Arij Soussi is a medical doctor and civil society activist from Tunisia. She focuses on conflict resolution and advocating for the rights of minorities and women. She shaped her peacebuilding and advocacy skills through a range of training programs like Young Mediterranean Voices, where she not only developed her debate skills but also served as a debate trainer for two years. In 2020, she got selected to participate in the MEPI student leaders program at Georgetown University, an opportunity that allowed her to organise the Living Library, an event that enables minorities and women to bravely voice their experiences and speak up against discrimination. She also participated in the Generation Change Exchange Program with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2022 and the Strategic Project Design and Implementation Program in 2023, organised by the United States Institute of Peace. Her concern for climate change grew bigger when she noticed that it was fueling political conflict and widening the gap to achieving gender equality in Tunisia and the MENA region. Through her engagement with Opinion Makers, a program organised by the Munathara Initiative, she took part in live TV debates and radio talks where she debated topics related to climate justice and women’s rights in Tunisia. She is also working with Dare organisation on “Golden Words,” a project that aims to empower Tunisian women and girls and creates a safe space for them to share their thoughts, concerns, and recommendations regarding the challenges that they encounter, particularly amidst the climate crisis.

Participant in: March 2024 Fellowship: Climate Change, Gender, and Conflict