our members

Navigate through the pages to learn more about each of our members.

Founder and Chairperson

Raghda El Ebrashi is currently lecturing Strategic Management at the German University in Cairo (GUC). She earned her Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in 2004 from the American University in Cairo (AUC), and acquired her Master Degree in Professional Development from the AUC as well in 2006.

She wrote her PhD thesis on Social Entrepreneurship at the GUC. Raghda has got an extensive experience in the field of community development in various governorates in Egypt since the age of 15. She is currently working on national and international researches related to economic and social development. Raghda is also the first young Arab Board Member in the International Youth Foundation (IYF) based in the US. She founded Alashanek ya Balady student club at the American University in Cairo in 2002, and she was able to expand it to Ain Shams and Cairo Universities in 2003 and 2004. Raghda founded Alashanek ya Balady Association as a registered NGO in 2005.

In February 2007, Raghda was selected as being one of the most 65 influential social entrepreneurs and future leaders in Egypt by Al Ahram Newspaper, and her profile was published in Nos El Donia Magazine. In October 2007, Raghda was awarded from World Business Magazine (London) and Shell International the award of “35 under 35” for being one of the 35 influential international social entrepreneurs under the age of 35. She received the award in London and her profile was published in World Business Magazine and Management Today Magazine in London, as well as some national newspapers and magazines in Egypt. In addition, in November 2007, Raghda was selected as being on of the most 30 influential social entrepreneurs in Egypt by H.E Suzan Mubarak, and her profile was broadcasted on the National TV (Channel 1). In November 2007, Raghda was selected and awarded from the UNDP and Microsoft in Malaysia for being one of the influential 100 global young social entrepreneurs. She received her award in Malaysia and attended series of workshops about social entrepreneurship in Malaysia.

In February 2008, Raghda was selected as one of the 24 Board of Advisors for the Egyptian Cabinet for a special project named “the Social Contract”, which works on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals of the UNDP in Egypt. Later in 2008, Raghda won the YouthActionNet Fellowship from the United States as being the first Egyptian to win this award. In 2009, Raghda won Synergos fellowship in the United States for being an Arab World Social Innovator, and she recently won the King Abdullah Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement in 2009. In 2010, Raghda became a Young Global Leader (YGL) selected by the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum, and she is recently selected as an Ashoka Fellow.

Vice President

Mohamed El Araby graduated from the American University in Cairo (AUC) in 2003 with bachelor in Business Administration. He acquired his MBA from the AUC as well in 2006. Mohamed has an extensive experience in marketing in various multinational and national companies. He is currently working as a Group Brand Manager in the marketing department of L’Oreal Egypt. He used to work as an International and Roaming Senior Team Leader within the marketing department of Vodafone, and he previously worked as an Acting Product Manager in Nestle in addition to other companies in the field of sales and training. Mohamed is a certified trainer from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee USA, where he has strong experience in giving out trainings in the fields of communication, negotiation, public speaking, marketing and public relations. Mohamed participated in the foundation of AYB-AUC while being the Public Relations Committee Chairperson at the Students Union in 2002.

Co-Founder and Treasurer

Muhammad El Ebrashi is currently an Associate Director in CI Capital. Muhammad graduated from Business Administration with concentration in Finance from the AUC in 2000. He is currently enrolled as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) – Level III, as well as being selected as one of the international young investors in the CFA institute in 2007. He is currently enrolled in the MBA program at the German University in Cairo (GUC). Muhammad has extensive experience in the fields of finance, investment, and banking. He has worked for various international companies and banks, as well as different investment projects since 2001; such as Concord Investments, Abu Dhabi Bank, and Pfizer. He was the Computer Learning Center Head of Alashanek ya Balady AUC in 2003 and 2004, and he intensively contributed to the foundation of Alashanek ya Balady as an NGO in 2005 and has been its treasurer since then. It is worth saying that Muhammad has recently established his own foundation named ‘Themar’ for SMEs consulting.

Co-Founder and General Secretary

Heba Hassan is currently a Senior Economic Researcher in the Sector for Cooperation with the United States of America, Ministry of International Cooperation. She earned her Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University in 2005. She received her Master Degree in International Relations at the AUC. Heba was a delegate in many political and economic conferences, in addition to being active in many charity activities since 2000. She was the co-founder of Alashanek ya Balady AUC, as well as being the Charity Head of the club in 2003 and the Programs Head in 2004. Heba devoted so much time in the establishment of Alashanek ya Balady NGO in 2005 and has been the General Secretary since then.

Board Member

Dina Sherif has been the Associate Director of the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement since it was established in 2006 at the American University in Cairo. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Director of Projects at Financial Technical Consulting Services, a consultancy firm that specializes in rural development in sub-Saharan Africa. Dina also has extensive experience in development at the local level in Egypt through her work at the Institute for Cultural Affairs in the Middle East and North Africa, and her work at Environmental Quality International. Dina holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in Development Studies, both acquired from the American University in Cairo. She is currently a board member of the Arab Media Forum for Environment and Development.

Board Member

Ahmed Hassan is currently a Senior Mechanical Engineer in BP. He has got 8 years of experience in the field of petroleum and project management. Ahmed earned his Bachelor Degree in Design and Industrial Engineering from the AUC in 2002. He acquired his Master Degree in Industrial Engineering from AUC as well in 2004. Ahmed was involved in organizing a lot of conferences in AUC as well as charity activities. He was the Language Committee Head of Alashanek ya Balady AUC in 2005, as well as being the Aid Program Director of Alashanek ya Balady NGO in 2006. Due to his high management skills and expertise in Alashanek ya Balady, Ahmed became responsible for the Expansion of Alashanek ya Balady in various universities in 2007.

Board Member

Iman Kourtam earned her bachelor degree in mass communication, concentration marketing from the AUC in 2009. Eman is currently working as Events Coordinator in AYB-SD. She used to work as a team of the Business Development Department of SAPESCO Petroleum. Iman was the President of AYB-SD AUC in 2008, where she was able to initiate new programs, and most importantly created ‘Proudly Egyptian’ campaign. Iman was also active as a volunteer in various community service organizations on campus, where she joined the Help Club, as well as the Student Union. It is worth saying that Iman is one of the first two members to join the board of AYB-SD from its franchises.

Board Member

Mohamed Rakhawy is currently studying in his last year in the Faculty of Engineering, Ainshams University. Mohamed was the President of AYB-SD in Ainshams University in 2009, where he was able to create a stable structure, sustainability, and a broad base of volunteers for the organization. Mohamed served in AYB-SD Ainshams in its fundraising team as a member and head, as a member in the human resources team, and he participated in conferences such as the International Conference on Global Economy (ICGE) and Entrepreneurship Society in the AUC. It is worth saying that Mohamed is one of the first two members to join the board of AYB-SD from its franchises.

main partners

Drosos is the biggest partner for AYB-SD. Drosos contributed to the expansion of the training programs of AYB-SD in marginalized communities, as well as the establishment of AYB-SD employment program. The partnership started in 2009.

Vodafone Egypt was the first and one of the biggest partners for AYB-SD. In 2006 and until this moment, Vodafone has been partnering with AYB-SD in the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), which carries out trainings for youth in various universities. The revenues of these courses cover the trainings given to poor youth; the main target group of AYB-SD. In 2007, Vodafone donated 10 computers for AYB-SD computer lab in Ain El Sira. In 2009, AYB-SD partnered with Vodafone in the execution of one of its major CSR programs named ‘Qariaty’, and another project named “Madasty’.

International Youth Foundation (IYF) contributed with the first institutional grant to AYB-SD in 2007. The grant was given for a project named ‘One Stop Shop’, which was about making the Youth Centers in Egypt places for youth to get trainings, employment opportunities, and gain knowledge about various topics. The partnership with the IYF was through Nahdet El Mahrousa (an Egyptian NGO), which is one of the main NGO partners for AYB-SD. In addition, IYF recently selected Raghda El Ebrashi – AYB-SD Founder and Chairperson – among its board members.

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public sector

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