Beshara: History-making determination
Plus: How AI is saving elephants and the plant that could sustain life on Mars
“Don’t keep beautiful ideas inside your mind. Show the world what you can do.”
I was struck by these words of advice from a very determined and inspirational woman this week.
Zina Abboud is the first female Syrian refugee to register her own business in the Netherlands. Her story and eventual success will hit you in the heart, but beware her passion for cooking and the photos of her creations will certainly make you hungry.
I recognised this same fervour and determination in another history-maker this week too – Waseem Abu Sal, who will become the first boxer to represent Palestine at the Olympics.
Below you will find their stories, among others, and they will leave you with a deep respect for those who overcome the greatest obstacles to fulfil their dreams – or to simply succeed, whatever their means.
Best wishes always,
Nicola
PS. This week in the highlights you will find some more “beautiful ideas” – for helping young conservationists, saving elephants and one about a hardy moss that could sustain life on Mars.
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‘Proud moment for Palestine’
“This has been my dream since I was 10 years old. Every day I went to sleep and woke up thinking about how I could reach the Olympics,” said Waseem Abu Sal from his gym in Ramallah.
His training schedule is not without challenges, not least because his coach is unable to be with him in the occupied West Bank.
“It's a proud moment, not just for me, but for Palestine,” said Nader Jayousi, head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee and Abu Sal’s mentor.
Read his story in full here and bookmark our Paris Olympics page here for all the latest updates and stories on the athletes representing the Mena region.
And, in case you missed it, here’s a look at all the acts that used their platform at Glastonbury Festival to show support for Palestine.
QUOTED
“‘No patients will come to you. It will always be men who are leading this specialty in this field’ … And of course, because someone told me 'you can't do it', I decided to do it”
– A very determined Dr Noha Khater, who is the co-founder of women-led HealthTech start-up Almouneer, which is improving care for diabetics, read more here.
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Talent without boundaries
Now, to the aforementioned inspiring woman who really is showing the world what she can do.
Fearing for the lives of her three children, Zina Abboud escaped the Syrian civil war to endure a harrowing journey across Europe to the Netherlands, where she was housed at an Amsterdam refugee centre.
It was there that she threw herself into volunteering in the kitchen, sometimes cooking for as many as 800 people.
“Cooking was a way for me to tell myself I’m still alive,” she told The National. This led her to set up her own catering business and has since seen her author a cookbook, run online lessons and garner many impressive customers.
“My first big [catering] event was for the Dutch royal family,” she told us.
Only one in 10 refugees in the Netherlands finds employment after getting residency, statistics suggest, and female refugees in particular find it hard to become financially independent. Abboud has not only defied the odds but also become a symbol of hope for others like her.
Read her full story and find out what’s next for Zina’s Kitchen – here.
And please do learn about Alisar Alasi – a Palestinian former refugee who too defied horrendous circumstances to fulfil her dream of becoming a nurse via a pilot scheme in the UK. She’s one of hundreds of nurses finding opportunities through charities like Talent Without Boundaries – read more on this here.
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Retired at Insurance Sector
4 个月This week Beshara was an interesting read.Latest events has been nicely covered.One should not keep things in his mind to expose others beneficial for all was nice.Have a nice week end to all readers.