Why We Exist
Every project we undertake connects back to our core beliefs.

With courage and innovation, Majal addresses issues that receive little or no attention: From rights of the invisible lower income migrant workers, to the stigmatized Middle East LGBTQ community, to those seeking to express dissent through music.

CrowdVoice.org CrowdVoice.by Mideast Tunes Migrant Rights Ahwaa.org Making of a Century
CrowdVoice.org CrowdVoice.by Mideast Tunes Migrant Rights Ahwaa.org Making of a Century
Local action became
Founded in Bahrain in 2006, Majal began as Mideast Youth, serving marginalized populations in the Middle East and North Africa. After a decade of local impact, credibility, and creativity, the scope of our work now goes well beyond the region, and we still have much more to do.
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A daring act
In Arabic and Farsi, Majal translates to "opportunity" or "to give way". In Hindi slang, it means daring or brave. When pronounced in Spanish, it’s “Mahal,” which in Tagalog means love. So in a word, Majal embodies what it is meant to be - a daring act of love that creates opportunities for people around the world.
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A remote team that's pretty close.
With team members and initiatives throughout the Middle East, India, Mexico, and beyond, we’ve scaled our projects to a broader, more global audience and rebranded as Majal in 2015 to reflect a renewed transnational positioning.
Esra'a Al Shafei
Founder & Director