Women's Day Webinar

Riwaa Abuquta from Rafah holds a Bachelor’s degree in English language and teaching methods and has worked as a writer and English teacher. Since childhood, she has loved creative writing and cultural exchange, even though she has never had the opportunity to travel abroad. Before the war, Riwaa worked in communication, coordination, and translation with companies abroad. Since the war, like many others in Gaza, her focus has shifted to survival — protecting and supporting her family, especially her sister Alaa, as they navigate displacement and life in tents. Caring for her sister has become a deeply personal mission, shaping her sense of resilience, empathy, and responsibility.

Ahlam Abd Al-Ati from the Gaza Strip holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Literature and is currently pursuing a diploma in Business Administration. Ahlam is a painter and visual artist who has organised and participated in numerous art exhibitions and handcrafted art projects.

She currently serves as the director of “Ahlam Gaza Model” Kindergarten and School. Prior to the war, she was the director of the Master Chef Center for Nutritional Studies and Culinary Arts. She also worked as the Artistic Academy Coordinator at Tajawwal Center for Culture and Arts. She has conducted art-based psychosocial support workshops for women survivors of violence and women living with cancer. She has also given lectures on violence against women, early marriage, and the psychological and social challenges affecting adolescent girls.

Wurood Alghalban is a mother of four children, including a daughter who lives with cerebral palsy. She went through a long and difficult journey to help her daughter become more independent.

Before the war, Wurood’s life centered around her home and her children’s education. During the war, she lost her home and her brother, who was killed at the Netsarim “death traps.” He was not only her brother, but also her friend and someone very dear to her. Later, she had the opportunity to work with others and take on an administrative role at a women’s center. This became an important achievement for her — a way to rebuild strength, take responsibility, and prove herself as a woman from Gaza despite everything she has endured.

Rina Naor is a social impact entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in technology, social impact & humanitarian initiatives. She is dedicated to building bridges between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East and across the world.

As an Israeli, she serves as an officer in the management group of the Gaza Children’s Village (GCV), an American NGO where Palestinians and Israelis work together toward a better future. Their multi-campus ecosystem in Gaza provides shelter, education, healthcare, and rehabilitation for up to 8,500 orphans and war-injured children, with plans to expand the support to 18,000 more. At GCV, Rina is responsible for the children’s physical and psychological care and the launch of Women Centers in Gaza that offer safe spaces, education, and economic opportunities for vulnerable women. Rina is also the co-founder of Lumiflies, a hope incubator that supports Palestinian-Israeli collaborative initiatives including God’s Gang and Architecture of Hope.