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Fatima Azzahra Benfares

Program Director, Lead Morocco
Fatima Azzahra is a young architect, social innovator, and visionary leader committed to challenging norms, empowering Morocco's next generation, and promoting equitable opportunities. With over eight years of experience in designing impactful non-profit initiatives, she has built a strong track record. Since she co-led the creation of LEAD Morocco as program director in 2019, a Moroccan non-profit organization that is part of the global network LEAD Edu. She has used design thinking to expand LEAD Leadership and Football Academy, a program blending quality education with elite sports training to foster leadership, teamwork, and confidence in underserved children.Fatima pioneered SHE PLAYS FOOTBALL, an initiative combining football, capacity building, and leadership for young female players and coaches, focusing on remote areas. She also co-launched Amplify, a program teaching leadership, advocacy, and social impact skills to youth, fostering a culture of active citizenship. Her collaborations with the Moroccan Ministry of Education and Sport, the U.S. Embassy, and GIZ Morocco ensure impactful programming and sustainable community development.A Mohammed VI Foundation scholar, she holds degrees from the National School of Architecture in Rabat (ENA), the University of Connecticut in Social Entrepreneurship, and a certification in Innovation and Social Change from UPEACE, the UN-mandated university.