FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 29 August 6, 2018
Contact: Media Relations, press@iyfweb.org
International Youth Federation Appoints Chaimae BOURJIJ as Regional Director for Middle East & North Africa
London, United Kingdom: IYF Secretary-General H.E. Ambassador Saeed ZAKI today announced the appointment of Chaimae BOURJIJ of Morocco as Regional Director for Middle East & North Africa.
She will succeed Heidi Sohdy of Egypt to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her leadership and dedicated service during her tenure.
“Ms. Chaimae is an outstanding young leader and role model for Arab youth who brings valuable perspective and insight and wealth of experience, passion, and commitment for serving Arab youth.” Said Ambassador Saeed ZAKI, IYF Secretary-General.
About her appointment, Ms. Chaimae said: “Youth is the world’s heartbeat, mesmerizing inward, fragile in shape, crucial for survival, it’s time for them to be treated as such.” She added: “Hence, only a true recognition of their role as a backbone of societies can allow our world to bloom. Only an authentic rating of their meaningful value can favor the region to rise. If it’s time for the Arab States, then it’s finally time for youth empowerment.”
Ms. Chaimae brings to this position a wide range of experience in civic engagement, advocacy outreach, and coordinating youth and women’s empowerment work, as well as extensive experience in programme and projects management.
She currently serves as Program Manager at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Morocco since January of 2018. Previously, she participated in several international symposiums on topics of the current political order including democracy, Sustainable Development Goals, and intercultural exchange.
She is passionate about advocating for women’s rights, freedom and youth empowerment and has continuously contributed in building the capacity of young leaders through the many initiatives she is involved in. Ms. Chaimae founded the Sustainable Development’s Youth association which won Global mobilizer of the year 2018 for SDGs by the UN SDG Action Campaign.
Her great interest in debating led her to be certified as a Debate Coach by the United States Embassy and The Great Debaters Morocco in 2016. Currently, she has founded and is chairing the International Youth Council Morocco Chapter and is working as an expert consultant on youth engagement for several organizations and projects including those on Maghreb integration through initiatives like 2521 funded by the EU. Her commitment is driven by the intention to familiarize young people with decision-making processes and strengthen their capacities under the aegis of democratic governance.
Ms. Sara Bedri
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
International Youth Federation
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The International Youth Federation is an international non-profit youth organizations network governed by the present Statutes and the Swiss Civil Code. It is neutral politically, and non-denominational, aim to empower youth worldwide through improving the status of youth and promote cooperation between youth organizations in different countries.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations – Office of the IYF Spokesperson for the Secretary-General (OSSG) via e-mail: press@iyfweb.org, or visit our website at www.iyfweb.org.