Biographies
of the E-Course Core Team
Youth & the MDG's
Course Developers and Instructors (Youth Dividend)
Hira Hafeez Ur Rehman (Pakistan)
Hajra Hafeez Ur Rehman (Pakistan)
Course Coordinators ( Youth Action for Change)
Shasheen Jayaweera (Srilanka)
Neha Sinha (India)
Saif-Ur Rehman (Bangladesh)
Victoria Wong Li Leng (Malaysia)
Course Technical Supporter ( UNFPA Pakistan)
Sadia Atta Mehmood, National Programme Officer, UNFPA (Pakistan)
Sadia Atta Mehmood
SADIA ATTA MEHMOOD, (Pakistan) is
working as a National Programme Officer, Youth program of at United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) in Pakistan. Ms. Mehmood is passionate about working
for the promotion of rights for the children and youth of Pakistan. She is also
qualified in the field of Social Work. Ms. Mehmood has participated in various
levels of national and international leadership programs in the field of sexual
and reproductive health. She also has an extensive background in designing
creative development programs for children and young people. A special
leadership program for youth, which she designed, focuses on awareness,
spirituality and interfaith harmony in order to address the sexual and
reproductive health needs of all young people on an equal basis.
Her interest in interfaith work has led her to conduct research projects on exploring the role of religions such as Islam, Christianity and Hinduism in the shaping of young people’s sexuality. She has also compiled verses from different faiths on peace, tolerance and harmony. Ms. Mehmood has worked for a number of different organizations in project management, training, research, and community development. She is the Honorary Chairperson of the Child Development Organization, an NGO based in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Ms. Mehmood has published numerous articles, journals and research papers on youth issues.
Her interest in interfaith work has led her to conduct research projects on exploring the role of religions such as Islam, Christianity and Hinduism in the shaping of young people’s sexuality. She has also compiled verses from different faiths on peace, tolerance and harmony. Ms. Mehmood has worked for a number of different organizations in project management, training, research, and community development. She is the Honorary Chairperson of the Child Development Organization, an NGO based in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Ms. Mehmood has published numerous articles, journals and research papers on youth issues.
Shasheen Jayaweera
Shasheen Jayaweera shares a passion
for youth empowerment and economic development and was recognised as a finalist
in the 'Young Australian of the Year' award in New South Wales in 2007 for his
commitment to assisting developing nations. Shasheen co-founded Pacifikayouth
in 2004 which became the largest network empowering Pacific Islands youth.
He has worked for the World Bank and the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific Islands and also as an economist in Mongolia. Shasheen currently works as management consultant for a global firm during the day and has also worked for some of Australia's largest corporations in various strategy and analytical roles. He was a member of the Government's National Youth Roundtable, the Oxfam International Youth Parliament and a delegate to two World Youth Congresses. Shasheen has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Economics with first class honours from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
He has worked for the World Bank and the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific Islands and also as an economist in Mongolia. Shasheen currently works as management consultant for a global firm during the day and has also worked for some of Australia's largest corporations in various strategy and analytical roles. He was a member of the Government's National Youth Roundtable, the Oxfam International Youth Parliament and a delegate to two World Youth Congresses. Shasheen has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Economics with first class honours from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Neha Sinha
Neha Sinha is very passionate about human
rights and environmental issues and she is currently pursuing her Masters study
in International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE), UK. She is
also a council member in the UN Youth and Student Association Youth Council, UK
and is currently responsible for the PR and lobbying for their campaign on
MDGs. She has worked in the development sector for the past few years and
specializes in conducting economic evaluations, research analysis, advocacy,
outreach and campaigning. Last summer, she served as a Hansen Peace Fellow at
the San Diego State University. She has worked with various advocacy and
research organizations including IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature), Alternative Futures, Children of Gandhi Foundation and MONAR
Association. She has represented her university at various international youth
forums including the International Youth Leadership Conference, Prague and
Harvard University’s World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) UN
simulation. Neha holds a Bachelors degree in Journalism with first class
honours from the University of Delhi, India and has a Post Graduate Diploma in
International Law and Diplomacy from the Indian Academy of International Law
and Diplomacy, India.
Victoria Wong Li Leng (Malaysia)
Victoria
Wong Li Leng is a Youth Volunteer and Advocate for
Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights issues. She has been actively involved in
volunteering for the past 6 years. Currently, she is the Regional Youth
Representative for International Planned Parenthood Federation of East, South
East Asia and the Oceania Region and the youth volunteer for Federation of
Reproductive Health Association Malaysia, as well as Perak Family Health
Association, Malaysia.
Li Leng is a Psychology Graduate with First Class Honours.
Li Leng has also participated and conducted trainings both nationally and internationally. Apart from submitting abstracts to conferences, she was also an abstract viewer for the recent XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Her focus is not only on SRHR issues but also including working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition to that, Li Leng also practices the process from designing, implementing and evaluating programme and projects.
Li Leng has also participated and conducted trainings both nationally and internationally. Apart from submitting abstracts to conferences, she was also an abstract viewer for the recent XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Her focus is not only on SRHR issues but also including working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition to that, Li Leng also practices the process from designing, implementing and evaluating programme and projects.
Hira Hafeez Ur Rehman
HIRA HAFEEZ UR
REHMAN is a co-founder of Youth Dividend. Seeking to promote Gender
rights, healthy child development and active participation of youth in the
Pakistan, Hira invested her education in community and volunteer experience
working with several National and International development organizations for
the past four years. Gender Equality, Youth rights and participation, and
Reproductive Health and HIV & AIDS are the core areas of her interest
and experience. Currently she is working at United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) for Governance projects in Pakistan, she is also
actively involved in the Youth Programme of United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) advocating for active youth participation at policy level and developing
youth programmes for young people all around the world.
Hira practiced leadership through international experiences speaking and advocating about poverty, HIV & AIDS prevention and education, Conflict resolution, Youth and Gender rights and basic child rights. Hira has spent considerable time working at United Nations Headquarters in New York as the youngest pakistani where she worked at the Policy support and coordination branch, UN DESA providing research support for 63rd Session of the General Assembly, writing research based documents on Global Health with focus on MDG's 4, 5 and 6 has been a critical part of her training. Hira is currently running a global e-course of 'Youth and the Millennium Development Goals' along with various initiatives through her organization. In 2010 she was awarded UNFPA’s Youth Ambassador award for her contribution to youth empowerment programmes in Pakistan. Hira served as a Hansen Peace Fellow in Sandiego, California, She holds a BSc (hons) Economics and Finance, and MBA in Finance from Lahore School of Economics, Pakistan.
Hira practiced leadership through international experiences speaking and advocating about poverty, HIV & AIDS prevention and education, Conflict resolution, Youth and Gender rights and basic child rights. Hira has spent considerable time working at United Nations Headquarters in New York as the youngest pakistani where she worked at the Policy support and coordination branch, UN DESA providing research support for 63rd Session of the General Assembly, writing research based documents on Global Health with focus on MDG's 4, 5 and 6 has been a critical part of her training. Hira is currently running a global e-course of 'Youth and the Millennium Development Goals' along with various initiatives through her organization. In 2010 she was awarded UNFPA’s Youth Ambassador award for her contribution to youth empowerment programmes in Pakistan. Hira served as a Hansen Peace Fellow in Sandiego, California, She holds a BSc (hons) Economics and Finance, and MBA in Finance from Lahore School of Economics, Pakistan.
Hajra Hafeez Ur Rehman
Hajra
Hafeez Ur Rehman is an East West Center Fellow who served as
an Asia Pacific Leadership Fellow in Honolulu, Hawaii in
2009-2010. Ms. Hafeez ur Rehman has four years of experience working
in the international development sector with organizations addressing social,
health, environment, education and entrepreneurship issues. In South East Asia
she has extensive grassroots experience with Population and Community
Development Association (PDA), Institute of Tropical Biology in Vietnam and
United Nations. Her experiences include on an eco-tourism management plan for a
national park in South Vietnam, innovating family planning and HIV AIDS
community based prevention plan for sex workers in Thailand, mapping and
analysis tied to the issue of violence against women in Pakistan, and assisting
with clinics at which doctors provide free medical facilities to women in
Pakistan slum areas.
Ms. Hafeez-ur-Rehman holds an MBA in finance and a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance, both from Lahore School of Economics in Pakistan. Last year, she was a keynote speaker at REACH Youth Conference on Gender, HIV and AIDS in Sri Lanka and Asia Pacific Young Leaders Summit in Cambodia. This summer she served as a Hansen Peace Fellow at San Diego State University. Ms. Hafeez ur Rehman is currently serving a research position at Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) HIV AIDS Surveillance Project where she is working with most at risk populations conducting a biological and behavioral mapping. Ms. Hafeez ur Rehman recently founded her own movement called 'Youth Dividend' a dynamic youth-led idea in Pakistan working to develop, inform, inspire and mobilize young people through SRHR education, life skills training, leadership training, peer education, awareness raising, skill building, policy and advocacy.
Ms. Hafeez-ur-Rehman holds an MBA in finance and a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance, both from Lahore School of Economics in Pakistan. Last year, she was a keynote speaker at REACH Youth Conference on Gender, HIV and AIDS in Sri Lanka and Asia Pacific Young Leaders Summit in Cambodia. This summer she served as a Hansen Peace Fellow at San Diego State University. Ms. Hafeez ur Rehman is currently serving a research position at Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) HIV AIDS Surveillance Project where she is working with most at risk populations conducting a biological and behavioral mapping. Ms. Hafeez ur Rehman recently founded her own movement called 'Youth Dividend' a dynamic youth-led idea in Pakistan working to develop, inform, inspire and mobilize young people through SRHR education, life skills training, leadership training, peer education, awareness raising, skill building, policy and advocacy.
