Hind Ouakili

A Moroccan social entrepreneur who revolutionized education access for refugees through innovative schooling models

Founder of Wattan International School

Hind Ouakili (born 1986) is a Moroccan social entrepreneur and founder of Wattan International School, an innovative educational initiative providing free education to refugee children across multiple countries. Operating in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, her schools have served over 10,000 displaced children since 2016. Wattan's official website highlights their unique 'school-in-a-box' model that combines traditional learning with digital platforms.

Innovative Education Models

Ouakili's approach integrates local cultural values with global educational standards, using bilingual curricula (Arabic/English) and technology-enhanced learning. The schools employ Syrian and Iraqi teachers, creating job opportunities while maintaining cultural continuity. Her TED Talk explains how education can be a bridge for refugee integration.

Impact and Expansion

By 2022, Wattan schools had achieved 95% attendance rates among refugee families, with 80% of students advancing to national education systems. The model has inspired similar initiatives in Kenya and Bangladesh. Ouakili's work was recognized by the Varkey Foundation as Global Teacher Prize nominee in 2020.