The members of the Network for Dialogue come from both faith-based and secular organizations working at the local, national, and European levels on the integration and social inclusion of refugees and migrants in Europe. Network members are also religious leaders, academics and other experts who endeavour to assist and support the social inclusion of newcomers in host societies using dialogical approaches. Network members have vast experiences in working with refugees and migrants in different European contexts. They engage with other institutions on the national and European level in order to bring forth voices of grassroots initiatives in policymaking.
Dag-Kristian Pontvik
ADRA ItalyDag-Kristian Pontvik has been the Country Director of ADRA Italy since January 2017.
His work with ADRA focuses on migrants, poverty, and education. Dag-Kristian completed his studies in Theology at the Italian Adventist University in Florence in 2007 and in 2013 he received his Master of Social Work with a specialisation in International Social Work from Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee (USA). Dag-Kristian enjoys mingling with people and cultures, building positive outcomes.
Igor Mitrović
ADRA SerbiaIgor Mitrović has been the Executive Director of ADRA Serbia since 2011.
Igor earned his Bachelor of Theology at the Belgrade Theological Seminary, and his Master in Biblical Studies at Newbold College, UK. He served as a pastor with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Čačak and Belgrade from 1999 until 2011 when he joined ADRA. With ADRA and all its partners, Igor is involved in developmental and relief work. He also lectures in undergraduate studies at the Belgrade Theological Seminary (of the Adventist Church) and preaches and works with local Adventist churches in Serbia. His interests are in theology and spirituality, culture and community building and their potential to synergistically contribute to community transformation.
Dr. Ángela María Arbeláez
ART BridgesDr. Ángela María Arbeláez is the founder of the nonprofit cultural organization, ART Bridges in Lesbos (Greece).
Prior to ART Bridges she taught Art History at several universities in Colombia from 1992-1998, followed by a Fellowship at the University of Crete in 1998. In 2012, she was awarded the Marca Pais-Marca Colombia prize as one of the prominent Colombian citizens working abroad and in 2015 she received the Premio de las Americas in Israel, with both awards being tied to her contribution to interfaith, intercultural dialogue. In 2018, Ángela expanded her NGO’s activities to the slums where the Greek Roma people live in conditions of extreme poverty in Mytilene and continues building bridges of understanding among all the actors.
Maria Lucia Uribe
Arigatou International office, GenevaMaria Lucia Uribe has been the Executive Director of the Arigatou International office in Geneva since 2013.
In her role as Executive Director, she currently heads the strategic implementation and expansion of the Ethics Education for Children Initiative, ensuring that values-based education is integrated in programmes to respond to the prevention of violence and the promotion of peacebuilding and interfaith and intercultural collaboration. She is also currently convener of the International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence, and of the Working Group on Children and Violence of Child Rights Connect. Previously she served as Coordinator of the Working Group on Education and Fragility for the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE). Maria holds a Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation from the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Valentina Laferrara
Blanquerna Observatory of Media, Religion and Culture, Ramon Llull UniversityValentina Laferrara is a researcher at the Blanquerna Observatory of Media, Religion and Culture.
Valentina is also researcher at the STReaM research group (Society, Technology, Religion and Media) and the Chair of Religious Freedom and Conscience of Catalonia. She is also academic coordinator and professor on the Master’s Degree in Advanced Journalism-Reporting at the Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations (Ramon Llull University, Barcelona). She is a journalist and contributor to CatalunyaReligió.cat.
Nejra Kadić Meškić
Centre for Cultural DialogueNejra Kadić Meškić is a CEO at the Center for Cultural Dialogue that builds intercultural societies and fights growing mistrust and polarization by strengthening intercultural and interreligious dialogue, with a special approach to people on the move.
She finished the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and has ten years of experience as a programme and campaign leader in the field of human rights, culture of dialogue, gender equality and youth at political and implementation levels. In 2013, Nejra received an award for her contribution to the achievement of gender equality from the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is a KAICIID Fellow, generation 2019. She is interested in peace building, conflict resolution, gender equality and quality education.
Her motto is: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Her motto is: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Dima Mahjoub
Diaspora Network AllianceDima Mahjoub is an active member of the Diaspora Network Alliance (DNA), a non-affiliate organization that aims to empower newcomers by providing them with opportunities and tools to assimilate and become active members in their host countries.
Dima is a seasoned refugee practitioner having worked with diverse NGOs across several continents. With more than 10 years of experience in her domain, she started as a volunteer in 2007 and later became a staff member working with the UNDP and UNHCR in Syria. With an educational background that spans two Masters of Law, from Berlin and Manchester universities, along with an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Damascus, Dima is an accomplished practitioner and human rights advocate that enjoys engaging in discussions and dialogue that aims to advance human rights initiatives.
Haythem Kamel Badawy
FSLHaythem Kamel Badawy is the Director of the Training and Awareness
Association in Luxembourg (Formation et Sensibilisation de Luxembourg
–FSL).
FSL is a newly established association in Luxembourg that works on developing intercultural competencies and human rights education as a tool for integration among different communities in Luxembourg using non-formal educational methods and programmes as key tools to achieve its goals. He is also an elected member of the national council for foreigners which channel the point of views of the foreign population to the decision-makers in Luxembourg. Currently he is working at the University of Luxembourg on his PhD thesis that focuses on the integration of newly arrived Arab speaking refugees in Luxembourg. Haythem was one of the co-founders of youth networks and organizations in Egypt, the Arab region and Europe; worked previously in the League of Arab States, Anna Lindh Foundation, Bibliotheca Alexandrina and he is a member of the Trainers Pool of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.
Amanda Figueras
Foro AbrahamAmanda Figueras is a journalist and writer, truly passionate about interfaith dialogue and is working with Foro Abraham (Spain).
She was working for a decade at the newspaper El Mundo where she achieved many successes. Amanda was also a fellow of the UN Alliance of Civilizations programme (UNAOC) and was selected as a local Project Manager in 2018. She has also been selected as KAICIID’s European Fellow 2020. In 2018, Amanda published her book, Por qué el islam: mi vida como mujer, europea y musulmana (Why Islam: My Life as a Woman, European and Muslim).
Dr. Archimandrite Panteleimon Papasynefakis
Greek Orthodox ChurchDr. Archimandrite Panteleimon Papasynefakis was ordained as a Priest of the Greek Orthodox Church in 2001.
He studied Theology at the University of Athens where he also concluded his postgraduate degree. In 2019, he obtained his doctorate in Inter-Christian Dialogue summa cum laude from the Pontifical Oriental Institute. He is the Head of the Cathedral of Nea Philadelphia in Attica where, amongst other things, he has developed active charity activities. In 2017, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece appointed him General Director of Integration at the Integration Centre for Migrant Workers – Ecumenical Refugee Program (KSPM-ERP).
Amina Khalid
Initiatives of Change UKAmina Khalid academically specialises in the Sociology of Medicine and Social Policy with a Masters in Equality and Diversity Policies.
She is internationally trained in dialogue facilitation, mediation, communication and conflict resolution and has worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She has been with Initiatives of Change for over 10 years. Currently, she is the Head of Programme for Sustainable Communities and a Trustee for Somali Initiatives for Dialogue and Democracy (SIDD), as well as founder of Peace Begins at Home– an international inter-generational dialogue training created to empower and build bridges between generations and policymakers. She has a real passion for working with women of all backgrounds and faiths to build bridges and unlock their full potential. In her role as an international advocate for peace she uses her language and coaching skills to inspire, equip and connect individuals and organizations to become positive change agents.
Ilan Cohn
HIAS EuropeIlan Cohn is the Director of HIAS Europe. He joined HIAS in 2019 from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Since 2000, he has been working on a broad range of international migration and integration issues, mostly at the intergovernmental level.
HIAS is a global Jewish humanitarian organization, established over a century ago to aid Jewish refugees. Today, HIAS provides support for refugees of all nationalities, religions, and ethnic origins. Since its inception, HIAS has helped resettle more than 4.5 million people. HIAS Europe, based in Brussels, supports Jewish communities across Europe in their efforts to protect, welcome and integrate refugees. The office also administers humanitarian aid to refugees around the world.
Dr. Amjad Mohamed Saleem
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – IFRCDr. Amjad Mohamed Saleem works for the IFRC as the Manager for the Inclusion, Protection and Engagement Unit.
He is a political analyst on South Asian issues with expertise in Humanitarian and Development issues, Peacebuilding and Interfaith Dialogue. In the past he has worked with International Alert, KAICIID, Search for Common Ground, Islamic Development Bank, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Cordoba Foundation, Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid. He is a regular contributor to Fair Observer and New World Order. He is an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Program, the Concordia Forum and a Hive Global Leaders Fellow. He has an MEng from Imperial College, London, an MBA from U21 Global Singapore and a PhD from Exeter University. He is associated with N4D in a personal capacity.
Atallah FitzGibbon
Islamic Relief WorldwideAtallah FitzGibbon is the Faith Partnerships Advisor at Islamic Relief Worldwide, where he has worked for 25 years, previously serving as Policy and Strategy Manager and International Programmes Director.
IRW is the largest non-governmental Islamic NGO in the World and works closely with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations World Food Programme to provide humanitarian relief and development programmes in over 30 countries around the world.
Maja Negrojevic
Jesuit Refugee Service SerbiaMaja Negrojević is a social worker and project coordinator for Jesuit Refugee Service Serbia’s Integration program.
The Integration program consists of Integration House Pedro Arrupe and Transitional Accommodation for young refugees and asylum seekers. The Integration House accommodates unaccompanied refugee and migrant children and provides full support, while Transitional Accommodation offers support during their transition into adulthood.
Maja has been working with JRS Serbia since 2018 and holds a BA and MA degree in Social Work. She continues her education in Migration and Integration through different courses and programs. Maja’s field of interest is protecting and fulfilling refugee children’s rights.
Carl Dahlbäck
Kyrkoherde Nacka församlingCarl Dahlbäck was ordained as a Priest of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden in 1990.
He has been the Vicar of Nacka Parish in the Stockholm Diocese since 2004. In the same year, he started to work with interfaith topics and God’s House in Fisksätra outside of Stockholm. Carl has written a biography about his wife called Ett Långsamt Farväl (2014), has composed music; Gudomlig Poesi (2000) and I Stillhetens Rymd (2013), and is currently enrolled in the Master’s Programme in Theology at Uppsala University.
Elena Dini
Sacred Heart Basilica RomeElena Dini is Senior Program Manager of the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
She holds degrees in Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Communications, Catholic Theology and Interfaith Dialogue; and she is starting a PhD at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in the field of Theology of Religions. She is also responsible for interreligious meetings at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Rome and is a member of the Steering Committee of the International Abrahamic Forum.
Karl Johannes Zarhuber
University for Teacher Education of Lower Austria and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies– IFRCKarl Johannes Zarhuber works with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva, based at the Austrian Red Cross in Vienna as Global Coordinator for the Humanitarian Education Initiative.
Karl studied German Language & Literature and Theology (Combined Religious Education) at the University of Salzburg and taught both subjects at a private high school in Salzburg. Parallel to his 10 years of teaching, he was the Director of the Austrian Youth Red Cross Salzburg Branch. In February 1996 he was appointed Secretary General of the Austrian Youth Red Cross and moved to Vienna for professional reasons. In March 2012 Karl joined the IFRC Youth & Volunteering team in Geneva and started to work on the global Humanitarian Education Initiative. Since March 2016, Karl Johannes has been teaching and developing educational programmes on migration at the University for Teacher Education in Lower Austria.
Eirini Kappou
WAGGGSEirini Kappou is the Programme Manager liaising with the 41 Members Organisations (countries) that belong in the WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts) in European Region.
Her academic background is in law & certified in European Asylum and Refugee Law. She has vast professional & volunteer experience working with vulnerable populations (incl. migrants and refugees) on diversity, equity and inclusion. She has created & managed educational programmes around “refugee flows, human rights and interculturalism”, under the auspices of UNCHR. Eirini has written toolkits on gender & diversity mainstreaming, quality youth education & leadership. Currently, among other projects, she is coordinating the WAGGGS international relief appeal for the war in Ukraine.
Marina Liakis
Za’atar NGOMarina Liakis is a French-Greek citizen and serves as Director of Za’atar NGO.
After studying Law and Communications in Paris and New York City, she began a career in humanitarian work. During her professional career, she has worked at a variety of international organizations, including the United Nations and for the French Embassy. In 2016, after volunteering at the Port of Piraeus with refugees arriving in Athens, Marina decided to establish Za’atar NGO. She speaks Arabic, English, French, Greek and Spanish.
Rositsa Atanasova
Center for Legal Aid – Voice in BulgariaRositsa Atanasova has served as Advocacy Expert for the Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria since 2019.
Rositsa has worked in support of migrants and refugees in Bulgaria since 2013. She was a volunteer in the field before joining Doctors Without Borders as Project Manager in the largest reception centre in the country. From 2017 to 2019, Rositsa served as Project Manager for Unaccompanied Migrant and Refugee Children for Lumos, the charity founded by J.K. Rowling, to end the institutionalization of children globally. Rositsa holds a BA in Law from the University of Cambridge, a Master’s Degree in European Law from the Catholic University of Portugal, and a Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies from Harvard University.
About Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria | Detained in BG
About Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria | Detained in BG
Anja Fahlenkamp
Faiths In TuneAnja Fahlenkamp is a German diplomat and the founder of the initiative “Faiths In Tune”.
She has studied politics and international relations in London, Tel Aviv and Berlin.
In the context of Faiths In Tune she organises Interfaith Music Festivals, concerts, workshops, youth exchanges and other inclusive formats in Germany, the UK, Austria and Italy with the aim to promote respect and peaceful coexistence through music, and to connect, integrate and empower people of different backgrounds, including refugees.
Besides her work with Faiths In Tune she currently serves as a policy officer at the German Federal Foreign Office’s Task Force for European Migration Policy.
In the context of Faiths In Tune she organises Interfaith Music Festivals, concerts, workshops, youth exchanges and other inclusive formats in Germany, the UK, Austria and Italy with the aim to promote respect and peaceful coexistence through music, and to connect, integrate and empower people of different backgrounds, including refugees.
Besides her work with Faiths In Tune she currently serves as a policy officer at the German Federal Foreign Office’s Task Force for European Migration Policy.
Mabrouka Rayachi
Supervisor for Islamic EducationMabrouka Rayachi originally comes from Tunisia and has been living in Austria for 29 years.
She was a teacher of Islamic Education and Arabic in Austrian public schools and since 2012 has been a supervisor for Islamic Education in Lower Austria. Mabrouka was a KAICIID Fellow in 2015 and is actively engaged in many integration programmes in Vienna and Lower Austria.
Jon Rasmussen
World Organization of the Scout Movement, DenmarkJon Rasmussen holds a Bachelor in Social Education, and has served as team coordinator in both a teachers staff, as in a responsible refund organisation.
He’s a passionate Intercultural and interreligious dialogue practitioner, coach, inclusion enthusiast, artist and peace-builder. Jon always emphasis the need for youth empowerment, gender equality, peace & reconciliation and the importance of building bridges between people, cultures, identities, faiths and religions in order to create a peaceful community, society, and world at large. He co-founded the Online Circle of Compassion, and served as advisor for the Afghanistan Youth Empowerment and Peace-building Organization. With World Organization of the Scout Movement, Jon has been involved amongst other in roles as Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, Better World Framework Consultant, Listening ear & Dialogue for Peace Trainer and Facilitator. Jon is also a leadership trainer with the Danish Guide and Scout Association, and sits as ex-officio in the National Scout Organizations. Through participating in the ‘Lead Like Mary’ leadership training program, Jon became part of the UK-based New World Leadership cohort. When time allows it, Jon volunteers in a Blue Cross shelter for homeless migrants. In 2021 Jon Graduated from the Euphrates Institute Peace Practice Alliance program. Alliance Cohort.
Isabel Martins da Silva
MEERU | Abrir CaminhoIsabel is the Community Director of MEERU | Abrir Caminho, which aims to promote community cohesion through Dialogue and Proximity.
Isabel coordinates the project MEERU Aproxima which promotes a model for boosting informal support networks for migrant families living in Portugal, using Intercultural Dialogue as an instrument for creating genuine bonds of affection and belonging, and combating social isolation. In 2016 she stumbled on the pains and dreams of a Syrian refugee family in Portugal. Since then, she has been part of two humanitarian missions of the Refugee Support Platform (PAR), in Greece, in the fields of education, empowerment and inclusion of refugees. In 2019 she was one of the founders of the NGO MEERU | Abrir Caminho, where she is the Community Manager and coordinator of the project MEERU Aproxima. Determined to make the dreams of the world around her come true, Isabel is permanently restless and firmly certain that it is possible for us to live in community, with equal dignity and rights.
Madalena Simões de Carvalho
JRS PortugalMadalena Simões de Carvalho Is a Legal Advisor and Advocacy Officer at JRS Portugal – Jesuit Refugee Service, working in the defense and promotion of the human rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Portugal.
Graduated in Law at NOVA School of Law (2018) and Post-Graduated in Human Rights at IGC (Ius Gentium Conimbrigae) – Human Rights Center of Coimbra University (2020). Currently, attends the 2nd year of the Master in Development Studies at ISCTE-IUL, as well as a Post-Graduation Course in Migration Law at Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa. Prior to JRS Portugal, she has worked and volunteered in the areas of migration and Human Rights Education in CRESCER – Humanitarian Intervention Association, HuBB – Humans Before Borders, Rota Jovem – Youth Association and the Consulate General of Portugal in Stuttgart, Germany.
Anila Noor
New Women ConnectorsAnila Noor is a refugee activist based in the Netherlands, dedicated to driving positive change for migrant and refugee communities. With a focus on delivering tangible outcomes, she actively engages both at the community and policy levels.
She holds three master’s degrees including development studies (2014) from Erasmus University Rotterdam examining social justice perspectives on gender and conflict as well as forced migration and refugee policies in Europe. Drawing from her extensive experience collaborating with national and international nonprofit organizations, she has a particular emphasis on advancing women’s rights. Recognizing the need to amplify the voices of migrant and refugee women, she founded the NWC movement, which seeks to mainstream their unheard perspectives across Europe. Going beyond mere integration, the movement advocates for inclusion as a policy choice, aiming to uplift the spirits of newcomer refugee women and empower them to create meaningful impacts. Through her work, Noor strives to shed light on the lived experiences of refugees in urban environments, with the aim of informing more inclusive and effective policies that prioritize the well-being and integration of displaced communities.
Khalid Macow
We Literate UKC Khalid Macow is the Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the Somali National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS) and the Programme Manager at WeLiterate, a migrants’ led organization, registered in the UK and active in Somalia with the aim of promoting integration, social cohesion and peacebuilding through education, advocacy and capacity building initiatives.
Academically, he specializes in the area of Human Resource Management & International Business. Khalid has a deep passion and many years of experience working closely with policy makers, governmental bodies and peacemakers. He has worked with London’s Enfield local government, Somalia’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.
He is a strong advocate for women and girls’ rights and has created many platforms for active participation of young girls and women in peacebuilding as well as state-building initiatives through civic education, community dialogue, capacity building activities and civic engagements on good governance. His love for intercultural dialogue and preserving heritage has led him to the curation of a 7-week exhibition (Mogadishu2030) in London for advancing Somalia’s culture whilst challenging stereotypes.