The inaugural International Young Scotland Programme, promoted and organised by the Scottish Review team under the direction of Fiona MacDonald, begins today. Here are the 30 young people, all born overseas and now living and working in Scotland, who have been selected to take part:
Pinar Aksu
Born Turkey
Independent delegate
I moved to the UK at the age of eight and have been living in Glasgow since then. I am in my final year of a BA in community development at the University of Glasgow. I have been working with Toryglen Youth Club, asylum seekers and refugees at the Unity Women’s Project, and the World Spirit Forum Theatre Group in Govan, and my current placement is with Active Inquiry in Edinburgh, a theatre company.
Yolanda Arjona Chaparro
Born Spain
Representing the Scottish Government
As a teenager, I became involved in voluntary work with different wildlife projects. I qualified as a scuba diver and while diving around Spain, I focused my interest on marine conservation. I studied biology and attained an MSc degree in marine sciences. In 2011 I relocated to Scotland to work in a marine laboratory and subsequently for Marine Scotland as a fishery officer.
Maria Brackin
Born USA
Representing the St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York
I am pursuing a postgraduate degree in philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. As leader of the Edinburgh Women in Philosophy Group, I run workshops and events dedicated to fighting the under-representation of women in the field. I also serve as an MSc programme representative, volunteer with the peer listening service, Nightline, and train as an amateur boxer and distance runner.
Susithra (Susie) Chandramohan
Born India
Representing NHS Education for Scotland
I came to the UK to do my masters in international management at Oxford. I love to participate actively in local community development projects and I am a member of UNICEF. I always believe local business and local produce are the backbone of any economy.
Rea Cris
Born Greece
Representing Scottish Environment LINK and IUCN UK
Peatland Programme
I’m trained as an art historian. My roles combine event management, advocacy and networking with a wide variety of people both locally and internationally including NGOs, governmental and private sectors. Still finding my feet in advocacy, I’m greatly enjoying the challenge and learning curve.
Christopher (Chris) Crosbie
Born USA
Representing the St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York
I am from Essex, Connecticut, and graduated from American University in May 2012. During my third year at the university’s School of International Service, I interned with the Scottish Affairs Office at the British Embassy in Washington DC. This experience spurred my interest in both international relations and issues surrounding Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Europe. I am pursuing an MSc in international and European politics at the University of Edinburgh, and recently completed an internship at the US consulate in Scotland’s capital.
Ruth Cusack
Born Ireland
Representing University of Edinburgh
I moved over to Scotland from Ireland in 2012 and have been working in the postgraduate department in the University of Edinburgh ever since. My job entails being the first point of contact for all postgraduate students in our school. It’s a very busy role but one that I enjoy. I have previously volunteered for the Special Olympics and the Samaritans.
Laurie Gayle
Born USA
Representing YWCA Scotland
A Texas native, I moved to Scotland in 2006 to study at Glasgow University. I’ve worked in the Scottish voluntary sector, firstly at Oxfam in business operations and latterly at Save the Children where I work in grants management. I currently chair YWCA Scotland and am vice-president of YWCA GB. I am interested in politics, aid work and women’s empowerment.
John Hasar
Born Turkey
Independent delegate
I’m the start-up facilities engineer for Jasmine, a $2.5bn development project in ConocoPhillips’ UK portfolio. Previously, I spent one and a half years in the Central North Sea production team supporting day-to-day business. My prior assignments with ConocoPhillips included serving as automation engineer in Alaska and attending the Summit accelerated development programme in Houston.
Amy Hoff
Born USA
Independent delegate
I was born in Duluth, Minnesota, close to the Canadian border. I teach Scottish folklore at the University of Glasgow and am currently studying for a PhD at the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute. I founded and run my own theatre company in Glasgow, and am a playwright, novelist, professional Oriental dancer, and model. I currently lecture and teach dance aboard cruise ships worldwide.
Zorica Ilin
Born Macedonia
Independent delegate
I am a newly trained youth worker with a passion for community education, youth issues and global citizenship development. I have been volunteering with the British Red Cross school speaker programme for over a year by facilitating workshops on humanitarian issues for young people aged 6-17. I also work for the Midlothian Young People’s Advice Service. I am an international relations graduate currently applying for a post-graduate degree in community education.
Nusrat Jahan
Born Bangladesh
Representing Grampian Regional Equality Council
Having completed a masters in economics, I volunteer in several social events, fairs and roadshows representing Grampian Regional Equality Council, and update information in the North East Scotland Equality Network website which brings people together to help achieve equality. My interpreting helps to bridge the gap between English and non-English speakers. I want to contribute towards a fair and equal society.
Jaclyn Kaye
Born USA
Representing the Scottish Parliament
Having recently passed the ‘Life in the UK’ test, I am now unusually adept at rescuing digestive biscuits from tea before they break off and ruin everything. In addition to this qualification, I earned an honours BA in cognitive science in Toronto, an MSc in education in Edinburgh and, finally – after what I now understand was an ungrateful childhood in dry, sunny California – a proper appreciation of winter. Being particularly motivated by my belief in the importance of a well-informed public and my enthusiasm for policies that promote social justice, I now work for the Scottish Parliament.
Andrew Kocaj
Born Poland
Representing the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
In 2005 I came to Scotland to study business. I graduated with a masters degree in business management at Edinburgh Napier University. During my time at Napier I joined the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Polish Family Support Centre as a volunteer to serve the public. Since 2011, I have been a director for the Polish Family Support Centre charity organisation. I spend a lot of time bringing communities together and delivering high quality services to the public.
Ali Mudassir
Born Pakistan
Representing the Scottish Refugee Council
I am 20 years old. Originally I come from Pakistan but left with my mum and two brothers in March 2011 seeking asylum in the UK due to hostile conditions in my country. I make a very significant contribution to Scottish society by volunteering – up to 40 hours per week, including for the Scottish Refugee Council and North Glasgow Integration Network. I also am a huge cricket fan and love to play; I helped set up two teams in the community (a youth and a senior team). When I gain leave to remain in the UK I would love to be employed in automotive engineering, as I am passionate about cars.
Lili Oláh
Born Hungary
Representing the Scottish Refugee Council
I am a Hungarian lawyer and have just finished an MSc in global crime, justice and security at the University of Edinburgh. My main interest is human rights and I focus on refugee and asylum law. I have worked for NHS NSS Practitioner Services for two and half years now and I have been a volunteer for the Scottish Refugee Council One Stop service department for six months, advocating asylum seekers. I also volunteered for a Hungarian human rights organisation, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, where I supported the patients’ rights department.
Agnieszka Stachowiak
Born Poland
Representing Calzeat & Co Ltd
I moved to Scotland three years ago. I am in my third year of undergraduate IT studies at Edinburgh Napier University. I also have a background in law, which I studied in Poland and Germany. I am currently working at G4S. My field of expertise is IT, especially databases, web design and sound design. I would love to do another placement this summer, ideally with a small or medium Scottish enterprise.
Kyriakos Vogiatzis
Born Greece
Representing the Scottish Youth Theatre
My background is in business administration and management (BA Hons) and arts and cultural management (MA). My main professional interests lie in marketing and audience development for the cultural sector. My current position with Scottish Youth Theatre focuses on youth participation, digital marketing and social media. I am a regular columnist for free press magazines, usually writing about art, culture and politics.
In view of the SR team’s commitment to the International Young Scotland Programme, this is the only edition of the Scottish Review this week. SR returns next Tuesday
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