Ali Mahgoub
Director
My name is Ali and I have over 25 years of experience in the third, non-profit sector. I am a human rights activist, I’m passionate about politics and inequalities, and I also speak more than five languages.
Khair Rudd
Youth support worker
My name is Khair and I am passionate about helping youth through various projects like the youth group and homework club. I have won awards for my dedication, commitment and championing of Equality and Diversity amongst Youths and underrepresented communities at the University of Leeds – especially promoting access to higher education for all. I have also dedicated my extra time volunteering locally and internationally and support all ESOL classes at the Centre which are very popular with students; they are popular because I always aim to put a smile on people’s faces and continuously inspire students when teaching. I’m always keen to support LRF projects, members and assist our service users to flourish in such a great environment. I also speak eight languages!
Sarah Gaber
Project Worker
Hello, I am Sarah from Germany. I moved to the UK for a Placement at Leeds Refugee Forum and stayed. My current position is running a phone line project for individuals that need help filling out forms, have questions about our services or just need information about signposting. To make these services accessible for everyone we have bilingual translators, who are happy to support individuals. Whilst being a project manager at the phone line project, I also study Social Work in Hamburg which is currently online due to Covid.
Raissa Mattana
Project Worker
My name is Raíssa, and I am originally from Brazil. I have experience working with victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, and now I am an employment advisor for Leeds Refugee Centre and the Latin American community in London through an organisation called IRMO. I am also doing a Master’s in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies. I am taking up an internship with the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes in Brazil, on a project to map the needs of persons victim of trafficking and exploitation.
Oman Balkin
Communications & Marketing Officer
I am originally from the Philippines and a recent Masters graduate in Global Development at Gender from the University of Leeds. At LRF, I am in charge of answering any questions about our projects, referrals, registration for new students and marketing. I also run a women’s only wellbeing project that teaches women things like sewing, knitting, embroidery and beading which aligns with my previous experience of women’s advocacy volunteering, hosting legal workshops, creating marketing campaigns to increase women’s bodily confidence, and volunteering to help children with disabilities.
Trustees
Leeds Refugee Forum is entirely community led. Our Board of Trustees is made up of individuals elected by our members. Our trustees come from the refugee community in Leeds. Trustees meet every six to eight weeks to administer the running of the organisation and the One Community Centre.
Kathy Seamian
Chair of Trustees
Louise Waite
Trustee
Professor of Human Geography, School of Geography, University of Leeds. Background in research and collaboration with asylum seeking and refugee communities. Student Educator around themes of forced migration / human trafficking / modern slavery / labour exploitation and migrants rights.
Maxmed Hussein
Trustee
I represent the Leeds Swahili Cultural Community who support communities in accessing support and education.
Pria Bhabra
Trustee
Leeds Migration Programme Manager at Leeds City Council, Communities Migration Team which delivers a range of activities to address the following themes in partnership across the city:
- Support for new communities;
- Responding to national policy changes;
- Organisational improvement activity;
- Community engagement and capacity building;
- Embedding learning and sharing best practice.
Haleh Jahanshahlou
Trustee
I am from Iran and moved to the UK in 2018. Before coming to the UK, I was working as a civil engineer for 17 years and after moving to the UK I started working as a qualified secondary Mathematics teacher. I started as a volunteer in LRF in November 2018 and stayed with them till July 2019.After starting my job as a teacher I could not continue working as a volunteer but now I am a trustee with LRF.
Godefroid Rubomboza
Treasurer
Louise White
Secretary
Naima Mohamed
Trustee
My name is Naima,I have graduated from the University of Huddersfield and have Masters in Strategic Human Resources Management. I worked with communities as well as the Somali community and also Leeds Refugee forum as a volunteer.At the moment I work for Samsung Technical team. My passion is to help, encourage and motivate women and youth.
Taurai Cheteni
Trustee
Fahimeh Forouzandeh
Trustee
Andrew Rathbone
Trustee
Volunteers
Volunteers are invaluable to LRF and help us to run our wide range of services – from running classes, to translation support, to administrative help.
We think everyone has something to contribute to our community and you can read here for more information about how to volunteer.