Touria Benlafqih

Founder and CEO, EMPEOPLE. She focuses on the role of youth in poverty reduction and social inclusion in Africa. She has been involved with social entrepreneurship and empowerment of youth and women for the past 12 years. Working with non-profit organizations as a volunteer, a professional and a consultant, with over 6 years of focus on youth employability to solve one of the biggest issues of Africa: unemployment. In 2015, she created SIDE, Social Impact and Development Employment, a social business focused on youth unemployment. In 2016, she founded EMPEOPLE, that stands for Empower People. She worked on women empowerment, education, youth engagement in public affairs, rural development, and oasis preservation, to finally focus her energy on youth empowerment. Former Program Director of Enactus Morocco. Previously, she was the administrative and financial assistant of project conducted by the UNDP, related to Climate Change Adaptation in Oasis Areas in Morocco.