14 WINTER/SPRING 2022
Young Alumni Spotlight:
Malak Yacout, Co-Founder and CEO of The Volunteer Circle Malak Yacout
Malak Yacout ’15 initially planned to pursue a career in marketing. She had the degree, the skills, and the experience. She had even just gotten a job at her “dream company.” But the minute she got the offer, she declined it. “I realized, I don’t want to age and then later regret not having done the thing I knew I was really passionate about. It would have killed me working for a company, knowing that there was an idea on the backburner, left untouched, untapped.” A gamble? Perhaps. A challenge? Definitely. But Malak would not have it any other way - and many are grateful she took the road less traveled.
within; however, her unparalleled communication skills and community-mindedness are something she credits to IC. From 6th grade on, Malak was a class representative at IC. She had to navigate the complex student-teacher student-administration relationships, communicating both parties’ opinions and making sure all needs were met. Not a particularly easy task at a school of 3,000, but one that undoubtedly prepared her well for her current job, where she similarly navigates relationships between individuals and organizations.
“I’d rather be a millionaire
Malak’s involvement in student council, as well as the emphasis in the number of lives I’ve in Secondary School on touched and the number of learning outside the classroom, her to a world beyond people I’ve met than have a exposed the ‘IC bubble’ and prompted Today, her social enterprise, The million dollars in my bank her to think more critically Volunteer Circle, works with 6,000+ about her privilege. Mr. Riad volunteers to match their skills with account. Chirazi in particular, the head the needs and demands of 230 NGOs of the Council of Student across all regions and sectors in Lebanon. It fills a huge Representatives, helped nurture this sense of community. gap in the country’s third sector. The demand for help
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exists, but the capacity to coordinate, organize and source volunteers who actually understand the country’s context and have the skills to address an organizations’ specific needs, is lacking. As the young start-up was founded in mid-2019, when a series of crises crippled the country’s environment, society, and economy, Malak has worn many hats as its founder, CEO, first responder, tech wizard, marketing expert and mentor. Her admirable drive to have a positive societal impact and resourcefulness definitely stem from
“He always emphasized that, whatever activity you want to do, think about how to give back as well,” she recalls. “He reminded us that outside this gated community, there is a whole world with so many layers to get to know and understand.” Despite limited opportunities to volunteer, Malak was still deeply ingrained with a desire to be involved with Beirut beyond the tree-lined walkways and red-shingled roofs. The summer after her freshman year at AUB, Malak began searching for volunteer opportunities around Lebanon.
