Meet Rihab Dahou

What happens when curiosity moves beyond the classroom?

It becomes participation, leadership, and eventually, the courage to build something of your own.

Meet Rihab Dahou, a graduate in International and European Law from the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) and now a Master of Laws student at the University of Antwerp.

With interests spanning international affairs, diplomacy, human rights, and global governance, Rihab has built her journey around one principle: do not simply observe the world around you, engage with it.

PURPOSE

Rihab’s interest in international affairs began with questions that have no simple answers:

• How do countries with different interests find common ground?
• How can international institutions turn commitments into meaningful change?
• How can law protect people across borders?

Through Model United Nations, she explored international diplomacy, learning to navigate different perspectives and communicate with purpose.

As a Student Ambassador, she developed her confidence and ability to connect with others, while her experience with CIFAL Brussels | UNITAR exposed her to conversations around governance, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

These experiences transformed an academic interest into a desire to understand the world through active participation.

IMPACT

That curiosity also shaped her Bachelor’s thesis, which examined the role of the World Health Organization in strengthening health governance and state compliance with the right to health in low- and middle-income countries.

But Rihab’s impact extends beyond international affairs...

At the Brussels School of Governance, she saw an opportunity closer to home and created one. She founded BSOG Hoopers, a girls’ basketball club that grew from an idea into a community.

For Rihab, it became a lesson in leadership: leadership is not always about being given a position. Sometimes, it is recognizing what is missing and having the initiative to build it.

LOOKING AHEAD

Now beginning her Master of Laws at the University of Antwerp, Rihab continues to explore the intersection of law, diplomacy, international affairs, and global governance.

She may not have every step mapped out, but her direction is clear: keep learning, keep challenging herself, and contribute to work that brings people and institutions closer together.

Her advice reflects that mindset:

“Do not wait until you feel completely ready. Take the opportunity. Walk into the room. Ask the question. Try something that scares you.”

The people who shape what comes next are not always the ones with the perfect plan. Sometimes, they are simply the ones who choose to step forward.

This student spotlight is a collaboration between Junior Talk and ITK Podcast, highlighting students and young professionals shaping the future through innovation, leadership, and impact.