Branching out from Flanders in Belgium, my work helps organisations address the cultural misunderstandings and misinformation that contribute to hostile behaviours towards non-European people, especially African descendants, and consequently bridge these gaps for better engagement and wellbeing outcomes.
“Wellbeing and leadership matters for marginalised students and professionals in our education culture are often addressed by people far removed from their lived experiences.
What of their emotional safety, professional prospects, opportunities and goals?
”
Non-native European educators and students in European educational institutes, often feel disconnected from a colonially-skewed-Euro-centric curriculum . The UN’s 2023 meeting (recording at the bottom of the link) concerning disaggregated data to advance the human rights of people of African descent reveals what this type of disconnection and alienation can lead to in terms of the community’s wellbeing and leadership prospects, which inevitably translates to the individual student or educator. The European Commission’s 2024 (link to report in article) Factsheet on racism and discrimination against Black persons highlights that discrimination against people of African descent, in particular, is still prevalent across European institutions, which finds its roots in colonial ideology.
Some of us struggle to integrate our rich cultural heritages while in an educational system that doesn’t reflect our lived experiences as valuable. Depending on the support available, this struggle can be empowering or isolating.
This is where I come in. When discrepancies arise between the educational approach, the material and the student or teachers needs, standard solutions don’t seem to get to the heart of the matter. I reconcile the discrepancies, co-create tools for bridge-building and lighten the load.
Classical interventions usually lead to cosmetic or performative consensus while creating even larger gaps that the student/teacher later has to reconcile at his/her own expense. With my work we all put skin in the game to find authentic, wholesome, long-term solutions.
Creative stagnation
Did you know that leaders with multi-ethnic backgrounds face resistance when they apply for vacancies and are forced to prove their worth in a dominant hierarchical culture, facing hostility almost daily. As more non-European professionals enter leadership roles in education, their emotional safety can no longer be ignored. We will have to include their expertise and safety in the restructuring of an inclusive education culture if we want to have more innovation and prosperity for all.
Are you currently leading a dynamic educational organisation but finding it difficult to navigate the challenges posed by a tight budget and the high academic demands that leave staff and students with little opportunity to connect meaningfully?
Are you also observing noticeable fissures or divides between native Europeans and non-Europeans within your educational spaces, creating a sense of disconnection?
Would you like to explore effective ways to invest both time and effort into your own journey of decolonising education?
Together, we will work to uncover and develop creative solutions that address key areas such as:
fostering improved communication and cooperation,
cultivating an inclusive education culture, and
enhancing leadership development.
Holding space
With my facilitative support, we can ensure that we not only amplify wellbeing and leadership but also encourage your educators and students to foster a sense of community and belonging.
If you are genuinely passionate about the future and the overall wellbeing of both the staff and students you interact with on a daily basis, let’s engage in a thoughtful conversation about planting seeds of artful inclusivity and amplifying cultures of teamwork within our educational environments.
When we collaborate
We’ll identify what a supportive and harmonious environment in your educational setting, would look like. For a good level of mutual understanding, key aspects to reflect on will be:
- self-care;
- community care;
- managing fears/anxiety/ad(h)d; and
- understanding the deep-rooted impact of racism and xenophobia
We’ll create personalised strategies that align with your values and goals.
Engagement & fulfilment
Engagement and fulfilment are fundamental aspects of my approach. I find great joy and fulfilment in leading highly engaging, trauma-sensitive workshops that are thoughtfully designed for students, educators, or a productive mix of both. These workshops incorporate a clear, adaptable, and intuitively guided structure that encourages active participation and personalised learning, effectively catering to each individual's unique needs, perspectives, and aspirations.
Towards the conclusion of their comprehensive research project concerning the lives and experiences of people of African Descent in Belgium, I assisted Sankaa with the data analysis. Since then, I have had the honour to represent this award winning organisation alongside my esteemed colleagues, Dr. Evodia Uggi and Dr. Edna Lamnteh, presenting data to Belgian universities and EU state departments.
Together with Dr. Edna Lamnteh I presented the data and methodology of Sankaa’s groundbreaking research. Our workshop aimed to help students get a broader and deeper understanding of more structural forms of social work, beyond traditional support services including strategies for addressing inequality, empowering marginalised groups, and work practices aimed at transforming the root causes of social issues.
Daria and I initially connected through LinkedIn, and once we finally had the opportunity to meet in real life, we quickly became constant cheerleaders for each other. Over the years, we have collaborated on a number of exciting initiatives. Our most notable partnership is the R&P Circle, which serves as a virtual meeting space for those individuals who find themselves at odds with the racial and privilege ideology in their everyday lives. We support, ideas and hold space for one another. You can find out more information about this initiative here.
Over the course of 6-8 months, I actively participated in a valuable initiative that was overseen by Tiny Alaerts and Philsan from Avansa, Leuven. This program provided numerous opportunities for learning and growth in relation to decolonisation in Belgium, and in particular in Flanders. Here you can find more information available in Dutch.
This was a valuable collaboration extended to me through Sankaa vzw, an organization dedicated to social awareness and empowerment. During this partnership, Dr. Evodia Uggi and I had the opportunity to facilitate an engaging workshop that elaborated in detail on the research and data analysis methodology utilised for the Racism Unravelled project. This project aims to explore and understand the complexities surrounding racism in our society.
