Meet the team

Egyptian article and script writer

A free lance journalist working from Damascus

Anshuman Kukreti is a professional writer and a keen follower of the job market in gulf. His latest article focuses on the job scenario in Bahrain.

Ashoka is the largest platform for social entrepreneurs. Ashoka Arab World envisions an Everyone a Changemaker™ world.

I am an exquisite Palestinian-American acquainted to deprived societies and always hopeful for the best. Studying Biology, I wish to grow in the knowledge of all minute aspects of life and inevitably be able to aid those who can not help themselves.

To write is to let go of inhibitions and restrictions. To write is to be.

ربّ قلمِ أمسكته روح الفتى لا أنامله ، طالبة صحافة وإعلام في جامعة بيرزيت كاتبة صاعدة ومدونة لدى مدونات الجزيرة مُناظرة دُوَلية أهوى القراءة التصوير والمونتاج ♥

Dubai Laughing is the UAE's leading professional comedy company. Over the years we've established a reputation for providing the highest quality comedy nights throughout the Emirates, showcasing a mix of homegrown and international talent in our fun and interactive events. Dubai Laughing's weekly shows have redefined the UAE comedy scene, developing the frequency and standard of performers and offering comedy lovers real value for money. In addition to our legendary events, Dubai Laughing offers companies a range of professional humour solutions, including comedy event management, corporate training, professional Emcees and copywriting. Our expert team works closely with each client to ensure complete satisfaction, because as we know better than anyone else, "humour ain’t no joke..."

فلسطينية الأصل أدرس صحافة وإعلام أهوى القراءة وكتابة التقارير أحيا بتفاؤل وأمل على عكس الحياة الواقعية المليئة بالأخطار

Swedish Tufts University graduate and culture enthusiast. Bridging cultural gaps is my hope. Food, sweets, fashion, music, movies, books, and nature are my passions. Eye turned towards the Middle East and South Asia. Founder of the blog A teaspoon of (لیمون) zest, a blog devoted to sharing the beauty of cultures in the Middle East (and South Asia).

Hasheemah is a graduate of nutrition and dietetics from Birzeit University. Aside from her interest in food and health, she identifies as a writer. She manages her own blog at norestrictionsonwords.wordpress.com and has written for various publications.

I am an enthusiastic writer that likes to provide helpful information for people who like travel, live and work in the UAE.

I was born in Palestine but raised with the fireflies in Georgia. My teenage years were spent being the Muslim nerd who was known as the bookworm of the school. That followed me back to Palestine, to develop into being the girl with the big vocabulary. I spent most of my high-school days cursing Newton for not eating that apple. My English Literature Bachelor's degree was only obtained because I'm a nerd for literature and my minor in Translation pretty much pays the bills, thank you Birzeit University.Creative writing is my passion and reading is my escape from reality into a world where everything is the way you imagine it to be.

A little bit of everything.

Poet, writer and teacher Jennifer MacKenzie grew up on Bloomcrest Dr. in Bloomfield Hills, MI, which inspired her to wonder about places with patterns other than floral. Following her education at Wesleyan University's College of Letters and the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop, she followed a zig-zag course that included a pilgrimage across the top of Spain and a long sojourn in Syria in pursuit of the language of Muhammad al-Maghout and Moudthaffar al-Nawwab. While in Damascus she completed the books of poems "Distant City" and "My Not-My Soldier" (forthcoming from Fence Books) and edited the magazine Syria Today. Her poems and essays can be found in numerous journals including the Kenyon Review online, Guernica, Quarterly West, and Lungfull. She currently lives in New York.

Jessica Foreman is a Durham University graduate specialising in business and lifestyle based writing. She has developed her skills on projects surrounding The British Broadcasting Company, and running a print and online based magazine whilst at university. She is currently looking towards starting her Masters in Mobile and Personal Communications as well as broadening her horizons through travelling.

Freelance writer at Baraka bits. A dreamer wanting to have a positive footprint on society and bring joy to others. Success stories and inspiring people are my muses, optimism is my life choice. Interested in all things relating to social entrepreneurship, social development, social justice, peace, women's rights, child safety and development, art and illustration, health, education and psychology.

An auditor, educator, researcher and editor. Leila, was born in the US and moved to Palestine at the age of 10. She enjoys spending her time managing BarakaBits English Writer Team, making sure everything is written to perfection. She holds a BA in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration.

Lena Kassicieh, a socio-cultural researcher, journalist and photographer, brings a diverse analytical perspective to BarakaBits. Of Palestinian descent, Lena writes inspiring stories about individuals and organizations working to improve their local communities. Her love of the MENA region shines through her work, and her energy, voice and perspective have been a cornerstone of BarakaBits vision.

MoveSouq.com helps people in the UAE quickly and easily get connected to home service providers such as movers, cleaners, maintenance companies and more. People can request to receive quotes directly from service providers or can ask the MoveSouq team to select a range of providers for them. MoveSouq also maintains a customers reviews section for each of their listed partners, so people have the chance to evaluate service quality before requesting quotes from a company. And it's all for FREE!

Going through life at light-speed.

The name's Nichole! I'm four feet and eleven inches of too much to handle. I believe that the pen is mightier than the sword. Well thank heavens for that, because I can't lift anything heavier than a pen.

Writer & reporter with the Bahraini based magazines CO-EDS, Arabian Homes & Business in Gulf. Author of the -soon to be released- poetry book 'Solace.'

Creative Director and Founder of Smpl Media, a Creative Design and Marketing Agency working with change makers striving for the empowerment of Women in the Arab world. Osama also provides training on Conscious Customer Care and Positive Attitude.

كاتب مقيم في العاصمة الأردنية عمان، يعمل في الحقل الصحافي، التحرير و الترجمة منذ العام 2009. تشمل اهتماماته مجالات السياسة، القضايا الاجتماعية، الفنون و التكنولوجيا.

Hi! We're Project Pen, we're from Amman, Jordan. We publish stories in English and Arabic, from young writers all over the Middle East - to readers of a new generation. We're building the biggest content hub for stories in the region, and connecting authors with each other along the way. So, if you have an imagination, we want to meet it. Sign up to projectpen.com today, tell us a story, and yours might be the next one that we publish!

BarakaBits Founder & Chief Optimist

Founder of C3 - the worlds first platform for crowdsourcing commercial copyright infringement. Egyptian Made! Also author of How It All Got Started books (hiphopteaches.com)

Palestinian journalist and film-maker

A

Engineer planning and architecture

Arabic Editor

Sami Haven was born in Amman, Jordan, in 1987. His mother is originally from Yabroud, Syria, and his father is English born in the Caribbean. He grew up in his grandmother's house in Jabal al-wehbdeh, in the heart of Amman. In 2003 Sami moved to Al-Saru, on the outskirts of Amman, where he studied graphic design at Al Ahliyya University, graduating with the highest grades of his class. In 2005 he moved to Rome, Italy, where he did his masters in Photography. Sami worked with the world's most famous photographers like Steven Klein and Oliviero Toscani, along with many others. His works have been included in the Biennale of Venice directed by Kazuyo Sejima, Paris-Photo, and also in Tokio. After working in various editions of X-FACTOR Italia - making video clips for the contestants - in theatre with Fendi, and in the high fashion industry, Sami felt there was something missing, and so he decided to go to Gaza, Palestine, because it is an example of resistance and humanity, and to try and contrast the image constructed by the Western media that serves only the powerful. Today Sami is co-funder and part of an on growing conceptual group called Jasmine. A group united through passion against fear, a smell that's to spread out from the Mediterranean like a virus, to contaminate the world with Love, and heal from indifference. All can be part, and all shall be armed: Culture, Art, Music and Sport shall be our weapons of mass construction.

Shifting Sands is a newly launched UAE publishing platform focused on empowering local & regional ‪writers‬ in the Middle East. With an emphasis on digital publishing, our vision is to spread awareness on ‪inspiring‬ ideas, thoughts and stories, by by creative innovative and unique books, combining literary delight with innovative ‪technology‬.

Shirin Wertime graduated from the College of William & Mary in the US with a degree in Government and French & Francophone Studies. As a 2010 Boren Critical Languages Scholar she spent one year studying Arabic in Syria and Morocco. Her study of languages and passion for travel have taken her to over 20 countries. Shirin is particularly interested in the Middle East and North Africa given her Iranian-American background and time spent living and studying in the Arab world. She hopes to pursue an internationally focused career in the realm of development and/or sustainability. ​

TJ Misra is Head of Corporate Communications at BarakaBits. She has a Masters in International Affairs, with a speciality in Security and Conflict Management. She grew up in Manhattan, New York and San Francisco, California, and comes to BarakaBits after 4 years of living in Geneva, Switzerland. There she co-founded the first company specialized in transnational affairs and technology. TJ has worked building public-private partnerships across many sectors and borders, and has almost 10 years of communications industry experience.

Journalist, globetrotter, and determined idealist. Since Valentina left her home country of Argentina, she has searched for ways to build bridges between cultures and foster dialogue. Her previous work in international organizations in Italy and Germany fed her passion for the world of development, while her 8-year journalistic experience in Argentina and Egypt increased her curiosity for everything that challenges the stereotype. She holds a BA in Journalism and a Masters in Peace Studies with a specialization in Human Rights.

شاب مواظب متفائل و طموح اكرس حياتي للخير، أشرب من أنهار المعرفة واتسكع على شواطئ بحار الحكمة واتقي امواج الهلاك والجهل. لي هدف سام في رحلة عمري اسعى دوما صوب تحقيقها لانال من احلامي واحظرها إلى الواقع.

أنهيت دراستي الجامعية في الأدب الإنجليزي والترجمة من جامعة بيرزيت عام 2017، بعد أن كنت هاوية للكتابة والشعر والرسم منذ ولادتي وحتى اليوم.

خريجة كلية الإعلام – جامعة دمشق، طالبة ماجستير إعلام واتصال جماهيري في جامعة الشارقة كاتبة صحفية و محررة قسم اللغة العربية في بركة بيتس