Earlier this month, the One Young World Summit brought together young leaders from across the globe. Our Enterprising Futures Scholars, proudly supported by the NL Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were at the heart of all action. They came from all over Africa and the Middle East to showcase how entrepreneurship can fuel sustainability and innovation.
After a vibrant opening ceremony, the first full summit day began with sessions on leadership and sustainability. During the circular economy plenary, two Enterprising Futures scholars took the main stage alongside fellow young leaders. Ala’a Thalji Al Soudi from Jordan, founder of Limonene, shared her mission to make water treatment more sustainable, while Kenya’s Joseph Nguthiru, co-founder of HyaPak, captivated the audience with his biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics made from water hyacinth. Their contributions set the tone for a summit defined by bold, practical solutions.
The momentum built with an engaging panel on entrepreneurship as a force for peace, moderated by NL Youth Ambassador for Youth, Education and Work, Jurriaan Middelhoff. Enterprising Futures scholars Coumba Diakité (BY’RECYCL, Mali), Sara Ghanem (Dooda Solutions, Lebanon) and Michael Akinsete (Ecotutu, Nigeria – also a graduate from the Orange Corners Nigeria programme) brought their expertise to a lively discussion on the roles young leaders and governments play in fostering stability and peace. Together, they explored whether peace is a prerequisite for entrepreneurship or whether entrepreneurship can create the foundations for peace.
Early the next morning, our Enterprising Futures scholars welomed ambassador Jurriaan Middelhoff over breakfast, allowing him to learn more about their work in agriculture, tech and more. Among them were Egypt’s Salem Ghanam of Agrican, Tunisia’s Ghofrane Ayari of GEWINNER and Ethiopia’s Samrawit Tarekegn of Mogzit In-home Care. Their backgrounds and stories reflected the diversity that define this year’s scholars.
One of the summit’s standout moments was a main-stage session organised by the NL Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on accelerating the shift from a take–make–waste society to a circular one. Joined by scholar Mathias Charles from Lebanon (co-founder and president of Live Love Recycle), ambassador Jurriaan Middelhoff explored how entrepreneurs can catalyse systemic change. Mathias’ work digitising waste management, creating jobs and converting organic waste into biogas offered a powerful example of circular innovation in action.
As the summit entered its final day, scholars gathered with leaders from the Dutch and international private sector, exchanging ideas and forging connections that may shape future collaborations. The last day also featured some of the powerful moments of the entire summit. On the main stage, Enterprising Futures scholar Shirene Yaseen left the entire hall in tears as she shared Gaza’s story with courage and clarity. Despite unimaginable challenges, she continues to revitalise her language-learning platform Arabic Mate. Hussein Oraby, another Enterprising Futures scholar, too brought the audience to its feet with a standing ovation. Representing SDS Egypt (Smart Disability Society), he demonstrated that disabilities do not have to limit your possibilities. His advocacy for accessibility and inclusive technology turned the main stage into a celebration of designing a world for everyone.
These final sessions perfectly captured the spirit of One Young World 2025: courage, creativity and community, driven by young leaders determined to build a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world.
