#WeAreInternational - Meet The Team! (Part Two)

July at The Women’s Organisation is a month dedicated to our worldwide reach. Whether it’s our international projects and partners, the diversity within our own team or our merchandise popping up on all corners of the globe, we’ll be celebrating the marvels of internationalism! 

Our office is a proud workplace for people from all backgrounds and cultures and we’d like to pay homage to that. You’ll already be familiar with many of these faces, who have been working with us for as many as 19 years. Take a read of their international experience and find out just how they ended up with us here at The Women’s Organisation ..

 Thiri Mo Soe – Finance Manager

“I grew up in Yangon, Myanmar until 1993. After I met my husband, we moved to Liverpool in 1994. We chose Liverpool because of Soe family already settle in Liverpool last six years ago, they moved from Evesham.

When my first son was two years old, I saw advertisement about a one-year Business Studies course at Trade Union Centre which was across the road from Blackburn house, Train 2000’s original office. After one-year of my course, my co-ordinator arranged a work placement at Train 2000 for one month, after that I volunteered and then started a part-time Finance Officer job that was December 1999. And now, 19 years later, here I am still at The Women’s Organisation.”

Suzanne Allen - Administrator

“I’m born and bred Northerner from Sheffield. My mum is from Sheffield and my Dad is from Manchester but lived in Sheffield since college age.

I moved to Liverpool when I was 18 for university and stayed! I was working when I graduated and felt settled here. I find it similar to Sheffield in the size of the city centre and the friendliness of the people. The diversity of culture and heritage here is fantastic, and with so many independent businesses there’s always something going on.

I was looking for a new work opportunity in an organisation with a charity or strong engagement focus (my background is in arts/charity administration, applied for a job opening, was lucky to be accepted and I’m still here 2 years later!”

Sandra Sipaviciute – Facilities Manager

"I was born in Lithuania in a small town in the north of the country (so I am a northerner at heart). We are one of the two Baltic countries and have a very small population of three million people and you can drive across the country in 5 hours or so. I grew up in rural surroundings, but always dreamt living in a city and this dream came true!

I first came to the UK as an exchange Erasmus Socrate Student (studied in Manchester though yuk!) back in 2005, and had a seasonal job in Liverpool where I met a certain someone, fell in love and that was that. Unfortunately, soon after the love has ended, I remained in the country and slowly started building my little life here.

A friend mentioned about Train2000 in 2008 that they offer FREE courses for women and I was eligible for their Lighthouse project back then, so attended a 2-day personal development course with Pat Shae-Halson which made me feel 2 meters above the ground and I had a burst of confidence and was amazed that such organisation exists and offers services for Free. At exact same time (2008 summer) there was an advert in the Echo for Admin role at the Organisation and I thought I will give it a go. Pat gave me a massive advice on how to complete an application form as I had no clue and would not been selected for interviews. Luckily I won the hearts of Laura Anderson and Sharon Dinsmore who interviewed me back then and here I am now, almost 10 years working for the company."

#WeAreInternational: Meet the Team!

July at The Women’s Organisation is a month dedicated to our worldwide reach. Whether it’s our international projects and partners, the diversity within our own team or our merchandise popping up on all corners of the globe, we’ll be celebrating the marvels of internationalism! 

Our office is a proud workplace for people from all backgrounds and cultures and we’d like to pay homage to that. You’ll already be familiar with many of these faces, who have been working with us for as many as 19 years. Take a read of their international experience and find out just how they ended up with us here at The Women’s Organisation .. 

Huda Mamoun – Senior Business Adviser

“I grow up at the banks of the River Niles city, Khartoum in Sudan, and had also lived in Ethiopia and Kenya, during my teen years. Coming from a mixed cultural background of African origin and Arabic language speaking as a mother tongue, it has been a privilege for me to understand cross cultural heritages and become so open to the world. 

For education, career development and family commitment, I then moved on and lived for years in other countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Australia and UK).   The times I lived on those counties, have been the accumulative wealth and treasure that I cultivated throughout my living. Meeting different people and living in various and different cultural places and communities have enriched my live all round in many aspects, which I’m grateful for.

Having graduated from a Law school and practiced for some years.  I’ve always, from early years, have strong interest in women development and I chose it as part of my MBA research studies. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to work in Liverpool for main Academic institutions and large-scale regeneration programmes involved in women development projects.
 
In late 1990s, I found about Train 2000 (now The Women’s Organisation). I became very fond and interested in what they do and started following them and got involved in voluntary activities with the Organisation on different level. Several years after, I joined Train 2000 as a Trainee Business Adviser, have learned and developed skills and become a senior business adviser at The Women’s Organisation. 

Looking at the bigger picture, I can see my life and professional career was painted well beforehand, may be form my early years, to marry my interest and what I love doing with previous work opportunities that I have had in my life and the job I’m working on at The Women’s Organisation today.”

Lacra Aciobanitei – Finance Officer

“I was born in Romania in a small town in the eastern part of the country, called Husi. Moved to Bucharest at 19 to attend university and lived and worked there for 6 years before moving to the UK.
In 2009, my partner and I wanted to explore life a little bit and decided to try and live abroad for 12 months and our adventure has been on for 9 years now.

I applied to be a volunteer with an international charity and choose London initially, but as they had no vacancies we were encouraged to try Liverpool and turned out to be the best decision ever. We were and still are fascinated by the home of the Beatles. A friend of mine was already working for The Women’s Organisation and encouraged me to apply and the rest is history!”

Cynthia Bosafola – Trainee Business Adviser

I was born in Democratic republic of Congo and moved over to east London when I was 4 years old! So, I would say I am a Congolese Londoner!

I moved to Liverpool 10 years ago to study at John moors university, previously to this I had never been to Liverpool, but I wanted to study somewhere different, be away from London but not too far away! But when I came up for my university audition, I had such a great experience and there was something magical about the city!

My background is mainly in television, but after my contract ended in my last job, I was looking for something different – something that would challenge me. I did an internship at a co-working space and at the same time was looking into starting my own business. Future Boss Club did an event at Launch 22, where I was working and so when I looked into them I found out they were linked to The Women’s Organisation and really loved their beliefs and what they stood for.

A few months later a vacancy came up as a trainee business advisor and I jumped at the chance. I wasn’t sure if I would get the job, but here I am! I’m so glad I have the opportunity to work in this organisation! 

We're not done just yet .. stay posted for part TWO of this blog!