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Draft:Majd Mashharawi

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Majd Mashharawi
Madj Mashharawi creator of SunBox
Majd Mashharawi, palestinian entrepreneur.

Majd Mashharawi is a Palestinian engineer and entrepreneur renowned for her sustainable energy and building innovations aimed at alleviating the hardships in Gaza. Growing up in Gaza, Mashharawi experienced, firsthand, the challenges of limited access to essentials, like electricity, clean water, and healthcare. These experiences fueled her commitment to creating solutions that empower her community.

Biographie

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Education and Early Career

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Majd Mashharawi studied engineering at the Islamic University of Gaza, where she was one of the few women in her field. Despite obstacles, including studying by candlelight during frequent power outages, she excelled academically. Her achievements earned her an Erasmus scholarship to study in Germany, but due to bureaucratic delays, she eventually opted for a visit to Japan. This exposure highlighted the potential of reliable, renewable energy sources, sparking her ambition to address Gaza’s energy crisis.

Entrepreneurship projects

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Sustainable Energy: The SunBox Project

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Mashharawi’s experience abroad inspired her to create SunBox in 2018, a solar-powered energy kit designed for Gaza’s power-deprived households. The SunBox includes a solar panel, generator, and battery, providing basic electricity for devices and small appliances, priced at around 300 euros. This innovation has significantly improved the lives of Gazan families by granting them consistent access to light, communication, and internet, which were previously unreliable due to daily power cuts. It can be used by multiple families at the sae time so it’s relatively an affordable solution but still pricey for palestinians that can’t have acces to work.

Construction Innovation: The Green Cake Project

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In 2015, Mashharawi also founded Green Cake, an eco-friendly brick made from local resources like ash and rubble. With construction materials scarce and expensive in Gaza, these bricks offer a cheaper, sustainable alternative for rebuilding homes and infrastructure, aiding Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.

TED Talk and International Recognition

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Mashharawi shared her story and vision for Gaza in a TED Talk, where she discussed the power of local solutions to global challenges. Her TED Talk, available on YouTube, has brought international awareness to the resilience and ingenuity of Gaza’s people. It reflects her belief that, despite severe limitations, communities can overcome adversity through innovation and self-reliance.

Sources

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Majd Mashharawi - TED Speaker. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/speakers/majd_mashhawari

How I'm making bricks out of ashes and rubble in Gaza. TED Talk by Majd Mashharawi. https://www.ted.com/talks/majd_mashharawi_how_i_m_making_bricks_out_of_ashes_and_rubble_in_gaza?language=en

Majd Mashharawi - Faces of Palestine Profile. Faces of Palestine. https://www.facesofpalestine.org/profiles/majd-mashharawi

SunBox - Founder and CEO Majd Mashharawi. MENACatalyst. https://www.menacatalyst.org/media-center/295.html

The ordinary women doing extraordinary things to build a sustainable future. Forbes, February 20, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattsymonds/2024/02/20/the-ordinary-women-doing-extraordinary-things-to-build-a-sustainable-future/

The Palestinian engineer using ashes and rubble to rebuild Gaza. The Guardian, July 4, 2018.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/audio/2018/jul/04/palestinian-engineer-ashes-rubble-gaza-podcast-small-changes-majd-mashharawi

BETD 18: Majd Mashharawi, Palestinian activist, founder of Sunbox, shares her inspiring solutions. BETD Podcast, December 22, 2020. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/betd-18-majd-mashharawi-palestinian-activist-founder/id1499623903?i=1000503246797

Majd Mashharawi (@MajdMashharawi) - X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/majdmashharawi

Majd Ismail Mashharawi (@majdmashharawi) - Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/majdmashharawi/

Science Stories: Majd Mashharawi. The Franklin Institute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4QCPsYpkBY

Inspiring Women with TED Talk speaker, Majd Mashharawi. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EpC-EDhcqw