She considers herself an artist and a humanitarian. However, when Kinda Hibrawi ’96 began Zeitouna, she became a woman of all trades.

In 2013, after a Greek museum made budgetary cuts and cancelled an exhibit of her paintings, Ms. Hibrawi co-founded Zeitouna, a program of creative workshops for refugee children in Syria and Turkey. During these weeklong periods, she and her team use art, sports, and creative writing to help these children heal from the wounds of being torn away from their homes and forced to grow up in a refugee camp.

How and when did you come up with the idea for Zeitouna?
It’s an interesting story where, out of despair, comes hope. I came across a documentary on HBO called “Sing your Song,” a biography of Harry Belafonte. I had no idea of his philanthropic work, the things he did for Africa, and the awareness he brought. I remember being so inspired at the end of it and thinking, “Why isn’t anyone bringing this awareness to Syria?”

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