My name is Maha and I'm an NYU professor, World Economic Forum risk expert and author focused on global politics. I wrote wrote the seven-time award-winning bestseller Future World Order (2019 & 2020) and sequel A Global Spring (2022). But my childhood dream was to be a cartoonist! This is why I drew the crowdfunded political comic book, The Global Kid , in 2016, which stars the superhero character of 14 year old Sami. Sami lived in different countries with his family (much like I did – 7 countries by age 14) and observes political problems (much like I do in my day job). My political comic book won its seventh education award in 2021. All my profits went to education nonprofits during 2016-2019 and then to my brother's memorial fund for Syrian refugee youth via charity Peace and Sport during 2019-2021.
This new version of The Global Kid takes you into the world of global affairs – in the virtual and augmented realms! Through the female superhero character Tanya and her canine sidekick Lucky (inspired by my rescue dog!), it entertains and educates kids age 8-12+ about the world's biggest challenges and kids' role in tackling them. This is in partnership with London-based, award-winning edtech startup Musemio, with important contributions from Rome-based AR Market and artist Mara Angelilli. The VR/AR comic book already won its first accolade in 2021 – the US-based Moonbeam Children's Book Award (comic book category)! It was also a finalist in the 2021 Germany-based Digital Female Leader Awards. And the comic reached the Top 100 Amazon bestsellers list in its first week – I donated 50% of the first week's profits to the Covid Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO to support global vaccine equality.
As you read my comic, Reader, please think about this: What role will
you
play in making the world a better place now and in the future?
Yours – Maha
