Our Team
At MECI, our strength is our people, from visionary leadership to dedicated local staff working in classrooms and communities every day. Together, we are united by one mission: to bring hope, education, and healing to children and women across the Middle East.
Lola Nashashibi Grace — Founder & Executive Chair
Lola Nashashibi Grace is a venture philanthropist and community leader who founded MECI in 2005 to bring hope and healing to the lives of children and women in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East.
Her career spans investment banking, asset management, and philanthropy, where she has held leadership roles while championing initiatives in science, health, and education. She serves on the Advisory Board of Citi Private Bank EMEA and is an Honorary Trustee of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a world-leading genetic and cancer research institute.
Lola also founded the Women in Science project for the Center for Integrated Genetics at the University of Lausanne and is co-founder of the Impact Cancer Foundation, further extending her commitment to advancing innovation in health and education.
She holds BA, MA, and MBA degrees from Stanford University, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Women Moving Millions, and has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Lola speaks four languages and is the mother of five children.
Lina Farouqi — Jordan Representative
With over 30 years in educational and nonprofit leadership in Jordan, Lina led MECI’s regional operations, expanding access to education for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian children in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education.
Lara Bouchedid — Director of Operations and Development, Switzerland
Lara brings over 15 years of international corporate and nonprofit experience, combining expertise in FMCG and pharma multinationals with humanitarian work at Medair, a Swiss-based relief organization. At MECI, she drives operations and outreach, with a strong focus on education and women’s empowerment.
Salah Daraghmeh — Program Director, Palestine
With more than 20 years of humanitarian leadership across MENA, South Asia, and Africa, Salah brings expertise from organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières. A former teacher with an MBA, he is passionate about child development and women’s empowerment.