Samah
Halwany

PhD Student and Consultant (social Inclusion and peacebuilding) and senior evaluator I’m currently on a journey to earn my Ph.D. in Special Pedagogy and Social Inclusion in Italy, building upon my earlier studies in the Sociology of Conflicts and International Security from Institut Catholique de Paris, as well as Local Community Development from the Lebanese University-Social Sciences Faculty of Beirut. My fieldwork guided me to bring real-life experiences from those I have met while working with communities, groups, women, youth, and children affected by war and displacement into my research. For nearly two decades, I’ve worked in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, and Turkey, leading projects, providing training, and consulting on peace education, protection, and community development. My focus has been on supporting NGOs, social movements advocating for women, refugees, displaced individuals, and families of the disappeared, as well as municipalities, particularly in conflict zones and areas experiencing economic and political crises. In my work, I passionately engage in strategic planning, policy analysis, and crafting educational programs that focus on peacebuilding, diversity, and social-inclusive processes. Additionally, I have hands-on experience in project evaluation, which allows me to ensure that programs are not just effective but truly resonate with and truly serve the people they aim to support. I have been residing in Gaziantep, Turkey, for the past three years to finalize my field research while maintaining connections to Lebanon and Italy. Living and working in different places has given me deeper insight into how social policies, life experiences, personal dispositions shape people's lives. Throughout this journey, I have come to understand where to stand in defending human diversity—not because of the social capital earned by humans but simply because of their inherent dignity and value. A final note: I speak four languages—Arabic, English, French, and Italian—and I deeply enjoy cultural exchanges, sharing experiences, and embracing the moments that daily life has to offer.