URBAN REFUGEES launched its first pilot program in Malaysia—and we are thrilled to introduce you to our team in Kuala Lumpur :
SONIA BEN ALI, Co-founder and Executive Director
I co-founded URBAN REFUGEES in France in November 2012, and it was about three years ago that I first imagined this incubation project. It is amazing for me to now see the project unfolding. It is just beginning, but the results so far are beyond my expectations. Every day, I am moved and inspired by how resourceful the urban refugees we work with really are, working to find solutions to their own challenges.
FANNY PRIGENT, Project Manager Urban Refugees Incubation Program (URIP)
I left my job eight months ago, to develop URBAN REFUGEES’ Incubation Program and launch the pilot program in Malaysia. By equipping people with skills they dramatically need, I feel part of a meaningful change. The refugees’ excitement, dedication, and commitment to the program’s success is a powerful and daily motivation. I have never questioned my decision to leave.
LAURENE VIOLET, Coordinator
I have been working on internal and external communications (our organization’s newsletter, planning events, and coordinating communications with our followers) since July 2015.?I left my job and joined URBAN REFUGEES full-time because I wanted to do something meaningful every day. I knew that, alone, I couldn’t make a big change, so I joined the URBAN REFUGEES team to make this big change—and I think we are! When I look at URBAN REFUGEES, I see one big family all around the world and I’m so proud to be a part of it.
JUNED MOHAMMAD, Technology Operations at UR
I joined URBAN REFUGEES six months ago upon my arrival in Malaysia to work on the development and application of technology-based solutions.?I strongly believe in the empowerment of vulnerable populations through a long-term and structured approach in addition to the work done by NGOs to support those in need in the short term. URBAN REFUGEES is one of the rare organizations that uses this long-term approach.?What I appreciate most about URBAN REFUGEES is its diversity of its staff –whether it is cultural, social or professional — this human wealth is geared towards one single yet ambitious goal: raising the voice of the invisible.
AHMAD HAZRIZAL LIONG BIN ABDULLAH (called MIKE), Trainer
I have been assisting Fanny in training and coming up with modules and creating slides since September 2016 . After years of being involved in corporations, I got tired of the politics and took a few years of sabbatical. Later, I met URBAN REFUGEES when they were looking for a trainer, and I took the opportunity to work with an NGO. It was a new experience, a new challenge, and most important of all, it came with no corporate politics. I like that everything is relaxed and everyone is genuinely nice. It is comforting that everyone is just trying their best at their job instead of trying to outdo each other.
LATIFAH WONG BINTI ABDULLAH (called LINDA), Admin assistant
I joined URBAN REFUGEES on the 1st of October 2016 to work on Administration, Logistics, and Financing. I like the cause of URBAN REFUGEES, which I had only heard about from news or newspapers or magazines. This is my first experience working with a non-profit organisation and I found out it to be very challenging. URBAN REFUGEES is a new working environment for me with staff from countries all over the world. I enjoy working with them because they are kind, friendly, and committed to the work. I would like to commit to URBAN REFUGEES as long as I can serve this organisation.
ALEXIA TURGIS BLUM, Communication
I have been part of the team since the 10th of October 2016, working on Communication : I write articles for the website’s blog and Facebook, and I worked on a six-month communication plan for the Incubator Project. I am very happy to be part of this beautiful project. The team is multicultural and everybody has so much energy and positivity ! I believe that this program will really help urban refugees and improve the way they are living. Last sunday, I met the Afghan Community for the first time, and I am all the more convinced of the importance of this project because I have already seen the promising results after only a few weeks working with our staff.
NUR ASMA BINTI ZAKARIA, Admin & Documentation position.
I have been working on administration and documentation since the 17th October 2016.?I love to see how volunteers give their contribution, so when my friend told me that Fanny was looking for an administrator, I’ve applied for the job. I wanted to learn how an NGO organization works.?URBAN REFUGEES’ team is so wonderful. They are friendly, willing to help, and lovely. I hope the URBAN REFUGEES team will be successful in achieving their mission and the voice of the invisible can be heard.
VIDYA RAMKUMAR, Project Manager – SMS Up
I joined URBAN REFUGEES on the 17th October to work on the SMS Up Project : to enable group chat functionality (like WhatsApp/Viber) using SMS for the benefit of urban refugees without smartphones or internet on their handphones to chat within their community. The URBAN REFUGEES team is very friendly, full of energy and enthusiasm, and everyone comes from various cultures. Working towards a philanthropic higher goal also brings out the best in us ! I’m very passionate about the project I’ve been allocated to, and excited to see how we can collaborate with refugees to help make SMS Up useful for them to share information more easily.
