Hi!
Let me take you through my journey of turning my passion for people, learning and play into my profession..
Ever since I was a kid, my mom used to take me to activities and workshops. I remember the first time she told me she wanted me to go on a month long intercultural camp. I told her, "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
Little did I know that this camp would change my life.
There, I met one of my closest friends, experienced facilitation and learning through play and dialogue for a month at the age of 11. And the third kid from the left is me!
Naturally, I became a facilitator of learning and play. After graduating with a degree in economics, designing a board game was one of the items I had on my bucket list. I knew I didn’t want to work in a bank, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do until I met a friend whose sister, now one of my role models, was working on a board game. I remember my eyes sparkling, that’s when I joined the company that later became Makouk.
At Makouk, not only did I design playful learning experiences and tabletop games, I also started developing a keen interest in work culture, designing internal processes, team retreats and learning experiences. This was when I realized that my approach was very human-centric. In 2015, I joined the Egypt Jam, where I gained extensive facilitation experience. I learned the art of creating community, collective learning and transformation, growing through the heart, and, most importantly, being kind to myself.
I found non-formal learning spaces far more valuable and joyful than formal education.
Another pivotal moment was a 10-day virtual intensive training on Nonviolent Communication which completely shifted my understanding of communication and how we function as humans.
My worldview transformed to one of understanding, empathy, and compassion for all human beings.
Later in 2022, I joined the Society of Play as a game designer and facilitator, where I created immersive, playful experiences, including corporate team-building activities with learning objectives. This sharpened my game design skills and taught me how to integrate play with various company learning objectives.
