20th June 2021, 1:30pm to 3:30pm BST
On World Refugee Day, join us for a webinar on Being a Refugee Re-Builder.
The refugee or diaspora re-builder, who takes root and settles in another country after being forcibly displaced from their country of origin, is a powerful concept. This re-builder is a human being who has weathered adversity, trauma and forced separation from their home and identity. The resilience of a re-builder has been demonstrated around the world since time immemorial, and is a narrative common to the human experience.
The theme of this webinar ‘Being a Refugee Re-Builder’, marking World Refugee Day 2021, is the resilience that lies at the heart of the journey of those displaced. Three refugees from different parts of the world will be sharing their stories: Gulwali Passarlay, Ahmed Ekzayez, and Khadidja Fadoul. These three refugees have turned their experiences of displacement into a strength, and in time, have used it for the re-building of their countries of origin, and contributing to the betterment of humanity at large. The webinar will be facilitated by Nareeman Dosa, an alumni of Initiatives of Change UK’s Refugees as Re-Builders programme.
Gulwali Passarlay is the author of best-selling book The Lightless Sky, an award-winning Activist and Campaigner, Co-Founder of My Bright Kite and member of the Speakers Collective. Gulwali is a dedicated advocate, humanitarian and spokesperson for refugees and asylum seekers across the U.K. Since arriving in the UK in 2007 after being forced to leave Afghanistan as a 12-year-old boy, Gulwali has achieved beyond all odds to become a well-respected and sought after public speaker, influencer and political campaigner for refugee’s rights, social justice and education.
Khadidja Fadoul is a human rights activist, who was born and raised in Chad. She founded WILPF (The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom) Chad chapter. She is founder of Al Mahanna organisation based in Africa that promotes human right and raises awareness of women’s health. She is also the current secretary of the voice of Darfurian women (VODW) since 2008. Khadidja is an active member of many women’s rights movements and engaged in her community in the UK. She holds an International Business degree from the London Metropolitan University and speaks several languages.
Ahmed is a program manager for Nasaem Kahir organization (NGO), a Syrian-based organization. He holds master’s degree in agriculture/plant pathology. He worked as research associate in ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Area). He left Syria after the crisis has started, and settled in Turkey. He has worked in conflict areas and undertaken projects in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Tunisia and Bangladesh. Ahmed has a diploma in conflict analysis. He has deep understanding of the factors that create and sustain conflicts, and a practical understanding of approaches to resolving conflicts.
Nareeman holds a Masters in Public Relations from University of Westminster, and is currently working as a Media Relations Executive at a multinational company. She also manages Black Pearls section at LevantX magazine, which was created to celebrate the heritage of African descended people in the North Africa, West and South Asia region, and amplify their voices. Nareeman graduated from Refugees as Re-Builders programme in April 2020.
