Collective Resilience and Healing.

en.v is excited to partner with the Wellbeing Project to host Kuwait’s first Regional Hearth Summit!

Across the world, we are all feeling the weight of conflict, economic instability, and climate change, and their effects on our physical and mental wellbeing. In our communities in the Middle East, we feel these challenges in uniquely profound ways, making the call for regenerative systems and collective care more urgent than ever. The Hearth Summit Kuwait 2025 will gather current and aspiring changemakers across sectors - including civil society, education, business, the arts, philanthropy, and public institutions - to forge a shared vision for a future built on resilience, transformative renewal, and mutual support. By drawing on our collective wisdom and our diverse heritage, rituals, and practices, we will explore how we can come together across differences to nurture a more compassionate, sustainable tomorrow.

Join us over three days (December 4-6, 2025) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) as we critically reflect, imagine solutions, and foster collaboration among changemakers invested in building more united, compassionate, and resilient societies where everyone can thrive. This year, we’ll be exploring themes related to ecological belonging, intergenerational healing, and art for connection. We’re so excited to learn, create, and play together!

Because of our limited capacity, and our goal to ensure a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative space, you must first complete our Express Your Interest Form. If selected, you’ll receive a code to confirm your spot and purchase your ticket.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST

Our Guiding Principles

- Dialogue and healing are the foundation on which we can build collective resilience.

- A rich, diverse cultural tapestry empowers us all.

- Embracing regenerative practices paves the way for sustainable transformation.

- Recognizing our interdependence is a crucial step to foster solidarity and collective care.

We envision a space where we

We Critically Reflect: explore the root causes of social and environmental crises within our unique regional context.

We Imagine Solutions: co-create sustainable, resilient, and interconnected communities.

We Foster Collaboration: engage in collective sense-making and meaningful dialogue that bridges divides and builds trust.

A collective sense-making approach

Collective sense-making is about creating spaces that allow for negotiated meaning. By sharing stories to articulate what things mean to us, we create the connectivity that allows us to work together, have empathy, and build bridges between people and communities.

At the Hearth Summit Kuwait, the sessions will be co-designed with and facilitated by practitioners and leaders from across the region, and will focus on collaboratively understanding, building shared narratives, and finding common ground around the following themes:

Main themes

Ecological Belonging - Deepening our understanding of the intricate connections between ourselves, each other, and our ecosystems

Intergenerational Healing - Addressing and transforming the traumas passed down through generations, breaking cycles of harm, and strengthening bonds.

Art for Connection - Honoring the power that art has to:

  • Convey complex ideas in accessible ways, thus enabling the
    cognitive/emotional processes that help with mindset shifts.

  • Foster meaningful and transformative connections between
    people from different walks of life while they build and create
    things together.

  • Increase our knowledge and understanding of cultural heritage and traditions.

Hearth Summit Kuwait 2025 Schedule

Our Speakers & Facilitators

  • Artist, writer, filmmaker

    Zahra Al-Mahdi (1989) is an artist, writer, musician, comedian, and filmmaker from Kuwait. She is known for collage work using ink sketches layered over photographs, animation on live action, and installations that deal with dissected anatomical figures. Her more notable works are her debut graphic novel titled We, The Borrowed (2016), an online mockumentary miniseries titled Bird Watch (2017), and the online series "Haltooma" (rant) on social media platforms.

  • Professor, Intergenerational Trauma Specialist

    Dr. Mays Imad is a neuroscientist and an expert on trauma-informed teaching and learning. She passionately advocates for institutions to make mental health a top priority and to systematically support the education of the whole student. An associate professor at Connecticut College, Dr. Imad is interested in understanding the social determinants of student well-being and success, and conducts research on emotions, biofeedback, learning, and pedagogy. Her work reflects a deep commitment to justice in and through education. With fervor, she advocates for institutions to pay close attention to trauma and to prioritize healing, repair, and intergenerational well-being. 

    Her academic journey began at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where she pursued philosophy and minored in chemistry. She earned a doctoral degree in cellular and clinical neurobiology, with a minor in biomedical engineering sciences, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona's Department of Neuroscience, she joined Pima Community College (PCC), teaching a variety of biology-related subjects. During her tenure at PCC, she founded its Teaching & Learning Center.
    She is also a content curator and Advisory Board member at The Wellbeing Project. 

    Outside of the classroom, Dr. Imad works with faculty members across disciplines at her own institution and across the US to promote inclusive, equitable, and contextual education—all rooted in the latest research on the neurobiology of learning.

  • Doctoral Candidate in Counseling Psychology and Drama Therapist

    Fatmah Al-Qadfan is a Kuwaiti Drama Therapist and Fulbright alumna. She holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Post-Traumatic Stress Studies. Currently, she is completing her PhD in Counseling Psychology at Auburn University. Her TEDx talk, "Finding Drama Therapy and Bringing It Home," is available online. Fatmah is deeply passionate about enhancing mental health services and eating disorder treatment for Arab women, with a focus on culturally responsive care.

  • Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies

    Dr. Fahed Al-Sumait is an Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the American University of Kuwait whose research focuses on strategic and political communication, intercultural studies, and digital inequalities with a concentration on Kuwait and the Arabian Peninsula. He has served as a research fellow with the Fulbright-Hays program, the National University of Singapore, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Dr. Al-Sumait is a Past President and current board member of the Association for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies. He holds an MA from the University of New Mexico and a PhD from the University of Washington, both in Communication.

  • Artist, architect, and art educational expert

    Dr. Jawaher Al Bader is an artist, architect, and art educational expert in studio-based instruction. She has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Art Education with a specialization in Studio Environments, an MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute and undergraduate degrees, BArch and BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

    Al Bader is also a former faculty member at Kuwait University, where she taught at both the Department of Visual Communication Design and College of Architecture, for over 23 years. She is also the visionary behind Art Studio Kuwait, a communal space that fosters artistic exploration and creation. This studio serves not only as a hub for creatives but as a catalyst for Al Bader's own artistic journey.

    Al Bader’s multi-media art practice is embedded in daily acts, bridging boundaries between all aspects of life and disciplines through an Arts-based existence. Her paintings are intimate reflections of her environment that intricately weave color, paint, and movement to evoke presence.

  • Mediamaker and Maritime Archaeologist

    Talal Al-Muhanna was born in Kuwait and raised in the U.S. and U.K. After earning an MA in Film & Moving Image Production (UK), he produced films for TV and cinema. Since 2017, he has also produced artistic programs at JACC, including Memoirs of a Sailor. Talal is currently pursuing an MA in Global Maritime Archaeology at the University of Malta. He organized Project 3D-Q8 the first underwater archaeology forum in Kuwait in 2025 (underwaterkuwait.com).

  • Founder of School of Systems and Complexity

    Pedro Portela is an aerospace engineer turned organizational consultant and educator. He founded the School of Systems & Complexity, where he explores how systems thinking, resilience engineering, and relational governance can help teams and networks act effectively in complex environments. His work bridges corporate innovation, peacebuilding, and social change.

  • Assistant Professor Earth & Environmental Science, Kuwait University

    Reem Alawadhi is an assistant professor in the Earth and Environmental Science department at Kuwait University. She received her PhD in Environmental Science & Policy from University of New York and her Master's from John's Hopkins University. She has a certificate in Advanced Studies in Sustainable Enterprise. Her reaserch intrests involve understanding environmental citizenship, environmental justice issues in Kuwait, and developing environmental policies in the GCC.

  • Psychotherapist, Certified Grief Educator, & Founder of She is Fierce

    Dr. Ayesha Kamal is a Psychotherapist, Certified Grief Educator, and Founder of She is Fierce. She adopts a culturally-sensitive therapeutic lens and draws from her own life experiences to help people navigate the nuances of societal and family expectations to develop one's sense of self and belonging. She has a special interest in Women's Health, particularly at the intersections of mental health, physical health, and the long-term psychological effects of abuse and neglect. At the Hearth Summit Kuwait, she invites us to explore the many ways in which we can develop a stronger sense of self, safety, belonging, and connection.

  • Certified Life Coach

    With 30 years in leadership and board roles, Fawzi Almusallam has a strong background in strategy and organizational restructuring. He is passionate about helping others reach their potential through mentoring and coaching.

  • Somatic practitioner, organizer, and writer

    Zeena Ismail works at the intersection of trauma resolution, nervous system repair, and grassroot systemic change. Supporting individuals and communities to shift from survival patterns into greater choice, agency, and connection. She roots in the belief that personal transformation and collective liberation are inseparable, and her work is here to remind people of their inherent possibility and move towards what they deeply care about, beyond protective strategies and outside the limits carved by dominant systems.

  • Architect, textile artist

    Born in Kuwait in 1988, Mishari AlNajjar is a textile artist and practicing architect at Babnimnim design studio. His work has been exhibited across the Gulf and supported by institutions such as Sadu House, Misk Art Institute. As co-founder of Innarrative (2017) an exploratory platform that further explores his field of research and injects storytelling into architecture, he collaborates with Sara Abdulla on workshops and research exploring storytelling within architecture across the GCC.

  • Assistant Professor of English Literature at GUST

    Dr. Nour Dakkak is interested in how literature shapes and reflects our understanding of landscapes and the more-than-human world. Her work on environmental humanities draws on neo-materialist and ecological perspectives to ask how writing, places, and matter intertwine.

  • Visual artist, curator and educator

    Through painting, drawing, video and sound, she reflects on the interactions of people with land and landscape. She received an MFA in Art from the California Institute of the Arts and a BFA in Fine Arts with honors from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

  • Writer and academic

    Dr. Mai Al-Nakib is author of the novel, An Unlasting Home, and the award-winning collection of short stories, The Hidden Light of Objects. She taught English and Comparative Literature as an Associate Professor at Kuwait University for twenty years. Her academic research, short stories, poetry, and occasional essays have appeared in numerous publications. She lives and writes in Kuwait.

  • Highschool Student & Founder of the Kuwait Autism Initiative

    A student who has spent the past decade navigating various educational systems in Kuwait, Joudy is passionate about building inclusive, safe, and supportive school communities for everyone. This passion inspired her to found the Kuwait Autism Initiative in 2024, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding. Its goal is not only to educate but also to provide support for students who may feel out of place in their schools.

  • Culturologist and Manager

    Ksenia Graovac is a Culturologist and a Manager of Promenade Culture Centre. For over twenty years, she has been involved with community building through arts and culture. Ksenia's educational background in cultural management and diplomacy help her shape programmes that involve the community, while envisaging creative spaces for artists and those interested in positive social change.


  • Researcher, Storyteller & Advocate


    Lynn is a researcher and creative whose work blends research and art to explore how communities heal, connect, and imagine change. Through storytelling, sound, and participatory design, she explores how people make sense of care, migration, and belonging. Her work weaves research and creativity into acts of listening, dialogue, and transformation.


  • Facilitator, storyteller, and community builder

    Fatemah Ashkanani is a facilitator, storyteller, and community builder dedicated to fostering connection through culture, dialogue, and creative expression. As the Alumni Coordinator at the American University of Kuwait, she leads initiatives that celebrate alumni achievements and strengthen lifelong engagement. Beyond her university role, she facilitates youth programs with en.v, LOYAC, and Enbat—KIPCO’s flagship career readiness program—where she guides emerging changemakers in social entrepreneurship, leadership, and purpose-driven impact. Drawing from her background in media, PR, and social impact, Fatemah’s work bridges storytelling and community building to create spaces where empathy, collaboration, and creativity can thrive.

  • Operations Manager & Community Host

    Operations Manager at en.v, Khadija creates spaces where food, stories, and traditions bring people closer together and spark social change. At the Hearth Summit Kuwait 2025, she will host Namak, a communal eating experience exploring how breaking bread together can become an act of connection and reflection.

  • Professor of Practice & co-facilitator of Equity Unbound


    Maha Bali is Professor of Practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at the American University in Cairo. She has a PhD in Education from the University of Sheffield, UK. She is co-founder of virtuallyconnecting.org (a grassroots movement that challenges academic gatekeeping at conferences) and co-facilitator of Equity Unbound (an equity-focused, open, connected intercultural learning curriculum, which has also branched into academic community activities Continuity with Care, Socially Just Academia, a collaboration with OneHE: Community-building Resources and MYFest, an innovative 3-month professional learning journey). She writes and speaks frequently about social justice, critical pedagogy, and open and online education.

  • Artist and educator

    Fatema (founder of Arttt Addiction) is an artist and educator. Her approach to education emphasizes integrative learning, inspiring creativity, fostering holistic development and empowering communities.

  • Nudge Club Facilitator & Coordinator

    Maryam is a homemaker passionate about education reform. She is a key member of the Nudge Club, and helps create safe and empowering spaces for teachers and students.

  • Nudge Club Facilitator & Coordinator

    Alongside her full-time role as an Executive Assistant at Warba Insurance, she volunteers with Nudge Club, where she helps with outreach and facilitates wellbeing-centered sessions for students and teachers.

  • Layan Al Dabt (RYT500) teaches Hatha and Restorative yoga with advanced adjustment therapy, and over 2,500 hours of experience between Kuwait and India. With roots in social inquiry and design, she approaches yoga as a way to reclaim agency and deepen self and systems awareness. In her classes, she explores the interplay between physical movement and mental patterns, with clear alignment and somatic cues, individualized adjustments, and a range of props that invite fuller engagement with the practice. 

*Our list is growing! So stay tuned as we will keep updating this section with more speakers & facilitators.

Hearth Summits Happening in 2025!

FAQ


What is the Wellbeing Project?

The Wellbeing Project is the global leader in researching and advocating for the wellbeing of changemakers, and for wellbeing in changemaking. Co-created with Ashoka, Georgetown University, Impact Hub, Porticus, Skoll Foundation and Synergos, The Wellbeing Project is a network of more than 1,200 organisations dedicated to:

  • Strengthening the research case for centering wellbeing in social development 

  • Connecting a growing network of organizations building a culture of wellbeing

  • Accelerating the growth of wellbeing initiatives around the world

  • Convening Summits at the intersection of inner, organizational, societal and planetary wellbeing

  • Mainstreaming a wellbeing and social impact narrative

What is a Hearth Summit?

Every few years, the Wellbeing Project hosts a Global Hearth Summit. This award-winning, three-day gathering brings together 1,000+ changemakers to advance a hopeful vision of individual, collective and ecological wellbeing for all.

Regional Hearth Summits are smaller versions of the global event, hosted by local communities of changemakers who want to explore and embrace the wellbeing for social impact movement in their own countries. They offer deep conversations, immersive arts experiences, hands-on workshops, cultural activities, and much more.

What are the ticket prices for Hearth Summit Kuwait 2025?

Tickets for the Hearth Summit Kuwait 2025 are available at the following rates:

  • Early Bird: 70 KWD (from 1–31 October 2025)

  • Regular Rate: 80 KWD (from 1–27 November 2025)

This rate helps us cover costs related to the event and make it sustainable. However, if cost is a concern we warmly encourage you to let us know in the registration form. We’re committed to keeping the event accessible for everyone, and we’re offering flexible pricing options to help make that possible.

What is included in the price of my ticket?

Each ticket covers your cost of entry for all three days of the summit including dinner on launch day (04 December), all workshops and summit-related events, and helps support the ongoing work of our team and network. Food and drink on 05 & 06 December are not included in the ticket price, but both will be available for purchase at the event.

What do I do if I can’t afford a ticket?

We never want cost to be the reason someone misses out on being part of our community. If the ticket price feels out of reach, please reach out to us at env@envearth.com. We have a limited number of discounted and sponsored tickets and will do our best to make sure everyone is able to join us.

What if I can only come for one day? Do I still need to buy a ticket?

The Summit is designed as a three-day immersive journey, with each day building upon the last. We encourage participants to attend the full experience, as the program is intentionally crafted to foster deep learning, connection, and transformation over time. Single-day passes are not available.

Can I invite my friends or colleagues?

Due to our space limitations and in the interest of creating a diverse, collaborative, and safe space, we ask that individuals first express their interest in attending Hearth Summit Kuwait. If invited to attend, individuals will receive a link to register and purchase their ticket. We invite you to share our Express Your Interest form with your friends, colleagues, and anyone else you think would be interested in exploring personal and collective wellbeing.


Do I need to prepare or bring anything with me?

No preparation is needed to participate! We invite you to bring an open heart, a spirit of curiosity, and whatever helps you feel comfortable—whether that’s a notebook, a water bottle, or simply yourself just as you are.

OUR PARTNERS