Ahmad Al Rashid

“The programme I studied at SOAS has not only expand my knowledge of the impact violence and conflicts but also enabled me to explore possibilities to transform challenges into opportunities.”

Ahmad graduated from Aleppo University in 2012 with a BA in English Literature. He moved to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2013 where he joined the UN to support efforts to aid Syrian refugees and Iraqi displaced people. In mid-2015 Ahmad moved to the UK and was supported by the Saïd Foundation to do his masters in Violence, Conflict and Development.

Since his arrival in the UK, Ahmad worked with various groups and organisations advocating for refugee rights and children refugees. He has spoken in the UK Parliament on several occasions and written for several news agencies including the Guardian and the Independent. Ahmad also featured on the BBC’s award winning documentary Exodus which followed his long and perilous journey from Syria to the UK. Ahmad has participated in several public debates and continues to raise awareness about the plight of Syrian refugees.

After completing his masters Ahmad has been working as a consultant for the International Organisation for Migration where he supports the integration of Syrian refugees resettled to the UK.