Nabil Idris Sub Laban/Palestine: Academic, Educator, and Community Activist.

12 October 2026 

Youssef Hajjar has stepped down following a journey of giving and achievements in the intellectual and educational spheres. He is a friend, a teacher, and he is inspiring. He is a man whose face is always lit by a smile. His words are warm, and his intellect is keen.

My acquaintance with him dates back to the early 1990s, stemming from our collaborative work for the interest of children and early childhood development under the umbrella of the Arab Resource Collective (ARC) of which the late Youssef was a co-founder. Most of our encounters took place in Cyprus, and we would meet once or twice a year within ARC workshops. Those meetings developed creative progressive visions and content regarding child care, growth, and development in the Arab world through the distinguished educational and national figures involved. Our last meeting was eight years ago in Amman.

May your soul rest in peace, Youssef. Your memory and your educational and intellectual legacy will remain alive within us.