Mentors
Our ‘Freelancers in Gaza’ project is supported by a group of dedicated mentors who have been working with us from day one. We are grateful for their constant voluntary support. If you are a youth in Gaza, you can request a mentorship meeting and support at anytime. Do send us an email and we will connect you to possible mentors. If you would like to act as a mentor, do send us an email and we will have a conversation with you about possible ways to support youth in Gaza.
Dr. Fatima Rajina
Hello! I am Dr. Fatima Rajina, a Legacy in Action Research Fellow at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University. After completing my MA in Islamic Societies and Cultures at SOAS, I went on to do a PhD after successfully securing a Nohoudh Scholarship with the Centre of Islamic Studies, SOAS, University of London. Completing my PhD at SOAS, my work looks at British Bangladeshi Muslims and their changing identifications and perceptions of dress and language. I am happy to help and mentor on any of the above subjects (and more broadly in academic (and non-academic) writing).
Would you like to be mentored by Fatima? Send her an email and she will be happy to help (fatima.b.rajina@gmail.com).
Cihan Balunak
Hello! My name is Cihan Balunak. I graduated from Bogazici University Math Education. I was a cinephile while I was studying. I spent all my spare time in Busk (cinema club) and MAFM (film center) in the University. I was in charge of the animation unit, administered a short film festival, and have done various other practical and theoretical work related to film. After graduation, I turned my passion for cinema into professional work. After working at various media related companies (including Semerkand TV and TRT World) I have decided to initiate my own company. With Abdulkadir Keskin I have founded Terakota Creative in 2020.
For interested mentees, please feel free to contact me directly at cihan@terakotacreative.com. Anyone who wants to design and make animation videos and motion graphics could get in touch with me. Besides, I am going to prepare monthly/yearly programs on following titles:
1. Motion Design Basics
2. Fundamentals of Animation
3. Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Activities include tutorials, as well as brief lectures. Internet and regular access to a computer would be necessary for the activities.
Would you like to be mentored by Cihan Balunak? Send him an email, he will be happy to help you. Cihan can be reached at: cihan@terakotacreative.com.
Roshnara
Hi! I'm Roshnara, a product designer based in Bangalore, India. I strive to create intuitive and delightful product experiences, using my skills in UX, visual, and motion design. I can mentor these subjects as well. Presently, I work at an EdTech startup – Graphy, a tool for creators to host online cohort based courses. In my free time I enjoy annoying my cats, baking bread and taking photographs of the food I eat.
Piers Wilkinson
Hello, my name is Piers Wilkinson, and I'm a disabled Accessibility and Inclusion Specialist who happened to do a combined undergraduate MSci in Physical Oceanography at Bangor University in Wales. I currently work supporting people and organisations with becoming more accessible and inclusive, with specialty areas of digital accessibility, inclusive campaigning, and policy development. I was appointed in March 2020 to the UK's independent government funded Disabled Students' Commission, and primarily support the work of the disabled led social enterprise Diversity and Ability.
I am open to discussing and mentoring on any areas of my background - be that inclusive campaigning, accessible website design & content creation, or drafting policy and legislation. You can reach me via my private email or through my work email with Diversity and Ability.
I am available for informal conversations, delivering individual & group workshops (bring some friends!) on a myriad of topics, or hold 1-2-1 "accessibility clinics" where we can work through a specific issue together. These would primarily be delivered digitally, but some may be deliverable via a phone-call (such as the accessibility clinics). I currently use the following video/communication platforms - Zoom, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams. I have available automatic captioning and transcription services for Zoom (English) for anyone who would find them helpful, and my primary language is also English.
Diana Alghoul
Hi, I'm Diana Alghoul! I am a journalist with a degree in International Politics and a Masters in International Conflict Studies. I started my career as an analyst on the Yemen war and I progressed to writing about Palestine. I also have experience in writing interviews, features and culture pieces. In my spare time, I run a spiritual blog and study holistic healing. I can help with newsroom writing, proofreading, structuring articles and building an idea for a blog. Email me at diana.alghoul@gmail.com and let's talk!
Abdulla
Salaam! My name is Abdulla and my roots are in Jerusalem and Yaffa, but I grew up in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. I am currently a PhD student at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter and my academic background is in the social sciences. I was previously a lecturer in Media Studies and Research Methods and I spent some time working in the NGO sector as well. I also have some experience in public writing, and so I am happy to mentor or offer advice to anyone who is interested in a career in the social sciences (particularly but not limited to those interested in political science or anthropology), those who are interested in developing connections to the Gulf and South Asia, and anyone seeking help with their writing in general. Interested mentees can reach me directly at abdullasm@protonmail.com. Once we touch base via email, I am happy to speak over a call and figure out how best I can offer advice and mentorship to potential mentees.
Bilal
Hello! I'm Bilal - nice to meet you. I am a Data Analyst with an undergraduate degree in Management and a Concentration in Finance (I can mentor these subjects as well). In 2018 I completed a Certificate in Data Science from the General Assembly in Boston. I went to work for a Financial Start Up. Now, I work as a management consultant in the transportation space. For interested mentees, please do contact me directly at bilalshanaa@gmail.com. I can have informal conversations with anyone to get an idea of how I can help most. Also, we can go through a more structured approach as well with online tutorials and coding projects. Internet and regular access to a computer would be necessary for these types of activities.
Would you like to be mentored by Bilal? Send him an email and he will be happy to help. Bilal can be reached at: bilalshanaa@gmail.com.
Fahmi
Salam! My name is Fahmi. I completed a bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Manchester. Now I am studying a master's degree in Metals & Energy Finance at Imperial College London. I worked for 5 years in steelmaking in Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia. I think I am good with the formal Arabic language. I am also fluent in English and do speak a bit of Spanish. I am happy to contribute in tutoring for school subjects (math & science), languages or informal studying and chat.
Ruth Arnold
Hi. My name is Ruth Arnold and I am very pleased to respond to this important initiative and to act as a mentor if helpful. I am a consultant in the higher education and charity sectors in London and Oxford working on public policy and campaigns, communications and public affairs. Prior to this I was the Director of Public Affairs and Head of Communications at The University of Sheffield, where I developed a nationwide campaign to welcome international students. In 2020 I received the Professional International Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to International Education. I would be very glad to offer advice or act as a mentor to anyone interested in communications, marketing or campaigns. I can be contacted via LinkedIn or at rarnold65@icloud.com.
Would you like to be mentored by Ruth? Send her an email and she will be happy to help.
Alex Blank
Alex is an English literature student at King’s College London. Her journalism and creative writing have appeared in publications such as HuffPost UK, Litbreak Magazine, Breath & Shadow, and more. She was a Prose Editor in KCL Journal for a year, and she’s now a Culture Editor at Roar News.
Marino Unger-Verna
Marino is the Editor-in-Chief of Roar News, the university's editorially independent student tabloid. Marino also works as a freelance journalist, with bylines in Teen Vogue and The Boston Political Review, as well as a German to English translator, with his most recent work featured in a Berlin-based exhibition.
Tara Sahgal
Tara Sahgal is an upcoming graduate at King's College London, where she majored in Politics and minored in History. An aspiring journalist, she is also the former Editor-in-Chief of Roar News, the university's editorially independent student tabloid.
Samuel Teale Chadwick
A final year music student at King's, Sam is a News Editor and reporter for Roar News, developing a portfolio encompassing reviews, interviews, and investigations. He is also interested in the possibilities and principles of 'solutions journalism' and hopes to incorporate this into his work.
Roula Khatib
My name is Roula Khatib, I'm a digital marketer with focus on performance marketing, I have over 10 years of experience in this field. I started this career working for a regional agency for five years, I left as the head of the advertising department in Dec 2015, ever since I've been freelancing and offering management, consultation, and coaching services in Digital advertising. In the past couple of years, I've expanded my services by working with a team of freelancers offering full digital services including design, content writing, and production. I can offer consultation sessions for freelancers in Gaza whether about digital marketing or about how to start and grow a career as a freelancer.
Feras Hilal
I am Feras Hilal. I am now a writer and performer — i recently moved to this field after spending 12 years in digital marketing: social media, brand strategy, content marketing, SEO. I used to work for agencies, corporate, start-ups, in Dubai, Amman and California. I also volunteered in community organization, with Israeli Apartheid Week, TEDxRamallah, and other community-led initiatives. I'd be honored to transfer my knowledge and skills to youth in Gaza in these areas and beyond. I would love to connect with youth in Gaza and i believe i have much to learn from them: my impression is that steadfastness is born of love of self and community, out of ingenuity that comes with adapting to seemingly impossible conditions, and out of a perennial hope that of a brighter future on the horizon. I believe Gazans have mastered these skills. I have extensive experience in working with groups and with individuals one-on-one, with emotional intelligence, solid communication skills, and a propensity to collect, synthesize information and share it in simplified terms. I can be reached at feras.hilal@gmail.com and look forward to meeting you and learning about your needs, hopes and dreams. With immense humility, I offer my knowledge to you.
Dr. Saloni Kapur
Hello! I’m Dr Saloni Kapur, an Assistant Professor in International Studies at FLAME University. I have a PhD in International Relations from Lancaster University, and my research explores security in South and West Asia from a critical perspective. I’ve previously worked as an analyst and editor for a security company, and have also interned with the United Nations. In my free time, I hang out with my dog, meditate, exercise and read novels. Two of the first friends I made when I left home to study abroad were Palestinians and I would love to help in any way I can. I’d be happy to mentor people looking to develop a career in international relations or political science. You can reach me at saloni.kapur@outlook.com.
Menaal Munshey
"Hi! My name is Menaal Munshey. I am a lawyer and criminologist. I currently serve as regional consultant on gender equality in the Arab region at the United Nations ESCWA. I am also a PhD candidate in criminology at the University of Cambridge where my research focusses on access to justice for intimate partner violence in Palestinian camps in Lebanon.
Previously, I worked as a policy researcher and consultant at United Nations agencies in Tokyo, Barcelona, Vienna and Beirut. I trained as a barrister in the UK and have experience as a lawyer in Pakistan working on criminal justice and prison reform. I also provide academic counselling to refugee students in Lebanon. I would be happy to provide mentorship on social science/legal research, university/scholarship applications, and on writing more broadly." You can reach me at munchey@gmail.com.
Dr. Makeda Ansah
Dr. Makeda Ansah is a passionate solution focused minister, teacher, and nurturer to her community. Dr. Makeda holds a Graduate of Theology, a Bachelor of Science in Religion and Biblical Studies, a Master of Divinity in Chaplaincy and Doctor of Ministry in Urban Studies. She is a retired nurse, mentor and certified life coach, relationship facilitator, chaplain and educator with a career in both the public and private sector spanning over thirty years. Dr. Makeda is a proud mother of four adult children whom she homeschooled successfully as well as a post pandemic dog mom to two golden retrievers. Most of all Dr. Makeda is proud of a life lived triumphantly as a grief overcomer, and wholesome human being. Her passion is to make spiritual growth a priority to help heal the afflicted.
You can reach me at makedaansah@gmail.com
Nick Rodrigo
Nick Rodrigo is a PhD candidate at the City University of New York Graduate Center where he is currently writing up his PhD thesis on the history of the US-Mexico border. He also serves as a Research and Communications Fellow at the Office for the Advancement of Research at John Jay College and an Adjunct Professor in Sociology at John Jay College. Nick is an experienced researcher and writer having written long and short form opinion and research pieces for media outlets and academic journals as well as strategic communiques for NGOs and research organizations. Alongside research, writing and teaching Nick has a strong grant writing portfolio having justified the research value of multiple projects through grants totaling more than $350,000.
You can reach me at nrodrigo2012@gmail.com
Aaliyah Kara
Salaam!
I am an English teacher from Johannesburg, South Africa, currently residing in Exeter, UK. I have a BA in English Literature from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and an MA in English Education from the Institute of Education, University College London. My research interests are decolonisation of education and indigenous knowledge systems. I also dabble in creative writing and write poetry. Fun fact: I spent some years teaching English in Nablus, Palestine.
I can mentor writing (both academic and creative). I am also happy to offer advice on studying abroad (particularly the UK and South Africa). This could include guidance and proofreading of cover letters and personal statements, conversations about travel and living and advice on how to make the most out of your programme.
Contact me via email: aaliyahkara@gmail.com to get in touch.