Loris is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Birzeit University-Palestine and is a youth volunteer and Board member at the East Jerusalem YMCA. Loris found her passion for community service at an early age; her family were involved in the YMCA community, and she joined YMCA summer camps as a child. Loris also joined the Scouts Movement, eventually became a guide leader and took part in the Scouts’ Council in First Ramallah Group. She remains part of the YWCA youth group in the city of Ramallah, volunteering when needed. Loris was so involved in the summer camps, she is now a summer camp leader, coordinating learning and games activities for children aged 5-13 where she aims to create a safe space for children and youth.

Loris is a graduated Change Agent of the World YMCA Change Agent Programme, a global leadership development scheme to empower young leaders as change makers in their own communities. This exposure gave Loris a wider experience on leading and supporting fellow young people which has encouraged her to reach her limits and help others find theirs. As a member of the YMCA COVID-19 Change Agent response team, Loris helped to design and edit the Change Agent lockdown cookbook which aimed to bring the Change Agents together through the confusing period at the start of the pandemic and give an inside look at the various cuisine seasoned with different cultures.

Loris participated in the YMCA Youth-Led Solutions Initiative on Climate Change. Working with a group of young volunteers from East Jerusalem YMCA, they developed BrinGreen, which aims to create micro-green spaces across the cities of Ramallah and BeitSahour in Palestine. The project was one of six youth-led projects that premiered at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. Her belief in the importance of involving young people in the topics and issues happening all around the world, led to Loris becoming one of the directors of the first East Jerusalem-YMCA Model United Nations conference (EJ-YMUN).

Loris now co-leads the East Jerusalem YMCA’s children’s community project, working with children who have been affected by the pandemic, coordinating fun activities and skills building. Outside of her volunteering work, Loris is a keen musician and is learning to play the viola!