Hasan Alakraa

Hasan Alakraa, from Aleppo, Syria, is pursuing a master’s degree in policy, organization, and leadership studies at Stanford School of Education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, where he lived as a refugee for 12 years. Shaped by his lived experiences of systemic exclusion from basic rights, Hasan stepped into activism to ensure that every child can access education regardless of legal status. He hopes to build on 10-plus years in the human rights field to bridge policymaking with grassroots action. He founded the Refugee Emergency Fund, providing refugees and undocumented migrants with access to life-saving medical treatments and safe housing, raising over $1 million through crowdfunding. He also spearheaded youth programs with Asylum Access, reaching more than 750 refugees through scholarships, mental health services, and skills training. He held advisory positions with UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) and the International Detention Coalition, advocating for the release of children from detention.