Opening career paths with AI
In a region full of talent but often short on clear paths, Safaa Ayyad, a Palestinian entrepreneur, knows first hand how easily ambition can stall. Determined to change that, she is using artificial intelligence to guide young people toward their next steps, particularly young women. To make this vision real, she co-founded Foras.psĀ , a platform that brings internships, scholarships, and other career opportunities into one place while helping users build the skills and confidence to pursue them.
The idea for Foras.ps grew from Safaaās own experiences navigating an environment where information is scattered and networks are hard to access. Rather than building a conventional job platform, she wanted a space where opportunity comes with support. The platform combines digital tools with shared activities, allowing young people to connect, learn from one another, and gain confidence as they explore career paths.
That emphasis on support takes shape in capacity building, where Safaaās vision comes alive. Through partnerships with NGOs and organisations in Palestine and beyond, Foras.ps delivers training designed to meet real labour-market needs.
However, the platform goes further. Safaa has made breaking gender barriers a central focus, partnering with organisations that reach women in rural areas and help them gain digital skills for remote work ā opening doors that might otherwise have stayed closed and giving women a chance to shape their own futures.
As the platform grew in reach and impact, Safaaās approach received regional recognition. In 2025, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) awarded her under its Women in AI initiative, supporting women-led innovation in artificial intelligence. Her story shows that when technology is guided by personal experience and social purpose, it can move beyond tools to become a driver of inclusion, skills, and opportunity across the region.
