Best friends of Lebanese descent inspire Arab women in the US to pursue higher education

The first-generation American-Lebanese best friends, Hannah Mackie and Lana Charara, put resources that allow other young women to use for college and help them figure out the degrees they want to pursue. Best friends of Lebanese descent inspire Arab women in the US to pursue higher education

Both founded the "Empowering Arab Women" initiative, inspired by the challenges they endured while applying to college after graduating high school. 

 

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Given that their parents did not have the opportunity to pursue a college education in the US, they could not offer their daughters much guidance on the topic because, as Arab women, specific careers are not also encouraged. 

"My parents didn't go to college, so when I wanted to go, I had to figure out the whole thing myself […] Picking a major, doing internships," Hannah told FOX 2. 

The two best friends had to figure out on their own, from admissions to career choice and decided to go to the University of Michigan and graduate with degrees in political science, with plans to go to law school. 

In 2019 the two created "Empowering Arab Women," an organization providing other young women in their community with resources, knowledge, and tools they need to navigate college and higher education. 

Lana and Hannah also started gaining attention on social media, with several Arab women around the US scheduling Zoom meetings and exchanging emails. 

"In recent years, you see a lot more women in this community seeking entrepreneurship, more going to school, and it sounds silly, but even girls getting married at later ages," Lana stated to FOX 2. 

The two young women now serve as mentors for Arab women who want to make a career in the US.