JEDDAH — Competent and ambitious Saudi women have become the norm in recent years as a new breed to talented and empowered women are shaping the direction of the ongoing reform. Noura Feteih, one such women making waves, comes from this population of inspirational women who seek to give back to their community and their country. Feteih shows this strong sense of dedication and national pride by participating in the reforms currently being witnessed in the Kingdom with the Saudi Vision 2030 road map setting out the path to progress. It is her support and effort in bringing awareness about environmental issues as she forges a dynamic and successful career that makes her as one of the standout persons. As an enterprising woman with a philanthropic heart, Feteih believes in self-empowerment that leads to a positive collective effort towards change. By using her skills, she is raising awareness in Saudi children about the environment, specifically global warming and pollution. Feteih's advocacy for global warming awareness is in the form of a children's book called Adam and The Giant. She explained the title saying "Adam is a metaphor for the human race, while the giant refers to global warming." The author focuses on involving millennial children in the discussions about global warming. And this she does by highlighting the ways in which they can make an impact and support environmental sustainability. She explained that it was her son, when he was a little boy, who inspired her to write the story and made her see that children are the best ambassadors for learning. The author stated that her book serves as a simple and enjoyable method of describing to kids the climate challenges that the world is currently facing, and at the same time, seeks to make them feel empowered by showing the ways in which they can help their families, society, and the world. The story teaches the younger generation that even small contributions like turning off the air conditioner when leaving the house can make a difference. Feteih believes that educating children on being mindful of conserving gas and energy goes a long way in helping them grow up with a new mindset. Feteih said, "I have always maintained the opinion that children naturally love to help and feel happy when they see themselves part of something great, just like us," adding, "a child can think [because of me, earth will become better]." That is where her desire to raise environmental awareness amongst children was born, and after nine months of hard work, with no prior experience, she released her first edition of the book in 2011, while the second edition was published in 2020. Simultaneously in 2020, an Arabic version of the same story was published alongside the English book in Riyadh and Jeddah stores. Feteih hopes that, by telling the story in both languages, her message would reach a wider audience of children. Feteih's next step on her journey of environmental advocacy is taking Adam and The Giant to the animation world. She stated, "I am currently working on looking for recruiting a production team of right people to give life to this amazing Saudi creation." Her dream is to see the film in local cinemas in Saudi Arabia and internationally. She noted that her passion for all of this is thanks to her parents who nurtured their children's creativity and instilled in them life lessons enabling them to persevere in the face of hardships when they set out to reach their dreams. Feteih's parents led by example and by becoming role models to their kids. "I am forever thankful to my parents, my siblings and my son for their continued support," she added. Feteih is a former child educator and received an Early Childhood Education bachelor certificate from Effat University and an International Relations Master's degree from Dar Al-Hikma. She is a Effat ambassador, and an alumni in both universities. She is grateful for growing up in a well-educated house surrounded by literature and creativity, and she is raising her son in the same way. Feteih loves an inquisitive mind and always encourages families to indulge their kids and satisfy their curiosity. "Even when you don't have an immediate reply, let your child know that you will learn the answer and get back to them," she said. Highlighting the values by which she lives and supports others around her, she added, "Broaden your mind. Always read, look, and learn. Open your eyes and see if there is anything you can make better, then do it." She connects this with her love for public speaking, which is her main passion, along with pitching creative ideas. This is evident from her words: "I believe I was created to make opportunities in the world, and by that I mean inspiration and collaborations". Enterprising entrepreneur Feteih expressed her strong desire to become a businesswoman and a CEO of her own pitching company in the future and marked the beginning of her journey by getting her company's domain name. She followed this with multiple courses in financing, public speaking, public relations, as well as leadership and sustainability. One of the best and most beneficial classes Feteih studied was the Business Accelerator program given by Emon Shakoor, who is the CEO and founder of Blossom Accelerator, Saudi Arabia's first female-focused and inclusive accelerator that offers programs and services to support entrepreneurs. Feteih also finished a public speaking Master class by MENA Speakers, the leading public speaking bureau in the Middle East in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This she addied to a Leadership and Sustainability course called SHE 2021 Leadership Program with the Swedish Institute. Another great step she is proud of was becoming a recent member of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham in KSA), which is a platform for American businesses to network and grow in Saudi Arabia. Proven commitment to inspire and collaborate Referring to her passion of philanthropy and giving back to her community, Feteih talked about Women Who Inspire, the collaborative book she co-authored with 25 inspiring women from 7 countries. The book is an amazing project produced by MENA Speakers in UAE. In her interview with Marie Claire Arabia, an urban magazine that empowers Arab women, Feteih stated that the book aims at inspiring women everywhere through sharing their motivational and inspiring stories of the authors. Feteih shared her boldness and thrill in shouldering challenges, "I always motivate and pull myself up with the power of the three Ps; passion, purpose and perseverance," she said while responding to queries about the secret of her success. In order to inspire strength in others, she believes that a person must prove themselves first before preaching to others. Feteih considers herself a supporter of collaboration and teamwork on all levels, and not just regarding environmental matters. She encourages Saudis to empower themselves and to reach for their dreams while working together towards a brighter future for the nation.
