Elissa Shamma is a feminist facilitator, researcher, and designer with over 10 years of experience across Lebanon, Syria, and the wider MENA region. Her work weaves together participatory research, creative design, and facilitation, driven by a strong commitment to feminist organizing, collective empowerment, and transformative justice.
She has designed and facilitated a wide range of processes in complex and conflict-affected settings, including regional dialogues, co-learning spaces, and trainings on feminist solidarity, gender justice, racial justice, and localisation. She previously worked as Program Officer for Syria at The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, where she co-designed and managed programs supporting feminist actors and groups in challenging environments.
At Steps, Elissa contributes to designing and facilitating programs, and leads the creative direction of various toolkits, manuals, and publications. With a background in graphic design, Elissa weaves visual storytelling and accessible communication into all aspects of her work. Her research focuses on narrative-based and participatory methodologies, including oral history, dialogue-based learning, and feminist evaluation. She has co-designed and led regional research on adolescent coping mechanisms in conflict zones, and developed participatory tools that center lived experiences and local knowledge. She also played a key role in enhancing the Oral History Guide—a resource for engaging with contested memories in Lebanon.
She is a national trainer on the British Council’s Active Citizens program and serves on the advisory board of The A Project in Lebanon. Elissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and is completing her Master’s in Human Rights and Non-Violence at AUNOHR, where her thesis explores gender dynamics and conflict from the perspectives of Syrian women.
Her approach is rooted in collective learning, care, and the belief in the transformative power of communities and feminist solidarities.