The LAU-MEPI
Leaders for Democracy Fellowship
Arabic Program

Mrs. Randa Yassir

Mrs. Randa Yassir, an advocacy and media specialist, volunteered to raise awareness for women and men about gender equality. She believed in her role as a journalist since 1997 to promote social causes, especially those related to women, youth and children’s rights, through traditional and social media. She worked more than 15 years as an editor, anchor, journalist and consultant in the fields of media, communication, advocacy, training and projects design and management. Joined the team of the United Nations Information Center (UNIC), after which she dedicated all her time for directing a Civil Society Organization (CSO) that she established back in 2007 SMART Center for Media and Advocacy (www.smartcenter.me), which directed during the past three years at least half a million US dollar grants from MEPI and US Embassy funds. She still enjoys providing training sessions and workshops for professionals and beneficiaries in rural areas. As a believer of the role of women in politics and decision making she ran for 2013 parliamentary elections and kept on supporting many women candidates and leaders through different projects implemented by SMART Center in Lebanon and MENA region. She also supports and participates in different strategy and action plans for democratic elections in Lebanon and Arab world. Mrs. Yassir has a BA in Journalism and her recent diplomas were achieved from USA , France, the Netherlands, and Jordan. She founded and has been board member and executive manager for different Lebanese NGOs. She was elected vice president of MEPI-LAA (2011-2014) and re-elected as board member for the present MEPI-LAA board (till 2017). She is proud to be an LDF 2011 Alumna (USA program). She represented her country and participated in many local, regional and international conventions, trainings and conferences.