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ALUMNI STORIES

Our programs are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that give emerging young leaders the opportunity to be exposed to new people, places, cultures, and ideas. They develop leaders, teach critical skills, and leave a lasting impact.
Here's what our alumni have to say of the OHI experience.


1 / 5

Savannah Lane, Salaam Fellow, Morocco 2019

As a Salaam Fellow, learning about conflict resolution and peace initiatives completely transformed my life. From the exposure to a new world of ideas, culture, and an incredible cohort, I felt so challenged and inspired leaving Morocco. Throughout my work in a think tank focused on US-Turkey relations, the often difficult developments in the relations on an international level allowed me to rely on the skillset and experiences I gained as a fellow to implement in my every day career. Further, in a heartbreakingly polarized world the necessary skill of learning to manage conflict whether it be on a professional or personal level is critical. I am so grateful to the Open Hands Initiative team for connecting me to cultures, global changers, and lessons that have completely shaped my life and continue to influence my work today.

2 / 5

Vikram Balasubramanian, Salaam Fellow, Morocco 2019

My experience with the Open Hands Initiative was an amazing opportunity not only for my career goals but for my personal development as well. I have made lifelong friends, learned from incredible mentors, and made cross-cultural connections. I am so grateful to have been able to learn from some of the world’s foremost experts in the field of conflict resolution and work with the hardworking team at the High Atlas Foundation. Jay Synder and the team at OHI inspire me to pursue my goals and work harder to make the world a more equitable place.

3 / 5

Hannah Barrett, Salaam Fellow, Morocco 2019

Going into the Salaam Fellowship for Conflict Resolution, I was an eager student with a passion for peacebuilding and security without much of an idea of how I would fit into the field after graduating from my undergraduate university program. Upon finishing the fellowship, I felt equipped with the tools I needed to pursue specific goals professionally and best utilize my own skills in pursuing diplomacy and peace. Not only did I leave Morocco feeling confident in my personal abilities as a negotiator, but I took with me priceless insight on both conflict resolution and professional development from leaders in the field and the carefully selected group of Salaam Fellows. The OHI team is incredibly thorough and creates truly unmatched and unforgettable programming for each fellowship they create.

4 / 5

Mohammed El Firm, Salaam Fellow, Morocco 2019

The Salaam fellowship for Conflict Resolution was an incredible learning experience. The topics, readings and discussion were thoughtful and also provocative resulting in a wide range of dialogue. I’ve learnt valuable lessons that I can see myself applying inside and outside academia.

5 / 5

Essadia Zahir, Salaam Fellow, Morocco 2019

The Salaam Fellowship was unlike any other program I have participated in. I have learnt from the trainers and my fellows more than expected. I had never taken part in a program related to Conflict Resolution or Negotiation before, thus I didn’t know what to expect or how I would use the skills. However, during and after the program, I realized how much negotiation, dialogue and resolving conflict are essential on a daily basis. Moreover, the fellowship influenced my future decisions, as I am now planning to pursue a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution. Also, me and my team are starting an NGO in the same field, since Morocco lacks NGOs that work on conflict resolution. To sum up, the Salaam Fellowship was a life changing experience, well organized, very rich and with a clear vision that opened my eyes to a lot of other things I didn’t know about.


Lisa Curtis - Oakland, CA

Fellow & Founder of Kuli Kuli, Women's Entrepreneurhsip, Jordan

"Often when people hear the word entrepreneur they think of a software engineer in a hoodie sitting somewhere in Silicon Valley. Attending the OHI Young Women's Entrepreneur Fellowship in Jordan was a life changing experience that flipped all the stereotypes of what an entrepreneur should look and act like. Growing up in Silicon Valley, I've participated in a lot of entrepreneurial training programs. I can honestly say that this program was the most enlightening and well-organized training I've ever done. And the other young women entrepreneurs I met, both American and Jordanian, blew anything Silicon Valley has to offer out of the water."

Lisa
Rola

Rola Fayyed - Amman, Jordan

Fellow & Founder of Friendture, Women's Entrepreneurhsip, Jordan

"When I signed up for the Fellowship, I was registered with my first startup, which I left by the time I started the program. At the time, I also launched my second startup, and needed guidance and mentorship. OHI was kind enough to let me pursue my dreams and stay in the program with Friendture. They helped me with extraordinary resources, mentorship and most of all, they believed in me. Since then, I've gained confidence, knowledge and passion, and Friendture is in the process of starting operations soon. Without OHI, I don't know what would have happened to my dreams!"

Judy and John Hengesbaugh - San Diego, CA

Parent and Participant, Youth Ability Summit, Syria

"The trip to Syria with Open Hands Initiative was a life changing event introducing us to the Middle East and to the experience of people with disabilities outside of the United States, firsthand. All the young adults, mothers, and fathers truly have the same concerns about work, education, falling in love, socializing, and being respected and accepted. My son, John, and I tell people here in America about our trip quite often. Most people are stunned to hear that we were in Syria. "Why?", they wonder. My son, John, and I are honored to have the chance to tell the story of the Open Hands project. We explain how beautifully youth from America and Syria collaborated with enthusiasm, joy, and optimism. We send our wishes for peace and safety to all the people of Syria and especially to our friends from the Open Hands Initiative event, August 2010. With gratitude to everyone who is part of the Open Hands Initiative."

John
Sarah

Sarah Funes - San Francisco, CA

Participant, pictured with Allie Cannington, Youth Ability Summit, Syria

"My experience with the Open Hands Initiative in Syria was an amazing opportunity for self reflection and connection. It allowed me to open my eyes and see the world and advocacy in a whole new light. My experiences and the people I have met have forever changed my life."

Sara Farag Elkamel - Cairo, Egypt

Reporting Fellow, Egypt Program

"On the Open Hands/Global Post Fellowship, I learned more in the span of 10 days than I ever thought possible. Working on a team with incredibly talented, well-rounded journalists from the United States and Egypt to cover this incredible story, this Revolution, was an outright surreal experience. I feel extremely proud to have been part of this project."

Sara
Matt

Matt Negrin - Washington, DC

Reporting Fellow, Egypt Program

"When I think back to those 10 days in Egypt, I recall vividly the warm friends I made, the new views on journalism I adopted, and the satisfying taste of fresh hummus. The experience that made the whole fellowship worth every ounce of effort to me was when Omnia, Lauren, and I took a train to Upper Egypt and spent the day interviewing Coptic Christians in poor desert towns that are overlooked by most journalists. Having the chance to do real storytelling in a place that is changing so quickly was an opportunity that changed the way I think about reporting, especially after learning from the Egyptian journalists how much their government tries to suppress their work. If I ever become a full-fledged foreign correspondent, I will owe my success to the guidance and vision of the GlobalPost/Open Hands Initiative fellowship."

Tatiana Alexandra Montoya Gonzalez - Medellin, Colombia

U. of Antioquia Student Ambassador, Post-Conflict Colombia & Public Health

"Being part of the 'Post Conflict Colombia and Public Health' project was definitely one of the most meaningful and incredible experiences I've ever had. Sharing thoughts, doubts, and opinions to build knowledge with teachers, students, and community leaders from Boston and Colombia was the perfect occasion to rethink my role as spokeswoman in public health. The course gave me the opportunity to connect with bright and beautiful people from other cultures and strengthen my motivation by understanding that despite the distance and the differences between us, our dreams are the same. After this [program], my mind is full of ideas and I can't wait to see how we can improve conditions for vulnerable communities after all that we learned."

Alex

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