Ghiwa El Fakhry received her B. A. in International Affairs from the Lebanese American University and is currently finishing her MA degree in Diplomacy & International Security from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. Her passion for rural development, as she was born and raised in the northern mountains of Lebanon in a village called Bcharre, committed her in 2018 to the role of the youth coordinator in the career guidance program with the institute of management and services IMS.Empowering youth and strengthening girls’ decision-making power and skills in rural areas have been her main focus, eager to make a difference in their lives through a self-discovery journey fostered by quality education and the freedom to learn. She is an environmental activist and a member of the Bcharre cultural club, a youth initiative that aims to bond people through books, movies, arts and finally, creating a safe space for challenging conversations in the community. Her other interests include topics on citizenship education, community engagement, cultural diplomacy, and outdoor sport, which is still playing a significant role in her life and career aspirations.Nature and outdoor sports influenced her life strongly, teaching her daily about self-discipline, mind, body, and heart balance as well as persistence and, most notably, never giving up.