Aya Dowara is a cultural, art and communication activist, a passionate filmmaker, Project Manager at EUNIC (EU National Institutes of Culture) and the Executive Director of Sard.
During 2020 and 2021, Aya worked as a cultural consultant with Nahdet El Mahrousa ‘Al Garage’ Incubator, working with 12 art and cultural start-ups providing them with cultural management consultations, technical know-how and resources at various stages of their development.
Aya used to be the Cultural Specialist at the US Embassy in Cairo Egypt, Public Affairs Office for 10 years (2010-2019) managing the Embassy’s portfolios of film, entrepreneurship, sports, gender, urban development and youth focused programs.
Prior to joining the U.S. Embassy, Aya worked as a Program Assistant at UNDP, Media and Civil Society sector, Human Rights Capacity Building Project in Egypt from July 2009 to June 2010. She also worked as a Journalist at Youm ElSabea Newspaper for two years.
Aya is an active member in civil society and development field; she cofounded aftermath 2011 revolution Qestas organization for Peace, Development and Human Rights which works on wide range of activities and youth capacity building programs especially in the fields of cultural management, refugees programs, and women’s empowerment. She participated in 2017 as a researcher on Skills Analysis of Syrian Refugees in Egypt study aiming at improving livelihoods opportunities for Syrian refugees living in Egypt with Save the Children Egypt.
Aya holds a Master’s degree in Euro Mediterranean Studies and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University.
Aya used to be professional athlete; she played taekwondo for 10 years.
