View MEPI success stories:
MEPI Alumnus Becomes the first Libyan Knight-Hennesy Scholar at Stanford University
Ashraf Sabkha, a 2015 graduate of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program from the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), recently became the…
SLP Alumna Helps Prepare Community Youth for Changing Environments Through Technology and Innovation
With assistance from a MEPI Leaders Grant, Nora Chaynane, a 2019 alumna of the MEPI Student Leaders Program (SLP), successfully trained 50 participants from 10…
SLP Alumnus Pivots Learning Efforts in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mohammad Aljilani participated in the MEPI Student Leaders Program (SLP) at Portland State University in the summer of 2019 where he studied conflict resolution, leadership,…
Small Construction and Engineering Businesses in Morocco Receive Support from MEPI and NEF
The Al-Rawabet project promotes the growth of high-potential companies and invests in the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Safi-Marrakech region, with funding from …
Hub Créatif and MEPI’s Support for Al-Rawabet in Morocco
In the Marrakech-Safi region of Morocco, many resources are available to entrepreneurs, but businesses weren’t working together or coordinating to influence policy. The Al-Rawabet project,…
Blending Social Entrepreneurship Expertise and MEPI Experience to Revolutionize Humanitarian Relief
Omar Itani, MEPI Student Leaders 2016 alumnus, began his entrepreneurial career in the startup world. With his schoolmates, he established his first startup, VISIO, an…
MEPI Alumna and Forbes Middle East’s “Top 30 under 30” Founds NGO for Breast Cancer Surv
The MEPI-TL scholarship program helps to cultivate academic and leadership skills to underserved students in the MENA region. These students then use the knowledge and…
Blending Academia and Grassroots Advocacy Efforts: How a MEPI Alumna is Helping Empower Thousands of
As young as eighteen years old, Danya Arayssi (SLP 2018, Lebanon) recognized many of her community’s challenges. Through accounts she heard about women being silenced…
MEPI Alumna Creates Campaigns Promoting Mental Health and Cultural Differences in Arab society
Salaam Halila, Tunisian MEPI TL Alumna from LAU, excelled as a communication major during the program and used the skills she acquired to create two…
MEPI Alumna Works To Counter Fake News and Promote Transparent Media in Tunisia
Censorship and the spread of fake news remain two of the main challenges that media and journalism face in Tunisia. Tunisian journalists are continuously working…
MEPI Alumnus Creates a Safe Space for Hundreds of Youth in His Hometown in Casablanca, Morocco.
After participating in MEPI’s Student Leaders Program Mohammed Taoufik, felt compelled to find a solution to the high crime and drug rates that he saw…
MEPI Jordanian Grantee Successfully Provides Youth With Skills to Start Their Businesses
MEPI Jordanian Local grantee “AYA for Consultancy and Development” successfully continues to provide opportunities for youth to engage in skills empowerment, business training, and micro-grants…
MEPI-funded Project Places Hundreds of Youth in Jobs in Morocco
This video summarizes the program MEPI-funded “Demand-Driven Skills Training for Youth Employment in Morocco” implemented by EFE-Maroc in the Fes-Meknes region. Under the project, EFE-Maroc…
MEPI-Funded Initiative Engages Half a Million Tunisian Voters During Municipal Elections
Ahead of Tunisia’s municipal elections on May 6th, MEPI partnered with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) to build a mobile radio station dedicated…
Amb. Freidman Commends MEPI for Increasing Employment Diversity in Israel by 150% Through “Div
On July 9th, Ambassador David Freidman hosted the closing ceremony for the “Diversity Works” project – a joint initiative led by the itworks nonprofit organization…
MEPI Alum Launches Center of Civil Society for Governance and Local Development in Kalaat el-Andalou
During his participation in the MEPI Student Leaders program at Portland State University in 2016, Safwen Karoui became inspired by the principles and ideas behind…
MEPI Alum Gives Back to Community as President of the Lebanese Association of Dental Students
When Houssam Askar first saw the announcement for the MEPI Student Leaders program, he was so excited that he stayed awake all night thinking about…
MEPI Alumna Implements “My City” Project to Support Youth and Start-Up Businesses in Gaza.
Reham El-Saidi experienced major changes in her life after participating in the Leaders for Democracy (LDF) Program. The program increased Reham’s knowledge of civic engagement,…
MEPI-Funded CLDP Engagement Results in New Insolvency Laws in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
The Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), which provides direct government-to-government technical assistance worked with legislative drafters, judges, and private sector stakeholders to…
MEPI Alum Develops an Educational Manual on Voting in Lebanon
As many LDF Fellows, Michel El Daccache described the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) program as a turning point in his life. The LDF experience…
Participant in the MEPI Funded Hack4Democracy Initiative Becomes a Municipal Councilor in Tunisia
At just 24 years old, Haythem Srihi is a member of the Hack4Democracy (H4D) finale’s winning team and a newly elected municipal councilor from the…
MEPI Alum Publishes a Book on the Media Public Service Broadcasting Network (PBN) in Iraq
Awsam believes that the LDF program was a turning point in his professional career. The program provided an opportunity for him to write and publish…
MEPI Hones Youth Skills in Line with Local Employers’ Needs In Algeria
Youth unemployment is a perennial challenge across North Africa, including in Algeria, where rates typically approach 30%. Since its launch in September 2015, the MEPI-funded…
Valedictorian MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Alumna Gives an Impressive Speech at LAU’s Graduat
President Jabbra, Vice President Salem, Ambassador Richard, distinguished guests, MEPI administration, fellow TLers and most importantly the class of 2018, we have made it! On…
With MEPI’s Support, Morocco Joins the Open Government Partnership
On April 26, The Kingdom of Morocco joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) , an international initiative that secures commitments from governments to promote transparency,…
MEPI Alumnus Spreads Message of Tolerance, Coexistence, and Diversity across Morocco
As a dedicated advocate for peace building and conflict resolution, Hicham El Hadad is actively working to build the bridge of communication between youth and…
Tunisia: MEPI Beneficiary Leaves Medicine to Become an Entrepreneur
After working for 18 years in the medical field, Bouchra Laouani Mansour started thinking about launching her own business. Ambitious, independent and dynamic, she began…
MEPI Alumna Elected to City Council in Algeria
One of our most dynamic MEPI Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) alumna, Nacira Amari, was elected on December 3, 2017 to her local city council…
Saudi Arabia Adapts UNCITRAL Arbitration Law
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has now recognized Saudi Arabia as a jurisdiction that has adopted an arbitration law based on…
Young Leaders Entrepreneurs “Unleash Tunisia” Project Selected for the Intercultural Innovation Awar
Unleash Tunisia was a one-year advocacy project promoting entrepreneurship, business skills and a “startup mentality” all around Tunisia. MEPI partnered with a nascent organization “Young…
Successful Completion of U.S. Workshop to Help Palestinian Entrepreneurs Flourish
JERUSALEM – October 25th marked the successful completion of a U.S. Consulate General-sponsored workshop to build a better ecosystem for innovation in the West Bank. …
MEPI Alum and Co-Founder of Live Love Beirut Launches “Live Love Volunteer”
MEPI Alum Abbas Sibai (Leaders for Democracy (LDF) U.S. Program, 2013) has launched “Live Love Volunteer,” which leverages the popular Live Love social media accounts…
Moroccan Youth Awarded Small Business Grants in the Highly Competitive Machrou3i DreamUp Competition
Over 260 youth applied to participate in the DreamUp competition in El Jadida and Safi. Forty selected youth participated in training and coaching events organized by the Machrou3i…
MEPI-funded Program Launches Electronic Platform to Monitor Public Projects in Tunisia
FSVC and the Tunisian Association of Public Auditors (ATCP) recently launched an electronic platform to monitor public infrastructure projects in Tunisia. The platform, known as…
Tunisian Presidency Welcomes Exchange Alumni
On August 30, a group of Tunisian State Department exchange program alumni were joined by Ambassador Rubinstein and embassy staff in a meeting with Tunisian…
The 10th EFE Graduation Ceremony Celebrated the Placement of 288 Tunisians in 7 Companies
On July 12, Education for Employment concluded its MEPI funded project entitled “Supporting Civic Responsibility and Private Sector Job Creation in Tunisia” with its 10th graduation…
Improve Tourism Etiquette MEPI-funded Project Concluded with 49 Jobseekers Hired
Les Grandes Ecoles de Communication (GEC) held the closing ceremony of the “Improve Tourism Etiquette” #MEPI funded project on June 29. The project aims to…
Morocco’s Entrepreneurship Startup Ecosystem Blossoms
While still in its early development stage, Morocco’s startup ecosystem has the potential to reinvigorate the small business environment and reduce the 40 percent youth…
Lebanese Culinary Consortium Builds U.S. Trade Ties
Press Release 23 June 2017 Lebanese Culinary Consortium Builds U.S. Trade Ties Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL), a U.S.-funded consortium of hundreds of agro-producers and farmers…
EYEM Grants Help MEPI Beneficiary Launch Her Business
Yasmina Zaz is a twenty-years-old from Safi, deaf and only able to communicate through sign, Yasmina nevertheless did not give up and continued vocational training as a beautician.…
Malika Haroual: A Symbol of Women’s Strength
Malika, a widow and a mother of six, is a beneficiary of the EYEM project from Moulay Abdellah. She is a proactive woman, driven by her…
Entrepreneur’s New Business Seeks to Improve Health Services in Safi, Morocco
Yassine Khalfaoui, a 32-year-old nurse from Safi, dreamed of opening his own pharmaceutical shop to provide high quality services in Safi. Yassine graduated from the Canadian school, Diana of…
The Story of a Finalist – Slim Lengliz
In your opinion, what is the most powerful tool that can be used in the 21st century to overcome the challenges that humanity is facing…
The Story of a Finalist-Safa Yahia
My name is Safa Yahia and I am a 27 year old engineering graduate from Gabes. My story began on January when I applied for the…
The Story of a Finalist-Yosra Abidi
My name is Yosra Abidi, 25 years old, and I am from the beautiful region of Kef. I study at the Higher Institute for Languages of…
The Story of a Finalist-Rafiaa Boujbel
I am Rafiaa Boujbel, IT consultant with Tim Consulting and a Ph.D. candidate in Telecommunication Networks at Munich University of Applied Sciences. I would like to share…
CLDP Promotes Commercial Legal Reforms in Bahrain
In Bahrain, CLDP has worked closely with government officials and stakeholders to promote commercial legal reforms and address key areas of economic development through public…
Tunisia: Raising Awareness in the Regions About Open Government Issues
The advent of the Tunisian revolution has brought about renewed interest among citizens about how they can play a greater role in holding their government…
MEPI Helps Entrepreneur Overcome Challenges to Grow Successful Salon
Khadija Elhammal, a 35-year-old hairstylist and makeup artist from Safi, Morocco, knew launching her own salon would come with its challenges. But with her determination…
Young Woman’s Successful Business Helps Her Return to School
Hajar Addani grew up in Khouribga City and El Jadida, Morocco where she studied computer science in college and excelled in her program. In 2015, Hajar was accepted…
With MEPI’s Help, Farah Realizes Her Dream and Opens Her Own Tailoring Shop
Farah Souimtou is an expert tailor who for years dreamed of opening her own business. After earning a diploma in tailoring from a private tailoring school in Safi…
Said Takes Computer Repair into His Own Hands
Said Grilou from Safi, Morroco, worked in several different technology companies after receiving a degree in computer science from the Specialized Institute of Applied Technology (ISTA) in 2012.…
Returned from Libya, an Artist Finds Success at Home Thanks to MEPI
Imad Elmarkchi immigrated to Libya to work as a laborer in construction and landscaping, hopeful to provide better economic opportunities for his family. With the revolution in Libya,…
Moroccan Youth Launches Kinesiotherapy Clinic in El Jadida
Hayat Bachak is a 26-year-old kinesiotherapist from El Jadida, Morocco—and now also an entrepreneur, running her own clinic to help patients of all ages manage pain, facilitate recovery, and…
Saudi MEPI Alumni Engage and Network Through Entrepreneurship Diwaniya
Exchange alumni in Saudi Arabia have successfully increased alumni engagement and expanded the Saudi alumni network through a series of events known as the Entrepreneurship…
CLDP Tunisia Franchising, a Great MEPI Success Story
Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) – Expanding Franchising Opportunities in Tunisia ($2,400,000): MEPI continues to partner with CLDP as it engages government, public sector and…
Soliciting Citizen Input on Budget Planning in Tunisia
After the Arab Spring, Tunisians have expressed a desire for increased government accountability and budget transparency. In response, the government has implemented a number of reforms, including…
Workshop in Tunisia for CSOs on Developing Advocacy Tools for Budget Transparency
After the Arab Spring, Tunisians have expressed a desire for increased government accountability and budget transparency. In response, civil society organizations (CSOs) are expanding their advocacy work…
Improving E-Government Audits in Tunisia
To increase transparency and accountability, the Government of Tunisia is seeking to ensure that citizens and businesses have a simpler, quicker and more cost-effective access to public…
CorpsAfrica/Maroc, a MEPI Success Story
Learning from the PeaceCorps model, CorpsAfrica launched a new model for Moroccan volunteers to help their own communities – particularly challenging when the culture of…
MEPI Grantee Admitted into the Republic of France’s National Order of Merit
Dr. Alanoud al-Sharekh, a member of Abolish 153 was admitted into the Republic of France’s National Order of Merit for her work advocating for women’s…
