Our Team
Global Team
Our Global Team lead the day-to-day running of the organisation.
Ajak Mayen Jok
Programme Manager, Kakuma, Kenya
Mayen's vision is to have a society where education is accessible to all through technology, regardless of their financial status. Mayen has worked for organisations such as Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL), Windle International Kenya (WIK) and UNHCR. “Do not be annoyed by human deeds, they protect you from tomorrow’s misdeeds (Mayen).”
Chloë Cupid
People, Culture and Operations Co-ordinator
Chloë has a background in education, both as a teacher of English as a foreign language, and in widening participation and access to university. She is committed to Amala’s mission and values as they align with her own, and believes in the importance of challenging the status quo of social inequalities
Communications Coordinator
Cloe has worked in public sector and charity communications, as well as some experience teaching English abroad. She has also worked on the education team at the UK Supreme Court, encouraging young people from all backgrounds to engage with the law. Amala is somewhere she feels inspired, communicating the mission of achieving greater social justice through equitable education.
Fundraising Coordinator
Hannah is committed to Amala’s focus on facilitating access to transformational education for displaced youth and its particular approach of supporting young people in these communities to become agents of positive change. Hannah has previously worked in fundraising, communications and project management roles and most recently in the voluntary sector working with refugee communities in the North East of England.
Global Coordinator for the Global Secondary Diploma
Elissavet is committed to creating systemic change to ensure that the most vulnerable learners can access equitable educational opportunities of high quality. She has studied Politics and Education in the Netherlands, Argentina and the UK. She has previously worked in peace education in Cyprus and refugee education in Greece and the UK.
Learning and Innovation Lead
Louie got involved with Amala as the course leader for "Peace-building in your community" in 2018. As Education Lead, he is responsible for leading the development and delivery of Amala’s educational work. Louie is an experienced chemistry teacher and helped facilitate the Initiative for Peace programme at UWCSEA for several years.
Global Coordinator for Changemaker Courses, Bespoke and Special Projects
Jessica is passionate about the importance of global education in uniting young people and its ability to bring about positive change. She has previously worked in the non-profit sector, reporting on and engaging with displaced people in Colombia and Greece, and has seen first hand what education can bring to these communities.
Co-founder and Co-Executive Director
Amala brings together Mia’s desire to work with refugees and her belief that education is the most powerful way to create social change. Mia previously worked for UWC International in programme management. Mia studied Arabic living in Syria from 2010-2011, where she co-founded the UWC Syria National Committee. She is also the co-founder of Danish Students abroad.
Programme Manager, Amman, Jordan
Lamis has a passion for both working in education and with refugee youth, and has experience of working with organisations such as War Child and UNDP. She fell in love with the Amala programme because it aligns with her beliefs about what is important in education, and believes that what Amala offers is perfect for the Jordan context.
Co-founder and Co-Executive Director
Polly is driven by a passion for creating education systems that equip young people to make positive change in the world. She previously worked for UWC International in alumni and community engagement and outreach, and she is a contributor to the OECD’s Education 2030 project. She is also the co-founder of Talk to me.
Director of Education Programmes
Lizzie believes deeply in the power and impact of education to create sustainable, positive change in the world. Lizzie has worked as a teacher; a head of school; a principal; accreditation evaluator and curriculum leader. As the Director of Education Programmes, Lizzie brings more than thirty years of educational experience to Amala, ensuring that the development of Amala programmes aligns with our mission and strategic direction.
Facilitators
Amala facilitators lead the delivery of high quality learning.
Fatima Abualenein
Learning Lead, Amman, Jordan
Fatima became involved with Amala after taking the peace-building course in 2019. She was passionate about the transformative type of learning that Amala provides and decided to be part of it. Fatima believes education is a basic right of all humans, and so she is strongly motivated to develop and expand Amala programmes to help change people’s lives.
Hasan Matroud
Programme Coordinator, Amman, Jordan
Hasan is an Amala alumnus; he's an innovative person and change-making enthusiast, with extensive experience in social and humanitarian work. Hasan is passionate about education and humanitarian work as a way to make a positive impact in the world.
Holli Ghaisen
Learning Lead, Kakuma, Kenya
Holli believes Amala’s Global Secondary Diploma is not only the answer to the high demand for education in Kakuma, but that it is also offers solutions to the community’s problems. He joined Amala to be part of that solution. Holli has worked for organisations such as Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Manahil Yagoub Musa
Kakuma, Kenya
Manahil believes youth are the changemakers of tomorrow. As a facilitator at Amala, she is committed to using education to improve people's lives and help youth become the next creative leaders and peacebuilders. Manahil has experience in facilitating social entrepreneurship courses and student welfare.
Kakuma, Kenya
David has experience in community work including business, language translation, and training delivery. As an Assistant Director at Wicomnet Solutions, an initiative supplying internet connection and digital skills training to refugees, David is striving to improve the well-being of displaced youth through education and entrepreneurship in Kakuma. In addition, he is a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) alumnus.
Lukambo (Glory) Luundo
Kakuma, Kenya
Amala brings to light Glory’s passion to contribute to the education of youth in marginalised communities and brighten their future. He is motivated to inspire refugee youth to follow in his footsteps and solve more problems than he has done in Kakuma. Glory is also the co-founder of Vijana Twaweza Club, an initiative made up of youths working to increase food availability in Kakuma.
Amman, Jordan
Milad works as a Changemaker Foundation Programme (FP) Learning Facilitator. She is driven by strong commitment to learning and serving others. She firmly believes in how education can change lives, passionately advocates for refugee children's right to learn and finish their studies, especially those who are denied the opportunity to complete their studies.
Faridah Naimana
Kakuma, Kenya
Faridah is passionate about advocating for more higher education opportunities for refugees worldwide. With 6 years of working experience in higher education in a refugee camp, she believes refugees also deserve better.
Kakuma, Kenya
Moses gained extensive experience in teaching at Lutheran World Federation, as an ICT-Coach at Windle International Kenya and as a facilitator at IsraAid. He feels this experience is great to share with youth. At Amala, his passion is to help youth unlock their potential future careers by providing them with the knowledge and skills through education and mentorship.
Amman, Jordan
Amala's mission strongly resonates with Waqar. She believes that transforming the lives of learners to become the best versions of themselves is every educator's responsibility. She has seven years’ experience in teaching English as a second language to a diverse community of students from different backgrounds. She also has experience in coordinating and teaching programmes for refugees.
Vivian Shaima
Amman, Jordan
Vivian is an Amala alumna and facilitator. She is passionate about working with refugees and education and she aspires to reduce social injustice. Vivian believes that everyone deserves to have the chance to access education and Amala has been the place for her to make positive change.
Amman, Jordan
Abdelhamid is a learning facilitator at Amala’s Jordan team. He is also an Amala alumnus who graduated as a part of cohort 3. Abdelhamid’s love & desire to make change and help his refugee community led him to become an Amala learning facilitator. Outside Amala, Abdelhamid is a teacher, refugee guidance counsellor, mentor and Gender knowledge management assistant in many different organisations including WUSC, UNHCR AND UNICEF.
Adhraa Qwqa
Amman, Jordan
Adhraa's impactful journey as an Amala student led her to become an Amala Learning Facilitator. Adhraa believes in the importance of education to empower people and aid them in achieving their dreams. Before joining Amala, she taught at two other educational organisations, polishing her teaching and facilitation skills on the way.
She co-founded Life Savers, a community first aid initiative.
Onono Jimmy Ongwech
Kakuma, Kenya
Jimmy is passionate about transformative education for youth in a refugee context and their integration in the workforce. He joined Amala in 2022 because he was inspired by the transformative education model of curriculum delivery. Prior to joining Amala, Jimmy worked with Jesuit Worldwide Learning as a Personal Facilitator for online students. His vision is to see all refugee youth gain access to education regardless of their status and ability.
Kakuma, Kenya
Kisembo is a dedicated and experienced educational professional with a diverse background in various roles within the education sector. He combines his extensive experience and passion for education to make an impact in his role as Learning Facilitator for the Changemaker Foundation Programme. Kisembo has previously held a range of education and community roles including as a Deputy Principal at primary level.
Board of Trustees
Our Board oversees our work as a Charity and Company in England and Wales. Polly Akhurst and Mia Eskelund Pedersen are also Trustees.
Chair
Keith spent 17 years with UWC International as Executive Director. Keith continues to work with schools and international organisations, focusing on governance, management, organisational development, strategy, structure and leadership recruitment.
Caroline is the Chief Partnerships Officer at AVPN, a network of funders of social impact in Asia. She has lived and worked in 8 different countries and has 15 years of experience in fundraising and creating partnerships and collaborations for impact.
Colin´s background is in finance, having trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. He has served as Finance Director of several companies. He is co-founder and co-funder of GoMakeaDifference and Treasurer of the UWC International Board.
Stela is the Co-founder of Galápagos Team, an impact consultancy. She has 20 years of experience in senior HR roles partnering with teams across the Americas, Asia and Europe, focused on developing leadership, building teams, and leading change at scale.
Sara is a Head of Recruitment and Selection at Teach for Sweden, ensuring that promising leaders become teachers where they are most needed. She previously managed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s work with schools and colleges and has worked as an English teacher.
Jessica is a researcher and Education Consultant. She has worked in the education in emergencies sector for the past decade, including protracted urban and camp refugee settings, internal displacement, resettlement, and transitory contexts globally.