Care Leavers as Leaders: Lessons from the Mobader Organizing Program in Egypt

Mrs. Azza Abdel Hamid is a pioneering Egyptian social entrepreneur and philanthropist who has dedicated over 25 years to voluntary community service. Driven by a strong belief in equal opportunities, mental health support, and science-based solutions, she has championed the rights and social inclusion of Egypt's most vulnerable children and youth. Nida Society (Founded 1997)—She established Nida as Egypt's first NGO dedicated to the rehabilitation and inclusion of children with hearing impairments and deaf-blindness. Serving as its volunteer CEO for over a decade, she successfully pushed for their integration into mainstream education and established the first Ministry of Education-licensed nursery for hearing-impaired children. Sanad for Alternative Parental Care (Founded 2008)—Originally established as the Wataneya Society for the Development of Orphanages, the organization has now evolved into Sanad for Alternative Parental Care. Through Sanad, she revolutionized institutional care in Egypt. Her efforts led to a landmark 2014 mandate by the Ministry of Social Solidarity that enforced national quality standards across all Egyptian orphanages. She also introduced the first internationally accredited vocational training for caregivers in the country. Awards & Recognitions Mrs. Abdel Hamid’s impactful, evidence-based approach to humanitarian work has earned her prestigious regional and national recognition: In 2016, she received the Takreem Award as the best Arab persona in humanitarian and civic services. In 2022, she was honored by Egypt’s First Lady, Mrs. Entissar El Sisi, during the "Egyptian Woman, Icon of Success"celebration, recognizing her leading journey in human and community development.

Salma Sameh is a community organizer at heart, and a leadership, storytelling, and community organizing trainer and campaigns coach. She is an environmental engineer by training and a sustainability consultant, bringing a systems-thinking lens to leadership development and social change work. Her organizing experience deepened during her university years, where she led and enabled more than 600 university students, impacting 7,000+ youth to improve their political, educational, and social conditions. Salma has served as a Head Teaching Fellow in the Public Narrative Program at Harvard Kennedy School, as well as a Teaching Fellow in the Leadership, Organizing, and Action (LOA) Program. She has coached 10+ campaigns across the MENA region, ranging from electoral campaigns to cooperative, social, and pressure campaigns at governmental and institutional levels, all of which resulted in significant wins. Previously, as the Academy Programs Lead at the Leading Change Network, Salma led the launch and growth of the organization’s flagship training programs.

Mustafa Monir is a community organizer, leadership trainer, coach, and transformation management consultant with over 13 years of experience across government, corporate, nonprofit, and social enterprise sectors. His journey began in student union organizing in Egypt and has since expanded to supporting institutions, campaigns, and emerging leaders across the Middle East and globally to build strategic, sustainable, and people-powered change. Mustafa has worked across more than 35 countries and with leaders from over 60 nationalities, leading large-scale transformation projects and developing leadership capacity for executives and practitioners in complex systems. As a previous Teaching Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, Mustafa teaches leadership, community organizing, and public narrative based on the work of Professor Marshall Ganz.

Nour Shabaan is a care leaver community leader and sports broadcaster who uses sports and media to advance youth empowerment and social inclusion. He founded the Gusour (Bridges) initiative and tournament, bringing together youth from orphanages with corporate and civil society professionals to break stereotypes and expand opportunities. He also founded Basmat Nour (Chairman of the Board) and Nogoum Awlady, a successful sports program for orphaned youth. Nour is a sports TV presenter, author of “When Life Found Me” (حين وجدتني الحياة), and appeared in the series “Wlad El Shams” (ولاد الشمس). He holds a postgraduate diploma in Media, is pursuing a Master’s at Cairo University, and has a Bachelor’s in Hotel Management.

Abdelhalim Ali is a community organizer, program manager, and business strategist dedicated to building leadership capacity and driving social impact. In the Mobader Organizing Program, he led the administrative and coordination efforts while serving as a direct coach to young care-leavers, helping them develop their skills and launch grassroots campaigns. His journey in community building began during his university years as the head of a student activity, which inspired a lifelong commitment to youth empowerment and coaching following his graduation. Abdelhalim is also a core part of the "Road2Lead" initiative, a leadership program designed to empower student activities through community organizing practices. An engineer with a solid professional background in business development, he brings a structured, strategic lens to his social impact work. Abdelhalim is currently a Chevening Scholar pursuing a Master’s in Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Cardiff University.

Naglaa Fathi Khalil is a care-leaver community leader and Marketing & Communication Specialist with a multidisciplinary background in journalism, media, business administration, and community development. She has worked across government, NGOs, and the private sector, leading marketing campaigns, managing digital platforms, and supporting social impact initiatives. Known for turning ideas into clear, compelling communication, her strengths include content creation, social media strategy, campaign planning, event management, and audience engagement. Naglaa is also an active public speaker on identity, women’s empowerment, and storytelling for social impact. She holds a BA in Journalism, a Master’s in Media, and an MBA.

Youssef Fadlallah is a passionate advocate for children and youth rights, with a special focus on individuals with care experiences in Egypt. Fadlallah is currently a member of the Care Leaders Council (CLC), a global council with representatives from 11 regions worldwide. As the representative for the Middle East and North Africa, he works closely with stakeholders and decision-makers to advocate at the global level and secure funding to address persistent challenges faced by care leavers in his community. Through his role in the CLC, Fadlallah and fellow council members have been nominated to contribute to the Global Charter on Care Reform initiative led by the UK government. Additionally, Fadlallah serves as a co-investigator in a research project conducted by INTRAC (International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care). This research initiative, titled LEAP (Lived Experience Advisory Panel), Fadlallah is also a care expert who lived in a care home for over 20 years. He has co-founded the Muttka Organization, which empowers youth without parental care in Egypt. Fadlallah has dedicated his career to ensuring that the voices and experiences of care-experienced youth are integrated into policy reforms and social programs. Fadlallah works to raise awareness and secure investments for care leavers' networks in Egypt and MENA region, emphasizing the importance of recognizing care leavers as equal stakeholders in decision-making processes.