SAMAH ZAHALQA

Samah Zahalqa is a 42 years old woman, married with 2 kids. She was born in Gaza strip in a big family. In Gaza she has completed her education until she got a masters degree of community mental health. Samah has worked in different position for around fifteen years. Recently she is working is Human Rights Unit as a coordinator In Palestine consultative staff for developing NGOs organization. She is a psycho-dramatist and member in Palestine education coalition. Her great passion is advocating, promoting and empowering women and youth in Palestine community. As a mother and women in Palestine community its very a hard to succeed and achieving her goal without supporting from her friends and family.

“Accept people for who they are”

Q: TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, AND ALSO YOUR LIFE'S STORY!

I live in Palestine which located in the middle east region. Until this moment, Palestinian people still suffer from discrimination, deprived of their basic rights as a result of Israel occupation. The occupation affects all our life detailed. It affects my personal life where it's violated my basic right to see my parents since I am married and moved to West Bank where my family lives in Gaza. The distance between Gaza and West Bank is not far its only 2 hours by car but for me, its farther than any other place in the world. My case is similar to hundreds of Palestinian people where the occupation dispersion the relationships between families.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD AS IT IS TODAY? AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE CONCEPT OF A BETTER WORLD?

Even if we live in the twentieth century until this moment, millions of people still suffer from miserable living conditions, unclean water, shelter, undecent work and life, violation of basic human rights, inclusion and discrimination. Some defined the better world in three-fold: Healthy, vibrant planet, healthy, thriving economies and healthy, inspired people. This vision of a better world is no doubt ambitious.

I don't believe we all need to share the same definition of a "better world." But I do believe that if we had 7,500+ employees with a shared understanding of the "better world" that we want to create, and if we used this to guide our daily decisions, I think we can get better world when included everyone in it no matter their race, religion - let everyone to have access to education, technology, services and create connection between people, and finally work to inspire people to create. Finally, to change the world you have to change yourself, your mentality, your habits and your action.

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY CHALLENGES IN YOUR SOCIETY?

Several challenges contributed to the insecurity and prevalence of violence inside Palestine, including primarily the ongoing conflict with the Israeli occupation, the continuous violent practices against the Palestinians, as well as the dispute between Hamas and Fateh that has evolved into various forms of confrontations and reciprocal violence. This has led to the emergence of anti-democratic practices at the level of leadership, the development of armed conflicts and tribal disputes, leading to multiple forms of community violence. And from the other hand, there are challenges related to living condition, participation, inclusion and discrimination related to religion and race. Place of living also plays a huge part in challenges considered in my society.

Q: AS A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL WHAT ARE A FEW OF THE HURDLES THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME UP UNTIL TODAY?

If I want to be more successful in my life I need to challenge myself more in some issues: Age - I need to focus more on that it's just a number, I need to follow my heart. What other people think, avoid toxic people rather in thought or real life, fear of negative thought, dying inside while still alive, where to focus in the past or in the future.

Q: WHY IS THE ROLE OF A MENTOR IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

My mentor helps me in understanding my feeling, anger feeling, my self-control. Many words from her just kept in my mind.

Q: DO YOU HAVE A LESSON THAT LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Accept people for who they are.

Q: NAME A PROJECT, A FOUNDATION OR A PERSON IN YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU THINK IS DOING GREAT WORK IN HELPING IMPROVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES!

Palestinian consultative staff for developing NGOs

Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN IN YOUR COUNTRY FACE AND WHAT EFFORTS ARE MADE TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY?

Challenges that women face are such as legal system and legislation, old habits and social ideologist, patriarchal society.

Efforts: some change in the legal system which protected women rights, women leadership, women able to study in the university and have a lot of power rather than in the past.

Q: ATHENA40 IS THE FIRST EVER GLOBAL SELECTION OF THE TOP 40 WOMEN FORWARD THINKERS, COMMENTATORS, ACTIVISTS, AUTHORS, ACADEMICS, ENTREPRENEURS, EXECUTIVES, INNOVATORS. CAN YOU THINK OF A TRULY INNOVATIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING WOMAN FROM YOUR COUNTRY THAT YOU WISH TO NOMINATE FOR THE ATHENA40 GLOBAL LIST?

Ms Areen Abu El Rube

Q: SHARE WITH US A PHRASE, A POEM OR A STORY THAT YOU LOVE OR YOU FIND INTERESTING!

“Our life is what our thoughts make it”. - Marcus Aurelius

Q: TELL US ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR MENTOR.

Accepting life with its ups and downs.