Imagine a world where the sound of books flipping in a classroom is replaced by the echoes of war. Where dreams of becoming a doctor, teacher, or scientist are shattered by the brutal realities of displacement. This was Muzoon Almellehan’s reality—but rather than giving in to despair, she decided to fight for change. Muzoon, a Syrian refugee and global education activist, is proof that courage and determination can break even the most formidable barriers. At just 16, she became a beacon of hope for millions of displaced children, showing them that education is the bridge to a brighter future—even amidst the darkness of conflict. The Girl with a Backpack Full of Books When Muzoon fled Syria with her family in 2013, she carried with her something more valuable than belongings—her schoolbooks. For Muzoon, education was not just a priority; it was her lifeline. “I knew that leaving everything behind didn’t…

Kenyan ecopreneur Lorna Rutto is the inspired leader of EcoPost, a social organization established in response to the urgent need for alternatives to traditional trash management methods, given Kenya’s massive plastic waste problem. She launched her business in 2009, which gathers plastic garbage and produces fence posts that are economically feasible, incredibly robust, and crucially ecologically beneficial. These posts are extensively utilized in Kenya. Lorna was chosen as the sub-Saharan Africa laureate for the renowned Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards in 2011.

As a Director working out of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya, Caroline Eboumbou joined the organization in 2018. Through the Foundation’s Power projects in Africa, Mrs. Eboumbou’s position focuses on generating significant effect and mobilizing funding for expanding access to energy internationally. Ms. Eboumbou is in charge of a creative portfolio of grants and investments aimed at maximizing the potential while advancing more efficient integrated electrification planning and investment across key markets, as over 600 million Africans are not currently covered by traditional grid infrastructure.

Carol Tome is a corporate professional from the United States who serves as United Parcel Service’s current CEO (UPS). She was formerly employed by The Home Depot, where she was Vice President and Treasurer from 1995 until 2019 before being promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Since 2003, she has been a UPS board member.

Emtithal “Emi” Mahmoud is a Sudanese-American poet and activist who won the Individual World Poetry Slam title in 2015. In 2018, she was appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and in that role, she visited refugee camps in Kenya, Greece, and Jordan, raising attention to the plight of refugees.

By Tanya Maswaure

Since October 31 2000, there has always been a human life in space because of the International Space Station, including people managing the station. Still, in most recent news, Jessica Watkins is the first black woman in history to be part of an extended space mission, making her the first black woman to work and stay at the International Space Station.