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25 Million Sparks takes readers inside the Za'atari refugee camp to follow the stories of three courageous Syrian women entrepreneurs: Yasmina, a wedding shop and salon owner creating moments of celebration; Malak, a young artist infusing color and beauty throughout the camp; and Asma, a social entrepreneur leading a storytelling initiative to enrich children's lives. Anchored by these three inspiring stories, as well as accompanying artwork and poetry by Malak and Asma, the narrative expands beyond Za'atari to explore the broader refugee entrepreneurship phenomenon in more than twenty camps and cities across the globe. What emerges is a tale of power, determination, and dignity - of igniting the brightest sparks of joy, even when the rest of the world sees only the darkness. A significant portion of the author's proceeds from this book is being contributed to support refugee entrepreneurs in Za'atari and around the world.
List of contents
1. Angels of Za'atari; Part I. Darkness: 2. Olive trees; 3. Gray walls; 4. Global crisis; Part II. Spark: 5. New beginnings; 6. Khatwa, Khatwa; 7. Balloons; 8. Extreme entrepreneurs; Part III. Revival: 9. Midnight blue; 10. Dignity; 11. Global catalyst; Part IV. Hope: 12. Dreams become one; Epilogue; Acknowledgments; Notes; Index.
About the author
Andrew Leon Hanna is a first-generation Egyptian American lawyer, entrepreneur, and author from Jacksonville, Florida. He is cofounder and CEO of DreamxAmerica, a Knight-Hennessy Scholar and Siebel Scholar at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and winner of the Financial Times and McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize. Hanna has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
Summary
The story of three courageous Syrian women entrepreneurs uplifting the Za'atari refugee camp, and of the global refugee entrepreneurship phenomenon they represent. A significant portion of this book's proceeds is contributed to support refugee entrepreneurs in Za'atari and around the world.
Foreword
The story of three courageous Syrian women entrepreneurs uplifting the Za'atari refugee camp, and of the global refugee entrepreneurship phenomenon they represent.
Additional text
'Against the backdrop of the global refugee crisis, 25 Million Sparks beautifully tells the moving story of three Syrian women working as entrepreneurs in a refugee camp in Jordan. The story of these remarkable women shines through the pages, with their devotion to building a better life for themselves and their families. And it calls us to action to address the disparate needs of more than 25 million refugees.' John L. Hennessy, Former President of Stanford University
Report
'25 Million Sparks is a powerful story of hope - a beautiful reminder of our equal dignity, common humanity, and brilliant potential for innovation. It sheds light on the brutal injustices of war and violence - while celebrating refugees' records of uplifting communities, generating transformative ideas, and creating peace even amid disaster. Hanna's captivating human-centered narration of the stories of three women entrepreneurs in the Za'atari camp allows their voices to be heard clearly. These stories, along with others across the globe, are illustrative of the resilience and the power of refugees - and particularly of refugee women - to heal, lead, and advance communities around the world ... if only the world recognizes, listens to, and invests in them appropriately.' Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
