Olla Sakkaf

The Access Program gave Olla the chance to learn English and experience different cultures. Another key component of the program is its focus on voluntary work, which aims to help students develop a sense of responsibility towards their communities. As she took part in various community service activities, she discovered the fulfillment that comes with helping others and making a positive impact in her community.  

This passion grew stronger after Olla graduated from the Access program in 2012, leading her to launch an initiative with her colleagues to complete community service activities in and around her family’s neighborhood in Taiz. Olla says, “Because of the Access Program at Amideast, I developed a passion for volunteering and learned the value of social work.” 

Conflict in 2015 prevented her from completing some of these projects, but Olla did not give up on her goals. She majored in English literature at the Faculty of Arts at Taiz University.  

After graduating from university, in 2018, Olla joined several different civil society organizations as both a volunteer and intern. She worked on peacebuilding, empowerment programs, and youth and women's development. Her dedication and hard work paid off in 2020 when she became the youngest Yemeni woman to give a briefing to the United Nations Security Council on the agenda of youth, peace, and security. Since then, she has continued to work tirelessly to implement projects and initiatives that benefit young men and women in various Yemeni governorates.  

Olla has since established the Peace Environment Organization (Bee’at Al-Salam Organization), which focuses on education and confronting the effects of climate change. Through this organization, she and her team work to improve the quality of educational outcomes, promote peace, and address the pressing issue of climate change.  

As she says, “Because I benefited from the Access Program, I am leading a nonprofit organization that is working ... to reduce the impact of climate change and ensure youth and women engagement in the process.”