Shehrazade Maria Mamjan – Founder & CEO
Shaped by a diplomatic upbringing and extensive global travels, Shehrazade is a dedicated advocate for cross-cultural understanding and social justice. Qualifying in Finance and Accounts from Helsingør Handelsskole, Denmark, she started a versatile career journey beginning in Airline operations and continuing to financial and asset management. For over two decades she has committed to assisting ethnic minorities that include asylum seekers and refugees, pursuing a BA/Bsc in English and Legal Studies from Canterbury Christchurch University to further her mission.
Shehrazade actively supports ethnic minority communities, empowers women and young people and is an active volunteer for CMCC, helping with the transition of Afghan refugees in bridging hotels, enabling the Roma Community in Dover to overcome the obstacles they face on a regular basis and other ethnic minority families who struggle with varying problems.
She serves as an elected councillor, trustee for a primary school as well as a Community Trust, and a member of various outside bodies associated with the welfare of minority communities. Shehrazade’s life and career exemplify her passion for making the world a more inclusive and harmonious place, creating bridges of understanding and advocating for the marginalised with unwavering commitment.
She will drive the project development and strategic direction of the organisation
Having witnessed disparity these past two decades, I have harboured this vision to enable a wholly inclusive society where no person or child should be left feeling that they don’t belong
Ahmed Massoud Sabour – COO & Director of Domestic and Overseas Afghan Community Development Project
Massoud’s journey embodies resilience and determination. Fleeing Afghanistan in 2000 due to mounting pressures from the Taliban, he left behind his family and educational aspirations. Learning English proficiently to integrate into his new environment, he launched a successful catering business in the UK. Through this venture, he helps young refugees through employment, mentoring, internships and educating them on how to run a business and imparting comprehensive knowledge of industry related regulatory requirements.
Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Massoud serves as the Vice-Chair of Canterbury Mosque, actively volunteering to assist struggling and impoverished families, the homeless, irrespective of religion, and failed asylum seekers who fail conventional channels of assistance. He manages all aspects of the Muslim Community’s needs, from funeral arrangements for grieving families to advocating for financial and other aid. Additionally, he has tirelessly worked with Afghan refugees under the repatriation scheme, addressing their integration challenges and facilitating communication with relevant agencies, advocating for housing and negotiating for their well-being and successful integration. Masoud’s life and work reflect his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on those in need and building a more inclusive and just community.
Hiba Umair – Counsellor
Hiba is a qualified counsellor and registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) with a background in psychology and education.
She practices as an integrative counsellor, utilising various modalities to best suit clients’ needs, extending over diverse backgrounds.
Hiba is also experienced in supporting individuals with neurodivergent traits, additional needs, and disabilities. She has worked closely with students in the Further Education sector, which includes minors, young adults, and mature students.
Hiba is well rehearsed in supporting mental health and complex emotional needs of clients under AM supervision within a multi-agency setting .
With her extensive experience dealing with multicultural communities, and the complex issues of the effects of marginalisation and exclusion, she will be a great asset to our team.
Stephen Pollock – Trustee
A life time Peer in the House of Lords is an economist and a politician. He joined the Labour Party as a teenager and has since become an expert in environmental economics. Having spent most of his working life as a lecturer at Queen Mary’s University he now specialises in nuclear and renewable energy. He is the father of three daughters and the husband of Elizabeth Vambe