About me
Born and raised in a big family in New York City, my childhood was filled playing basketball and debating ferociously in Model UN. Fascinated by global politics, I headed to Scotland to attend the University of St. Andrews and received my MA in International Relations and Social Anthropology. While in college, I spent months working with women and children on Ritsona Refugee Camp, a job that completely reoriented my path. Since graduating I've work for NGOs in NYC and Ghana, the latter with a focus on access to quality healthcare and education for children.
Beginning in high school I worked with two different families for multiple years, both of which I am close with to this day. I spent two days a week with each of these two families, one with three children ages 7-13 and the other with two children ages 4 & 7. My responsibilities included picking up kids from school, bringing them to after-school activities, helping with homework, cooking dinner, putting them to bed and doing some light cleaning. All in addition, of course, to playing games and having a heaps of fun. During this period, I also spent multiple years tutoring two seven year old students with learning challenges, helping them with their school work and reporting their progress back to their school. A few years later, I spent time organizing and facilitating activities for children aged 3-12 living on Ritsona Refugee Camp. For younger children, these activities focused on cultivating individuality, imagination and opportunities for guided relaxation. For older children, we taught Math and English in addition to creating that space for play. Following this position, I obtained my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification.
As a sister to much younger siblings, there are always children in my life. Whether it's in a family home or on a refugee camp, through babysitting, tutoring, or looking after my brother and sister, I have found child-centered spaces to be where I feel most comfortable and imaginative. Especially now, in the midst of so much external confusion, I would love to help foster those same spaces for families in my own city.
