Haneen Abo Soad

Haneen, 24, studied secretarial skills at Al-Aqsa University, but then got married at the age of 19–too young, she says–and quickly had two children. Thus, Haneen wants to dedicate her writing to empowering other young women to be strong and stand for themselves. She "feeds her soul" by writing, and dreams of being free one day to be her own person. "Life is too short, so live each day as if it was your last," she believes. Haneen hopes to travel to somewhere where she can be "crazy"–dancing in the street and singing on the beach. That may not be crazy in some countries, but it is in Gaza!