Rouba Mhaissen (born 1987/1988) is a Syrian-Lebanese economist and activist. She is the founder of Sawa for Development and Aid, a grassroots organization which serves Syrian refugees in Lebanon, [1] and the British-based Sawa Foundation. [2]
Mhaissen was born in Beirut. She has two brothers and a sister, of whom she is ten years younger. [1] Her mother was a Lebanese homemaker, while her father was a Syrian businessman. [1] As a child she frequently visited Syria to see family. [2] [3]
She attended the American University of Beirut, earning a degree in economics, and then the London School of Economics, where she earned a master's degree in development studies. She was persuaded to study economics by her parents, rather than to pursue her love of theater. [1] She also holds a PhD in gender and development from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. [1]
In 2006, Mhaissen worked with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; in later years, she worked with Lebanese refugees in Syria. [1] [3]
In December 2011, Mhaissen founded Sawa for Development and Aid. [1] [4] The organization provides support related for basic needs to Syrian refugees in the Beqaa Valley, such as shelter, blankets, and food. It also organizes workshops to educate refugee women. [4]
Mhaissen has promoted grassroots activism over international aid efforts. [4]
In 2016, Mhaissen received the Marsh Award for Peacemaking and Peacekeeping from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [3]
In 2017 she was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list of the most influential people in Policy and Law. [5]
In 2019 she was given the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award, and the Rafto Prize “for defending human rights from the local to the global level for people living as refugees”. [1] [6]
In 2021 she was given a DVF Award. [7]
Mhaissen is married and has two children. [1]
Rouba Mhaissen (born 1987/1988) is a Syrian-Lebanese economist and activist. She is the founder of Sawa for Development and Aid, a grassroots organization which serves Syrian refugees in Lebanon, [1] and the British-based Sawa Foundation. [2]
Mhaissen was born in Beirut. She has two brothers and a sister, of whom she is ten years younger. [1] Her mother was a Lebanese homemaker, while her father was a Syrian businessman. [1] As a child she frequently visited Syria to see family. [2] [3]
She attended the American University of Beirut, earning a degree in economics, and then the London School of Economics, where she earned a master's degree in development studies. She was persuaded to study economics by her parents, rather than to pursue her love of theater. [1] She also holds a PhD in gender and development from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. [1]
In 2006, Mhaissen worked with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; in later years, she worked with Lebanese refugees in Syria. [1] [3]
In December 2011, Mhaissen founded Sawa for Development and Aid. [1] [4] The organization provides support related for basic needs to Syrian refugees in the Beqaa Valley, such as shelter, blankets, and food. It also organizes workshops to educate refugee women. [4]
Mhaissen has promoted grassroots activism over international aid efforts. [4]
In 2016, Mhaissen received the Marsh Award for Peacemaking and Peacekeeping from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [3]
In 2017 she was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list of the most influential people in Policy and Law. [5]
In 2019 she was given the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award, and the Rafto Prize “for defending human rights from the local to the global level for people living as refugees”. [1] [6]
In 2021 she was given a DVF Award. [7]
Mhaissen is married and has two children. [1]