Manar is an educator with a background in international relations. She is currently teaching at UNRWA’s Education Program and their Small & Medium Enterprise Business Training Institute. She has been addressing inequality through youth empowerment and education for over 10 years at UNRWA and other local and international NGOs including Amideast, Tamer Institute for Community Education, Al-Fakhoura, G-Gateway, and Oxford Centre.
In 2016, Manar worked on justice and human rights issues as a researcher and translator for several international organisations, namely Physicians for Human Rights and the UN Department for Political Affairs. In 2018, she led We Are Not Numbers a local non-profit which aims at empowering Gazan youth to share personal narratives of their lives under political stagnation, economic blockade, and reoccurring military escalations.
Recently, Manar was selected as a Distinguished Teacher at UNRWA’s event on the International Day of Education for her work promoting human rights and leading the student parliament at her school. She was also featured in the renowned regional education magazine Manhajiyat for her work in creating inclusive educational environments that empower the youth as agents of social change.
Manar holds a master’s degree in international relations from New York University. She is also an alumna of the US Department of State’s Fulbright Program.
I have seen change happen at the hands of visionary individuals who adopt a strong value system and a sense of responsibility towards the advancement of not only their society but also humanity as a whole.Manar Alzraiy