Growing up in the Gaza Strip in Palestine, her orphanhood did not prevent her from developing her talents to become a spokesperson for the children of Palestine, defending their rights and a media personality documenting the crimes of the occupation against them. Despite the siege, wars, poverty, and unemployment in Gaza, her orphanhood did not hinder the growth of her other talents that blossomed with her since elementary school. She is an eloquent speaker, proficient in delivering speeches, presenting on radio and television, performing in plays and documentaries, writing for newspapers, and editing books.
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This is Iman Abu Wakad, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the Faculty of Education at Al-Azhar University in 2015. She pursued a master’s degree in business administration while also teaching English. She is a writer, producer, and presenter of children’s and youth programs on the “Little Journalist” radio and television station.
Multiple Talents
Her talents were discovered at the age of nine when she participated in parties and festivals for orphaned children, as she was sponsored by Qatar Charity. These talents matured in the following years, allowing her to participate in numerous plays like “Trial of the Child Killer” and festivals such as “Wake Up, World, and Give Us Justice” in Bahrain. Her talents in drawing and literary writing emerged in high school during her participation in school competitions.
She has been the media spokesperson for Palestinian children for the past eight years and still holds this title. She was appointed as the head of the Palestinian Children’s Parliament, enabling her to defend the rights of Palestinian children through various media outlets. She participated in organizing and attending local and international conferences advocating for the rights of Palestinian children and contributed to the preparation of several documentaries highlighting their suffering, including portraying a heroic role in the films “Princess of Palestine and the Three Ambassadors” and “Princess of the Picture,” produced by the UAE Humanitarian Charity.
Little Ambassadors
Iman presented a variety of educational, social, cultural, and entertaining programs through the “Little Journalist” radio and television station and others. Notable among these is the educational program “Dardash Ya Dardosh,” for children under 15, featuring a story in each episode that conveys a lesson or wisdom. She also hosted “Good Night, Homeland,” which addressed issues facing Palestinian society.
In the field of media documentation, she recorded most of the stories of child victims of the Israeli occupation in the book “Little Ambassadors,” which was published on the first anniversary of the 2008-2009 Gaza War. In addition to her media and human rights activities, Iman supervised several volunteer initiatives with the “Hopes and Dreams” team to assist poor families and contributed to psychological support programs for injured children in various hospitals.
Visit to Qatar
Iman fondly remembers her visit to Qatar in 2013, invited by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Misnad after Sheikha Moza read the book “Little Ambassadors,” which had been gifted to her by war victims during her visit to the Gaza Strip.
Iman’s dreams and ambitions are boundless. She says, “My dream in life is to win the Nobel Peace Prize and to be able to quench the thirst of every grieving orphan, for I have experienced orphanhood and poverty and know how bitter and painful both can be.”
