Baha Jarrar’s story with “Foras Khadra”

From a moment of awareness to leading change

I’m Baha Jarrar.

My journey in climate work didn’t start with a clear plan.

It started with a shocking moment that reshaped how I see the world.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, I read many reports comparing life before and during the pandemic. Scientists pointed out that “the Earth is breathing” as pollution levels dropped.

That’s when I realized human impact on this planet isn’t small, like I used to think. It’s deep, fast, and changeable.

That wasn’t just information.

It was a wake-up moment.

Back then, I was like many young people:

• I wanted to be part of something bigger.
• But I didn’t know the path.

I followed, read, and admired global climate initiatives.

But inside, I kept repeating:

“This matters… but it’s not my place.”

I thought this path needed people who were ready from the start.

But the truth that changed everything was simple:

• Opportunities don’t always choose the smartest.
• They choose the most prepared.
• And preparation is built, not given.

From there, my decision changed.

I didn’t want to stay a follower. I wanted to be someone who acts.

I stopped waiting for an opportunity, and started preparing myself for it.

My first real step was choosing to continue my higher studies in sustainability, because I believe knowledge is the base of any real, lasting change.

With each step, my path started to form — not just as someone interested, but as someone creating impact.

Someone trying to connect youth to opportunities, and turn interest into action.

Today, my journey is still at the beginning.

But I’m sure that change doesn’t require you to be fully ready — only ready to start.

Because every honest step toward change creates real impact.

The beginning: a small step that shaped the path

I joined as a volunteer in the Palestine team within Foras Khadra.

No title. No big experience. No guarantees.

The tasks were simple:

• Tracking environmental opportunities and scholarships
• Organizing content
• Documenting information
• Supporting team coordination

But the feeling wasn’t simple.

For the first time, I felt I wasn’t wasting my time.

I was building something — even if it was small.

And here I learned something important:

Volunteering isn’t just “help.”

It’s real-life training.

You learn:

• Discipline
• Commitment
• Teamwork
• Responsibility

The shift: becoming someone people rely on

With time, I decided to treat every task with full seriousness.

I reviewed details, fixed mistakes, suggested improvements, and delivered work ready.

I wasn’t the best.

But I was always present.

Gradually:

• The team’s trust grew
• My responsibilities expanded
• My name came up when something needed to be done

And I understood a core rule:

Positions aren’t given to those who ask for them.

They’re given to those who act like they deserve them.

Deputy of the Palestine team: the first real leadership test

I was selected as Deputy for the Palestine team.

And everything changed.

I wasn’t responsible only for my tasks anymore.

I was responsible for the team’s results.

I started learning:

• Coordinating work between different people
• Following up without creating pressure
• Solving conflicts before they grow
• Turning chaos into a work system

Leadership isn’t constant softness, and it isn’t constant strictness.

It’s knowing when to support — and when to demand commitment.

North Africa regional management: a wider view

Later, I took on the role of North Africa Regional Manager.

It wasn’t about managing one team anymore.

It was leading a diverse and complex reality: teams from different countries, different cultures, and different priorities.

The daily challenge was:

How do we make everyone work as one team despite the differences?

Here I understood the real meaning of leadership:

A leader isn’t the one who talks the most.

A leader is the one who moves the work forward, carries responsibility, and turns challenges into shared achievements.

This phase was more than a position.

It was a journey of sharpening skills, building bridges, and inspiring teams to create real impact.

Local teams manager: building leaders

In this role, I saw the bigger picture clearly:

Young people start from zero… then transform right in front of you.

• The shy person becomes a confident leader
• The disorganized person becomes the most committed
• And the one who thought opportunities were for others becomes a source of opportunities for others

That’s when I realized the truth:

Foras Khadra isn’t just a platform.

It’s an environment that builds real leaders — capable of influence and change.

Travel: a natural result of the journey

Travel was never my goal.

It was a natural outcome of a path that formed through my role in Foras Khadra as a regional leader.

One of the best outcomes was travel opportunities and my participation in the Amman Climate Action Forum.

It wasn’t just attendance. It was an experience that strengthened my understanding of my real role:

Connecting youth to opportunities, and turning interest into impact.

I didn’t go to take photos.

I went to learn, build real relationships, and understand how climate action is made on the ground.

But the most important thing wasn’t the event itself.

It was what it changed inside me.

I came back with a clear belief:

I don’t represent myself only.

I represent a path, a message, and young people who deserve to be there.

The real change

The position was a result.

The travel was a result.

But the real change was inside me:

• More self-confidence
• Clearer communication
• Ability to present myself
• Teamwork skills
• Taking responsibility under pressure

Before, I used to say: “I want an opportunity.”

Today, I say:

“I’m building a path that makes opportunities make sense with my name on them.”

My message to you

Don’t wait until you’re ready.

No one starts ready.

Start with a small step — but a real, serious step.

Give your best. Keep going. Learn.

Consistency doesn’t only give you results.

It builds a new version of you, and opens doors you didn’t even see before.

If you care about the environment, climate action, or green entrepreneurship,

and you’re looking for a real experience that grows your skills and expands your horizons…

• Join as a volunteer in Foras Khadra.

I’m Baha Jarrar… and this is my story.

And the next story could be yours.