Sixty founder interviews, one uncomfortable pattern.

What early-stage teams in Riyadh, Cairo and Nairobi keep telling us — and what the programs still get wrong.

Mar 2026 · 7 min→

Leaders and representatives from Timor-Leste, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Indonesia, and Areem Plus gathered at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili to mark the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Female Students Residence Complex, a landmark initiative supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, aimed at expanding access to higher education for women in the country. Attendees included H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste; H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste; Hon. Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas; UAE Ambassador Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri; former Indonesian Foreign Ministers Dr. Hassan Wirajuda and Dr. Marty Natalegawa; Vice Minister Jesuína Maria Ferreira Gomes; members of the Diplomatic Corps, and government officials. Areem Plus is the project management and implementation partner of this landmark initiative, striving towards advancing educational opportunity, gender equity, women's empowerment and long-term social development in Timor-Leste.