Maya Wahid Terro
Personal information
Maya Wahid Terro
Co-Founder and Executive Director, FoodBlessed
Contact information (Private)
+96170159337
Contact information (Work)
Community/Lebanon Impact
She is the Co-Founder and the Executive Director of FoodBlessed, a pioneering national hunger relief and food rescue initiative that strives to eliminate hunger and save food from landfills in Lebanon. Through its work, the community-based and volunteer-driven organization aspires to unite and nourish communities through the power of food, social responsibility, and volunteerism. By doing so, FoodBlessed aims to create a community that works towards making sure that the hungry don’t end up sleeping on an empty belly or feeling ostracized; that good food doesn’t end up in bins but rather in bellies, and that community members are given the opportunity to give back. Under Maya’s direction and with the help of thousands of volunteers, FoodBlessed has now successfully delivered 1,000,000 meals to those in need while diverting nearly 200 tonnes of food from landfills.
Social Media
Education
Education:
- M.Sc. in Migration Mobility and Development SOAS, University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) - London, UK.
- M.A. in Development Economics and International Co-operation, University of Rome II - Rome, Italy.
- Master of Public Health-MPH Concentration: Health Management and Policy, American University of Beirut - Beirut, Lebanon.
- B.Sc. in Biology Concentration: Pre-med Program, American University of Beirut - Beirut, Lebanon.
Work history
Previous Professions:
- 2012-Present: FoodBlessed, Co-founder and Executive Director.
- 2015-2016: International College IC School, Community Service Coordinator/Leadership and Life Skills Club Advisor (PT).
- 2014-2015: American University of Beirut- Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Assistant (RA-FT) at the Department of Health Promotion and Community Health.
- 2014: USAID USP V/A admissions office at the American University of Beirut, Recruitment officer.
- 2012-2012: American University of Beirut- Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Assistant (RA-PT) at the Center for Research on Population and Health (CRPH).
- 2011-2012: American University of Beirut- Olayan School of Business, Research Assistant (RA-FT) at ‘The Mikati Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative’ at the Olayan School of Business at the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Track.
Major Achievements
Fellowships:
- 2013-2014: John Smith Trust Fellowship
- 2016: Chevening Scholarship
- 2016: SOAS Student Scholarship
Accomplishments
Awards:
- 2021 JCI’s Twenty Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) award, Junior Chamber International (JCI); St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
- 2021 JCI’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Lebanon (TOYP) award, JCI Lebanon; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2021 50 Next Award: People Shaping the Future of Gastronomy, Basque Culinary Center; San Sebastian, Spain.
- 2021 Women of Lebanon: Leaders of Change, Granting Organizations: UN Women and United Nations Lebanon; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2019 Top 24 Woman Humanitarian Workers, Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); New York City, United States.
- 2018 Global Changemaker, Foreign and Commonwealth Office FCO; London, United Kingdom.
- 2018 TED Speaker, TED Conferences LLC; New York City, United States of America.
- 2017 Humanitarian of the Year Award, MBC Al Amal “Doing Good” competition, MBC Group; Dubai.
- 2016 Chevening Scholarship, Foreign and Commonwealth Office FCO; London, United Kingdom.
- 2016 SOAS Student Scholarship, School of Oriental and African Studies; London, United Kingdom.
- 2015 King Abdullah Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement, King Abdullah Foundation; Amman, Jordan.
- 2015 Spirit of Service Award, NGO Symposium, Lebanese American University LAU; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2015 Top Lebanese Inspirational Women. Future TV; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2013 Winner of the political reality TV show “Al Zaim”. AL-Jadeed TV Station; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2012 “CSR in Action” Award for the category ‘Best Social Project on CSR’. Al Ahli Group and Ecole Superior des Affairs; Beirut; Lebanon.
- 2012 “Green Leadership Grant” for Implementing a Rain Harvesting Project for a Public School. Association for Forests, Development, &Conservation NGO; Beirut, Lebanon.
- 2010 “Women Empowerment Driver” project for the project “MommyMade”. INJAZ Lebanon in partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service at the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University; Beirut, Lebanon.