Ghali Benboujida

Activist, Brainstormer, Care taker, Concerned citizen, Student, World traveler

I grew up in Morocco, where I learnt values such as humility, selflessness, loyalty, hospitality and sharing. These principles served as the roots for the person I am today, and they have undoubtedly helped me to get the most out of every encounter on my path. When I started living and working abroad, mainly in Spain, France and now in Singapore, meeting people from all over the world, I broadened my horizons beyond imagination. Putting a face to every country has made political issues more personal, and it has made me a more tolerant and compassionate person. At the same time, being from a country with a 40% rate of illiteracy has made me very conscious of the privileges that I have been given. For this reason, I strive to use this privilege to provide the less fortunate with an opportunity to speak up. As I started taking advantage of the opportunity to open my mind to new cultures, and as I began to embrace values like tolerance and acceptance, I started having a hard time with some of the values and behaviors of my own country. I am outraged by the general lack of educational and professional opportunities available in Morocco, and by the fact that so many Moroccans accept their fate, thinking that they have no control over their destinies. As time passes, my determination to shake things up grows. I aspire to help people reach their potential, and help them realize that they are, in fact, the masters of their fate. I want to continue learning and expanding my knowledge. With a strong education, along with my values and interpersonal skills, I hope to give back to my motherland, Morocco, and the rest of Africa, the opportunities that I have been given, like access to education, health and dignity by contributing towards shaping a more inclusive society.