The Team

Program Manager

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  Tala Nabulsi http://profiles.tigweb.org/TalaNa yfc@takingitglobal.org

  Tala Nabulsi holds an MA in Women Studies, a BA in Political Science and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2006.

  Tala joined TakingITGlobal in 2006 as a Translation and Editor Volunteer, and in 2007 was appointed the Arabic Language and Engagement Coordinator. In 2008 she became the project manager for Youth for Change pilot phase which was implemented over the year and is currently managing phase II. During 2008, Tala was also chosen as an e-mentor in TakingITGlobal's "MakeITHappen" e-course on project management, which is now renamed as "Sprout".

  Tala has 10 years of project management and training experience and has previously worked with UNIFEM and other international organizations on women, youth and culture projects in Jordan and Canada. In addition, she co-founded the National Forum for Youth and Culture, a Jordanian youth-led NGO and is now a member in a number of national and international organizations.

  "As an activist for youth development and leadership in the MENA region, my vision comes in parallel with that of 'Youth for Change' to create a hub for Arab youth leaders that will provide them with the tools, resources, networking and opportunities for change. Meeting our Agents of Change and knowing more about their projects and the impact they have created in their communities, has proved that although we have achieved a lot, there is still more to be done, as we need to reach out to more leaders and members of society who have the potential to create change.

  "Being a mother myself makes me always think about the future of our region, what our current position is and what is needed to create a better place for future generations and I am hoping that 'Youth for Change' will be a positive step in that direction!"

Program Assistant

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  Noor Shaqlous http://profiles.tigweb.org/shaqlousa Noors@takingitglobal.org

  Nour Shaqlous graduated from the University of Jordan- Double Languages: Spanish/English and worked as a Freelance translator at LATRADE Company in 2007/2008. She also worked as a researcher and relationship manager in the Sales field at Bayt.com Company in 2008/2009. Noor was the Youth for Change Program Assistant in phase II and continued to phase lll. She was also the Youth for Change focal point of Jordan in phase II and is currently a member of YHR (Youth Human Rights) in Jordan.

Media Assistant

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  Noha Helmy Rahhal http://profiles.tigweb.org/noha21 noha@takingitglobal.org

  Noha Helmy Rahhal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics & Translation from the University of Alexandria. Right after her graduation in 2009, Noha started working as a freelance translator. Then, she has started working as a full-time at Skills Worldwide Corporation. Recently, she has become an Outsource Translator for the Planetarium Sciences Center (Bibliotheca Alexandrina).

  Since August 2009, Noha has joined the Civil Society in Alexandria by being a delegate at Alexandria International Model United Nations (AIMUN 09). After that, Noha has joined WupY as a Content Manager and is now in charge of editing and preparing content for WupY's website and its channels.

Executive Director

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  Jennifer Corriero http://profiles.tigweb.org/jenergy

  Jennifer Corriero is co-founder and Executive Director of TakingITGlobal, a non-profit organization with the aim of fostering cross-cultural dialogue, strengthening the capacity of youth as leaders and increasing awareness and involvement in global issues through the use of technology. In 2005, Jennifer was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and in 2007 she was recognized as one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women's Executive Network, and as a winner of the Bryden Alumni Award by York University.

  In 2007, TakingITGlobal was recognized by the Tech Museum Awards as the Education award winner. In 2003, Jennifer was a member of the Official Canadian Government Delegation to the World Summit on the Information Society. She has presented and supported civil society engagement at events including the World Urban Forum, International AIDS Conference, World Summit on Sustainable Development, Youth Employment Summit and Global Knowledge Partnership International Forum.

  Jennifer has a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University, and has been a youth engagement strategy consultant for a range of organizations including Microsoft, TD Bank, VanCity Credit Union, Ontario Science Centre and the Canadian Government.

Director of Technology and Finance

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  Michael Furydyk http://profiles.tigweb.org/mfurdyk

  Michael Furdyk is the Co-founder and Director of Technology for TakingITGlobal.org, a global online community for young people, providing a platform for millions of youth across more than 200 countries to engage with social issues. Along with managing the technology team at TakingITGlobal, Michael was involved in developing the TIGed education program, and has spoken to over 50,000 educators about the importance of engaging students and integrating technology and global perspectives into the classroom. In 2008, he was named by Contribute Magazine as one of 10 Tech Revolutionaries Redefining the Power and Face of Philanthropy.

  In the past, he has turned his interest in technology into a series of successful online companies, co-founding MyDesktop.com (later sold to Internet.com) and BuyBuddy.com (which raised $4.5-million of venture capital). Michael has provided insights on the Net Generation to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including a 6-month engagement developing youth strategy with Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.

  As one of Teen People's "20 teens that will change the world", Michael has shared his expertise in youth engagement and experiences bringing the power of technology to the non-profit sector by speaking at dozens of events, including the World Congress on IT, the US Government's National Youth Summit, Microsoft's Anytime, Anywhere Learning Summits, The Business Council, and TED. He has made numerous media appearances including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, and USA Today. He is a board member and advisor to numerous groups including Better the World, Microsoft Partners in Learning, Virgin Unite, Greenpower Canada, and several other national and global organizations.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina Team

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  Heba El-Rafey Heba.Elrafey@bibalex.org

  Heba El-Rafey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies (Italian and Management) from London University, 1995, and an Advanced Certificate in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, 1998, UK. She began working in telecommunications marketing in the UK, later working in the Marketing Department of Unilever Egypt before taking a career change to join in Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) in 2001. Since then, her career developed through a number of capacities until her most recent move as Director of the BA's Dialogue Forum in 2008.

  She comes from a multicultural background, having lived in various countries in the Middle East and Europe, and can converse in five languages. She was the recipient of the European Council for International Schools Award for International Understanding in 1991. Throughout her education, Heba has taken leadership roles, as President of the Student's Council at school, and as President of the Egyptian Society at university - finding ways and means to translate the desires of students into applicable ideas, and creating mutual understanding between cultures. These skills and experiences laid the foundations for her current leadership role at the BA, and her desire to provide youth with similar opportunities and her concern with the challenges they face.

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  Eng. Esraa Adlan Esraa.Adlan@bibalex.org

  Esraa Adlan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the Arab Academy for Science & Technology, Alexandria, Egypt. When she first volunteered at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Dialogue Forum (DF) department she got learn more and work on different national and international events, activities and projects this was when she developed a real interest in such issues addressing youth, human rights, intercultural dialogue, migration amongst others.

  Esraa is now the Head of the Info Mall and Youth unit at the Dialogue forum where she works on different projects that help bring youth together to discuss the different challenges facing them nowadays as well as working on the ongoing Info Mall project which is web portal aiming at promoting the role of the non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and civil society organizations (CSOs).

  In 2008 Esraa Adlan was The Protection Project International Human Rights Fellow at The Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, the United States of America, where she has been subjected to a comprehensive experience of the projects and events on the same previously mentioned humanitarian themes.

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  Yasmin Mostafa Yasmin.Mostafa@bibalex.org

  Yasmin Mostafa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and Translation studies (English Department) from the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University 2007. She began working as a foreign language publisher in DODO Press Project in the "The Book Depository"; A British publishing house. After that she showed great interest in Graphic and Web designing and became an adobe certified professional in both fields and worked as a foreign trading graphic designer in "The New Atlas" company for petrochemicals and blending oils.

  Now, she works as a civil society specialist in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Dialogue Forum department - Info Mall and Youth Activities Unit. Furthermore, she is working on the Info Mall web portal project where Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can widely disseminate information about their activities, observe what others are doing on national, regional and international levels, and pave the way for stronger partnerships. She also helped in organizing the last Fifth Arab youth Forum in the Bibliotheca and where one of the judging committee for the Youth for Change Phase II projects.