We Are

ISA MENA


WE NOT ONLY LOVE SPORTS, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER IT HAS. THAT IS WHY WE USE SPORTS TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE YOUTH, SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THRIVING COMMUNITIES


Our Mission

At ISA, we believe in the power of sports to transform lives. In the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), youth face significant challenges, including high unemployment, gender inequality, and limited social cohesion. With young people making up 60% of Egypt’s population, these issues affect youth, especially girls, the most.

We tackle these challenges through innovative sports-based programs that promote inclusion, leadership, and resilience. By creating opportunities for young people to lead, we help build thriving communities and a brighter future.

HOW We empower youth

01

She Got Game

Unlocking potential for young women.

  • Through sports, She Got Game helps young women build confidence, leadership skills, and resilience. By creating safe spaces, we empower girls to challenge stereotypes, discover their talents, and become change-makers in their communities.

02

Youth got game

Inspiring young leaders.

  • Youth Got Game equips young people with life skills, mentorship, and leadership training to drive positive change. Through this program, youth gain tools to shape their own futures and contribute to stronger, more connected communities.

03

Spaces

Strengthening communities.

  • SPACES uses sports to unite communities, creating inclusive and welcoming environments. This program strengthens social cohesion, resilience, and safe spaceswhere youth, especially those in marginalized areas can thrive.

Our impact & key activities

STORIES

CHAMPIONING YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: ISA MENA AT FESTIVAL 24

CHAMPIONING YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: ISA MENA AT FESTIVAL 24 1440 892 ISA

500+ participants from 37 countries, including young leaders from ISA MENA, gathered in France, united by sports and leadership, inspiring youth to break barriers and build inclusive communities. In July…

The young people in Egypt are the leaders of the future

The young people in Egypt are the leaders of the future 1000 667 Ties

2023 was for the MENA region a year of many aspects. We managed to build (self)leadership competences among the young people, grew as an organisation, improved our ISA representativity in…

A DECADE OF IMPACT

A DECADE OF IMPACT 1300 868 Leonie

Dear, We are delighted to celebrate with you our 10th anniversary at ISA, and we want to thank you as a valued member of our community for your contribution to…

ISA Youth Fund

ISA Youth Fund 5779 3853 ISA

This year we celebrate ISA’s tenth anniversary! That’s the reason why we as ISA want to give back to our main inspiration: the youth in the world. Are you 24…

Meet our team

Our team in the MENA region is dedicated to empowering youth through sports. Meet the people making a lasting impact.

Regional coordinator

Tim Hertsenberg

  • Tim Hertsenberg oversees ISA’s regional initiatives, ensuring programs create meaningful change within local communities. As a Regional Coordinator, he builds strong partnerships, expands ISA’s network, and supports sustainable growth.
    With extensive experience in Sports for Development, Tim believes in the power of sport to drive social change. Staying connected to community needs, he ensures ISA’s programs remain relevant and impactful while leading the local team to deliver high-quality initiatives.

Project Officer

Huda Tahir Ababor

  • Huda Tahir Ababor brings her expertise to multiple facets of ISA’s operations. As a Programme Officer and MENA Project Co-Lead, she oversees communication strategies, operational management, and administrative functions, ensuring smooth and active regional implementation. Huda is a dedicated co-facilitator in ISA trainings and a business research and development assistant, contributing innovative ideas and solutions. Her involvement in various internal working groups ensures ISA’s projects in the MENA region remain impactful and well-executed.

Project Coordinator & Facilitator

Menna Mohammed

  • Menna Mohamed plays a pivotal role in facilitating and coordinating organizational and operational meetings with efficiency and precision. She actively engages with regional partners, supporting public relations and networking to strengthen ISA’s outreach. In addition to co-facilitating ISA training programs, Menna contributes to proposal writing and concept development, ensuring the successful implementation of initiatives across the MENA region.

Facilitator & Regional account manager

Mustafa Arab

  • As a regional account manager, Mustafa Arbab serves as the primary point of contact for implementation partners, ensuring seamless communication and feedback. He plays a crucial role as a co-facilitator in ISA trainings, mentoring participants during field visits, and providing expert guidance. Mustafa also excels in logistics and operations analysis, ensuring the efficient execution of ISA’s programs and activities in the region.

Our board

Simone Filippini

Chair
&
Chair of The Global Council

Gijsbert van Lomwel

Secretary

Hein Greven

Board member

Lisa Wijkel

Fundraising & Integrity

Corniel Groenen

Board Member
&
Represents the MENA & Europe region in
The Global Council

Join us and make a difference!

We believe real change happens together. Here’s how you can get involved:

Volunteer:

Get involved by mentoring, coaching, or assisting at events.

  • We are always looking for passionate volunteers who can contribute in the following areas:

    • Translator: Help us communicate across regions by translating content in French, Arabic, and/or English. Your language skills will play a vital role in making our work accessible to diverse communities.
    • Photography & Video: Capture the impact of our programmes through photography and video. Your visual storytelling will help us share our mission globally.
    • Designers: Unleash your creativity to design newsletters, annual reports, and other communications materials.
    • Media Experts: Improve our online visibility with SEO, website management, and creative digital strategies. Help us share the impact of our work with the world.
    • Fundraising: Open doors to new funding opportunities and help us strengthen our programmes.
    • ICT Experts: Support our organisation’s growth with your technical expertise as we expand across different regions.

    Ready to volunteer?
    If you are skilled in any of the areas above, we’d love to hear from you!
    Contact us at info@isa-youth.org, and we’ll get in touch soon.

Internship

Gain hands-on experience and grow with us!

  • Interning with ISA offers a unique opportunity to develop both your professional skills and your passion for youth empowerment. We provide mentorship and real-world learning experiences, including:

    • Programme Development: Assist in creating and improving youth programmes that make a difference.
    • Communications & Marketing: Work on promoting our mission and engage with communities through various media platforms.
    • Fundraising & Strategy: Gain experience in the fundraising process, supporting our programmes and initiatives.

    Join our team!
    Looking to make an impact while developing your career? Reach out to us today!
    Send your application to info@isa-youth.org.

Partner

Join forces with us to empower youth through sports.

  • At ISA, we believe in the power of partnerships to drive sustainable development. Together, we can create a better future for young people worldwide. Here are the types of partnerships you can engage in:

    • Financial Partner:
      Your financial support will directly fund programmes that empower youth to become leaders in their communities. Your contributions make a tangible difference in the lives of young people.

    • Corporate Partner:
      Align your brand with our mission and engage in long-term collaborations that support youth development on a global scale. From co-branded campaigns to employee engagement, your partnership will drive change.

    • Impact Partner:
      Share your expertise, connections, and resources to expand the reach of our youth empowerment initiatives. By joining forces, we can strengthen our global network and create more opportunities for young people.

    Let’s make an impact together!
    Contact us today to explore partnership opportunities.

We got game

“Sport learns you to have respect, for the coach; your teammates and outside sports: for other people.”
– Ibrahim