Orjwan Alomari, with an eye toward creating a thriving intellectual environment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Portrait of a Nation: UAE Artists Explore Unity
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is offering visitors to the “Portrait of a Nation” exhibit an opportunity to view the work of 20 Emirati artists reflecting on the organization’s legacy, as well as the unique culture and identity of the United Arab Emirates.
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Abolish 153: Tackling Domestic Violence in Kuwait
Abolish 153 is an awareness campaign started by a small group of women in Kuwait to eradicate domestic violence in the country.
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Cinema Akil: A Home for Film in the Gulf
Founded by Emiratis Butheina Kazim and Mishaal Al Gergawi in 2014 in Dubai, Cinema Akil intends to be “a space for conversations around cinema.” The founders set out to build a fixed space for independent films and in the process began hosting pop-up film events at various locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, including a series over the hot Emirati summer that encouraged an appreciation of the sun by screening films inspired by it.
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Art with an Impact: Talking Design with Arfa Rehman
Arfa Rehman is a master’s student in sociology at Oxford University.
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Bahrain’s Youth Pioneer Society: Guiding and Empowering Youth
The Youth Pioneer Society (YPS) is a non-profit organization in Bahrain founded by a group of young Bahrainis who met on Twitter in December 2011.
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Nuqat: Creative Education and Innovation in Kuwait
Nuqat is a Kuwaiti, non-profit design initiative started in 2009 by Wakim Zeidan, Sara Al Nafisi, Hussa Al Humaidhi, and Dana Al Hilal.
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Setting the Agenda: Reflections of Saudi Women on the Campaign Trail
On December 12, 2015, Saudi Arabia held its third round of municipal elections.
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EQUAIT: Promoting Tolerance Among Kuwaiti Youth
Equait is a community project founded by two young Kuwaitis, Faisal al-Fuhaid, and Leanah al-Awadhi.