Maha Taher is from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and is a Philanthropist whose raison d’être is to help others. She helps people get married and founded the website na9eeb.com (a matchmaking website for people in the Middle East). She volunteers in teaching kids English at an orphanage and gathers donations and funds to buy air conditioners, clothes and food for the poor in Jeddah. She also hosts and participates in marches where groups walk around the filthiest streets in attempt to clean them up. One of her most recent projects was buying stands and placing them around the city where free water and lemonade was distributed to thirsty people during the unbearable heatwave this summer. She has also found a new obsession: designing chic cotton t-shirts.

What made you start this venture? Why are you doing this?
I started this venture when I realized God has blessed me with so much and I feel it’s my turn to give back. I find happiness in seeing others happy. We are very privileged to be young, healthy, and educated so we should help others who aren’t as fortunate. God put us in this day and age for a reason so I plan to make the best out of it.

What do you hope to achieve?
I want to influence people positively, help children grow and prosper, educate the future generation (the orphans I am teaching), and spread love and happiness in our community; simply said, touch hearts.

How long have you been working on this?
It has been a long chronic process. I’ve been volunteering in a lot of things for years now, but this is my first year where i began initiating my own projects.

What is the most interesting discovery you have made since starting this project?
You learn from the orphans more than they learn from you. Actually everyone you help, helps you more than you know, whether it’s psychological, emotional or physical, they end up helping greatly. They move you and change your life, they make you appreciate life in ways you never though you can experience, they open your eyes and mind to new thing and make you appreciate everything around you (the good & bad).

Where do you see this project in 10 years?
Hopefully in ten years i want to open my own orphanage, open matchmaking offices, open restaurants for the poor (on a larger scale - not just soup kitchens), build clean sustainable shelters. I want to do whatever my situation will allow me to offer.

When did you start traveling?
When i was still in my mother’s womb. Both my parents love traveling so it runs in my blood. I’ve been traveling to random places since I was a kid and still going at it.

How and why did you travel for the first time?
The first time I traveled alone was at the age of 10 when my parents shipped me off to Switzerland for summer camp and that’s where I met all my international friends and began planning touring the world.

In what places have you lived and what languages do you speak?
Saudi Arabia, the United States (L.A., California), Switzerland, Germany and now back to Saudi. I speak Arabic, English, French and Italian.

What’s your favorite city so far?
Santorini, Greece. The view is spectacular, white houses with bright blue rooftops. The people were friendly and the food was beyond delicious; juicy fruits and fresh vegetables. The lifestyle and atmosphere was simple and practical, we rode donkeys, swam in the beach, listened to Greek music, laughed like there was no worry on earth. Good memories, good memories.

If you could only take one item with you to travel the world (other than your passport), what would it be?
My camera, I love capturing the moment and other people’s emotions.

Give us your global nomad profile:

window or aisle? Window: I love looking at the view, think and day dream, however when i need the bathroom, i often regret not choosing aisle.
boat or plane? Plane: boat bunk-beds are very uncomfortable (based on experience).
train or bus? Train: I’ve met some of the most remarkable people on trains.
walk or bike? Walk: nothing like appreciating every single step taken on your way. “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” -Greg Anderson
metro or trolley? Trolley: nothing like hopping on & off while it’s still moving..
tropical, temperate, polar? Tropical all the way, love having wet and damp hair, love the rain!
hotel, hostel or local’s apartment? Based on experience, I realized hotels are the safest.
must have fashion piece when traveling? A colorful headband will do.
explore/map or tour guide? Explore: nothing beats the feeling of getting lost and finding new interesting things along the way :)