About us
Who are we?
Ciao! We are Irene and Majed, and together with our daughter Leela, and dog Segu, we moved from the Netherlands to Sardinia where we bought land near a rural village not far from the island’s capital city Cagliari. Weβve since been joined by another canine companion called Seba, and a donkey family; sisters Fiona and Fiorella, and son Faro.
We are a multicultural couple. Irene, from the Netherlands, with a soft spot for Latin America, holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and has always been driven to blend academia with activism. Majed, from Iraq, brings experience in sports and cultural coaching, along with a serious passion for soul food.
Together, we rolled up our sleeves and made the big move. Not only for the Mediterranean climate, but to rethink how we live and what kind of place we want to create.
We are working every day, one step at a time, to turn Zayna Sardinia into more than just our home. Our goal is to create a space for learning, exploration, cultural exchange and small-scale change: a place where also our guests are invited to reflect on the relationships between humans, other animals and the more-than-human world.
Together, we speak Dutch, English, Arabic, and Spanish fluently, and we are getting more comfortable with Italian as well π so feel free to reach out in the language that feels most comfortable to you.
Why Zayna?
π‘π’πΊπ―π’ is an Arabic name that means “good” or “beautiful,” symbolizing positivity and grace.Β
We chose π‘π’πΊπ―π’ as the overarching name for our projects because it is also the female form of “Zain,” the family name on Majed’s side. Through this, we aim to honor our daughter, a part of her dual heritage, and, most importantly, her future, which we hope will be brighter for her, future generations, and the world around us.
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