International Series - MENA Initiative

In the final episode of our international mini-series, we spotlight the student perspective through a powerful conversation with Reine and Leo—outgoing and incoming board members of the MENA Initiative at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. They share their experiences, the successes of organizing student-led events, and the realities of balancing activism with academic life—perspectives we believe deserve a seat at the table.

This episode also reflects on our own journey. Back in Season 1, Episode 19 – “Let’s Talk Protests,” we discussed student-led demonstrations with the limited knowledge we had at the time. Today, we know that 97% of student-led pro-Palestine demonstrations remain peaceful (ACLED report). While we are not journalists, we are individuals with a platform—and when we learn better, we strive to do better.

Throughout this series, we’ve explored three entry points into activism and politics:

1️⃣ Grassroots organizing

2️⃣ Political activism

3️⃣ Student initiatives

Each offers a unique lens into building a just and inclusive future. We wish this conversation could have been longer, as there was so much more to unpack, but we hope you enjoyed listening.

If these discussions make you uncomfortable, we invite you to lean in. Dialogue over debate helps us humanize rather than demonize—even when we disagree. Because at the end of the day, we all deserve better!

✨ Stay tuned for Season 2 next month! We’ve got big changes ahead! Join us on Patreon for early access to episodes, community Zoom calls, and exclusive one-on-one sessions with Amira and Ibrahim.

Follow us on Instagram: @⁠⁠thirdnarrative⁠⁠ 

Subscribe to us on Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThirdNarrative⁠ ⁠

For more info on Third Narrative, visit our ⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠uttn.net⁠

Thank you for supporting this work and community!

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on May 6th, 2025. The facts presented in this episode reflect what was known at the time, but new information may have since come to light. Similarly, the opinions expressed by the hosts were shaped by our perspectives at the time of recording and may have evolved as events unfolded. Please note that engagement with our guests does not imply endorsement, and the views expressed by our guests do not necessarily represent our beliefs, either on or off our platform. What has not changed is our commitment to a just and united future, because we all deserve better.