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DANIR 2024 | Our involvement

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When Nadeen was 17, her family wanted her to start With many years of experience in the education
studying computer science, which meant she had to sector, a well-founded knowledge base, and profi-
supplement her grades to gain eligibility. It went as ciency in several languages, she applied for and got
planned, and she earned her first bachelor’s degree the job at Star for Life Jerusalem in March 2022.
in computer science in 2006 from Al-Quds Univer- For someone who truly enjoys learning and believes
sity. It was a good education, but she nurtured a that education can genuinely be life-changing, she
dream of working as a teacher or an HR specialist. had found the perfect job. Here, she is responsible
for HR, serves as an executive assistant, oversees
She brought that dream to life in 2015 by earning finances, and more. At Star for Life Jerusalem, she
her second bachelor’s degree, now in English, Ameri- is the linchpin and is on top of most aspects of the
can, and Latin literature at the Hebrew University of organisation.
Jerusalem. In the same year, she also received a dip-
loma in English teaching from the same university. “When they described that the goal of Star for
Life Jerusalem was to integrate children from the
Nadeen’s first master’s degree was in organisatio- Palestinian side in East Jerusalem and inspire them,
nal management in 2019, from Ono Academic Col- showing the power of school and getting an educa-
lege outside Tel Aviv. And if you love studying and tion, I felt this was exactly the right place for me to
have a passion for knowledge, why settle for just one work,” says Nadeen about the beginning of her Star
master’s degree? So, she earned a second master’s for Life career.
degree in 2021, now in policy and leadership in edu-
cation, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before joining Star for Life Jerusalem, Nadeen
worked for 16 years as, among other roles, an HR
“It was fun and educational to study computer sci- manager in the education department of the Jeru-
ence, but since I love languages, teaching, and wor-
king in education, it was a bit of a dream to pursue “ When I was hired, we were only
these studies,” says Nadeen about her impressive list five people, and we didn’t even have
of qualifications. a proper office. Now, we have 40
employees and three departments.”

– Nadeen Siam

salem municipality. She was responsible for 500
employees and the budget for the department.
There, she saw where resources were needed and,
over the years, had close contact and cooperation
with all schools in Jerusalem. This contact is invalua-
ble in her current work, establishing support groups
for children and parents in schools in East Jerusalem.

“We have come a long way in building up our
organisation. When I was hired, we were only five
people, and we didn’t even have a proper office.
Now, we have 40 employees and three depart-
ments,” says Nadeen proudly about how they
overcame the initial challenges.