The European Union is a strong promoter of the importance of Skills, which are especially relevant in today’s market. Through a number of initiatives, the EU supports young women and men across the Southern Neighbourhood to develop their competences and secure a promising future. In this Flashback series, we speak to individuals who benefited from these projects. Today, they reflect on the positive impact this EU support has had on their life.

Determined and creative, Nadine Hasan Abu Tuhaimer used her experience with the Irbid’s FabLab to hone her skills as an innovator and digital fabrication specialist. The young Jordanian recently launched her own start up, Menalab, where she empowers individuals with practical design skills, offering them the knowledge and tools to bring their creative visions to life.

When you embarked on this journey, what were your dreams?

When I joined Jordan Start, I was two years fresh out of college, with a background in computer engineering and a passion for hardware. I had big dreams of bringing the software and hardware worlds together, through embedded systems engineering. But as you can imagine, it was not a very common field in Jordan. So, when I discovered Irbid’s Fab Lab through Shamal Start, I knew I had found the avenue to turn my passion into reality.

The real turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being part of the Fab Lab meant that we were able to use our tools and knowledge to make a positive impact, which was more than I could have hoped for.

What skills did you gain through the EU-funded Luminus Jordan Start [formerly Shamal Start] and how did they help you advance your dreams?

The EU-funded Shamal Start project was transformative for me on many fronts. First, it provided me with access to cutting-edge technologies that I had only read about or seen online! This project was a real catalyst for my personal and career growth. With all the collaborative experiences I had, I expanded my professional horizons and mindset greatly. Working and interacting with individuals from many different backgrounds, countries, and cultures, I learned to be more open-minded and flexible in my work.

With Shamal Start, I also felt backed up and deeply supported. I learned to believe that, if I had a viable idea capable of creating value for customers, I had true potential to make a change and chart my own path. I learned to become innovative and entrepreneurial, which eventually led me to launch my own start-up!

Today, what is your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement, without a doubt, is the lasting impact we’ve had on the younger generation. We managed to instill in them the idea that they can become producers and problem solvers and not just consumers.

We have helped them realise their abilities and provided them with a place to explore technical fields they might have never considered before. This is especially true for women; before Shamal Start, it was a rare sight to find women in manufacturing. But this completely changed with the Fab Labs. 

I would say that this impact is both profound and difficult to evaluate because it builds up through a ripple effect. When you educate one person, they, in turn, educate many more. This creates a continuous wave of positive change, coming from the seeds we planted four years ago.

Flashback to: https://south.euneighbours.eu/story/jordanian-innovators-breathe-hope-back-covid-19-stricken-world/