Nadra Haddad

Lebanese poet and educator who founded the first girls' school in Beirut in 1927

Nadra Haddad (1902-1988) broke gender barriers in Lebanon by establishing the Madrassat al-Funun (School of Arts) in 1927, the first institution offering modern education to girls in Beirut. A poet and journalist, she used her writings to challenge patriarchal norms, publishing revolutionary essays like Women's Rights in Islamic Law (1935). Her school curriculum combined classical Arabic studies with Western sciences - a radical approach in conservative 1920s Beirut.

Despite facing opposition from religious authorities, Haddad trained over 5,000 female graduates who became teachers and professionals. Her poetry collection Between the Lines remains a feminist classic. The UNESCO honored her contributions to women's education in 2015. Her archives are preserved at the American University of Beirut's special collections.