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Palestinian Engineer Aref Husseini, Founder and CEO of Al Nayzak Organization, received the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Social Innovator of the Year Award in a ceremony attended by over 1600 international dignitaries, diplomats and professionals, according to Al Nayzak.

The educational and scientific organization said in a press statement that “this award comes as high recognition for Husseini’s innovative work and establishment of Al Nayzak Organization and the Jerusalem Innovation Park, which currently serves 30,000 youth of multiple age groups and diverse backgrounds.”

“Al Nayzak empowers youth to be innovative, creative citizens who have the power to change their socioeconomic status through scientific innovation, education and professional growth,” it added.

“This year, the foundation received 1500 nominees from 190 countries. All nominees were selected through a rigorous process led by a world class international committee who closely examined each candidate’s career, achievement, and impact. Husseini is one of the sixteen Social Innovators of the Year 2023 chosen after the long selection process was completed.” It went on to say.

The Schwab foundation was founded by Professor Clause Schwab, the founder and president of the World Economic Forum, in Switzerland in 1998. Since its inception, 400 social innovators were chosen for this award for their work in changing the lives of over 722 million people. The foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2023.

Al Nayzak defines itself as an independent educational and scientific organization founded in Jerusalem in 2003. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization specializing in education, mentoring and research in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and other educational and applied sciences and Vocational and Technical Training (TVET). Through its work, Al Nayzak empowers innovation and entrepreneurship.