In 2005, Wafa' Abdel Rahman, founded FILASTINIYAT, an NGO committed to ensuring and supporting the equitable participation of women and youth at all levels of public discourse.  She is known as the first hostess of a TV hard talk show in the local media.  She is a feminist and independent political activist.  Ms. Abdel Rahman is a fellow of the Eisenhower Fellowships- 2007 Multi Nation Program in which she was selected as the 2007 Ward Wheelock Fellow. This award is given annually to a Fellow from the Middle East who has best demonstrated a commitment to public causes.

Professional Highlights:

• Founder and General Director, FILASTINIYAT: Media for Women and Youth, Ramallah (2005 – present).  Website: www.filastiniyat.org.

• Founder and board member of The Palestinian Female Journalists’ club that brings together 177 female journalists in Gaza and West bank. (2010- present)

• Editor in Chief to NAWA- Feminist News Agency.  An online radio and youtube channel are under preparation for the agency(2012): www.nawa.ps

• Member, International Women's Commission (2005 – 2010)

• Palestinian Coordinator, 3000 Facilitators for Peace in the Middle East (2004 – 2007)

• Program Officer, AMAN: Transparency Palestine, Ramallah (2004 –2005). Website: http://www.aman-palestine.org/English/index.htm.  

• Director, Democracy and Good Governance, Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy- MIFTAH, Jerusalem, lead by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi (2001 – 2005).  Website: www.miftah.org.

• Coordinator, Palestinian NGOs’ Network, Gaza (1996 – 1999). Website: www.pngo.net.

Education:

• M.A. in Politics of Alternative Development Strategies, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands (2001)

• B.A. in History and Political Science, Bir Zeit University, West Bank, Palestine (1994)

Other:

• Hostess of “Filastiniyat” T.V talk-show that is fully produced by women journalists, hosting women experts and activists discussing hard core issues such as reconciliation, reconstruction of Gaza, un-employment and poverty, media scene, Gaza siege.. etc

• Member of civil society committee to develop and enhance the Palestinian- Palestinian reconciliation.

• Hostess of a TV talk-show sponsored by al-Quds daily newspaper “Hadith Al-Quds”

• Hostess of a hard talk TV show “Sand Watch” that brings decision makers for questioning

• Coordinator of Haraka- the Palestinian Coalition for the right of mobility and choice of residency.

• Hostess of a television talk- show “Filastistiniyat” that aims at introducing women young leaders to the media.

•  Media and political analyst with many published articles in local and regional newspapers.