Amman, Jordan
I am a humanitarian professional with 5 years experience leading a non-profit providing education, sports, and wellbeing projects as part of a long-term, holistic programme. My career so far has focused on programme design, evaluation, and expansion, whilst finding creative solutions to issues, and responding effectively to crises. I am fluent in Spanish, Arabic, and English and enjoy playing the piano and music outside of work.
Having worked independently with asylum seekers and refugees up and down the country I realised that many people were lacking an opportunity to meet people, practice their English and support their own mental health. I founded ClothesWithCareUK an organisation with an online shop where asylum seekers and refugees can browse and choose second-hand sports kit and trainers and have them sent to them all for free. The idea behind this is that with an appropriate kit, shoes and equipment these people will be able to join teams and better integrate into their local communities. What’s more, where many of these people have had their choice taken away for them for so long, the shop format gives them back that agency.
I manage a team of individuals passionate about refugee rights in creating lasting social change. -We run multiple English groups, plan education material and coordinate volunteers. -We work very closely with local organisations including Refugee Support Devon, Refugee Aid From Taunton and St Sidwell's centre in Exeter to provide support to local people. -We fundraise for local and international NGOs working to support NGOS. -We host informative film evenings run campaigns aimed at developing students' understanding of refugee issues. -We run cross-cultural events in order to bridge the gap between the student and refugee community.
At the beginning of the UK lockdown, two friends and I created the voices of refugees project (formally under the name of Voices of Refugees Amid COVID-19). Our aim was simple: To amplify the voices of refugees, to raise awareness of the possibly catastrophic effect of the pandemic on these vulnerable communities and to support grassroots and refugee-led organisations and initiatives through fundraising. -We raised over £1100 for an NGO based in Moria Camp and over £700 split between One Love Jordan and The Collateral Repair Project based in Amman - We hosted cultural interviews and events celebrating refugee-led initiatives and creative output including an evening in conversation and concert with Aeham Ahmad and a Poetry evening with two influential Kurdish Authors.