In this episode, I speak to Kini Teesdale. Kini is an Early Years practitioner who has worked in humanitarian and refugee education for over a decade in USA, France, and Greece. Kini is also a co-founder of Crisis Management Association, whose focus is on providing healthcare systems to refugees and displaced people in Lesvos, Greece.

As part of Kini's Masters degree, she undertook research for her thesis at the Alsama School in Beirut, Lebanon. The Alsama Project is a non-profit, NGO founded in 2020 in a refugee camp in Beirut and now serving over 800 young refugees and displaced teenagers from across the Middle-East.

You can find out more about both NGOs at the following websites:

www.crisismanagementassociation.com

www.alsamaproject.com

Olena Puchko is a Maths teacher with over two decades of experience teaching in Kyiv, Ukraine, but none of that experience could prepare her for the past 3 years. Olena completed her PGCE with the University of Sunderland in 2023, at the height of Russia's drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and her commitment to her studies and her students was nothing short of inspirational.

In this episode, Olena shares stories of teaching in a bomb shelter, managing student exams whilst neighbouring buildings are brought to the ground, and overcoming the struggles of technology with laughter and community spirit.

In the second episode of this ‘Teaching in Conflict’ series, I speak to Julia Knight. Julia is an experienced international teacher and educational leader who has taught in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

During her time in education, she has experienced terrorist attacks (plural!), a military coup, and presidential visits; so what has all of this taught Julia about what it takes to keep on coming back?

In this upcoming episode, I speak to Julia Knight. Julia is an experienced international teacher and educational leader who has taught in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. During her time in education, she has experienced terrorist attacks (plural!), a military coup, and presidential visits; so what has all of this taught Julia about what it takes to keep on coming back?

The full episode is out Wednesday, 17th September.

In this first episode of the ‘Teaching in Conflict’ series, I had the opportunity to speak with Mohamad Rabah, director of the Palestinian Circus School.

Based in the West Bank of Palestine, Mohamad speaks candidly about his journey from a young boy during the first intifada, to a student in North-East England, and back to where it all began in the West Bank where he now lives with his wife and 2 young children, whilst making a difference in the lives of thousands of young people, many of whom displaced from their homes, their communities, and their families.

Mohamad talks about the role that education, and in particular alternative education provision, can play in providing young people with a safe space to explore themselves, develop skills, and find their place in a world which is so often turned upside down in the blink of an eye.

You can find out more about the Palestinian Circus School and the amazing work they are doing on all of the usual social media platforms, including on Instagram @the.palestinian.circus. While you’re there, you can also follow our Instagram @TeachingBeyondBordersPod.

This is the trailer for an upcoming episode where I speak to Mohamad Rabah from Palestine Circus School, based in the West Bank, Occupied Palestine. In the episode, Mohamad speaks candidly about his journey from a young boy during the first intifada, to a student in North-East England, and back to where it all began in the West Bank where he now lives with his wife and 2 young children, whilst making a difference in the lives of thousands of young people, many of whom displaced from their homes, their communities, and their families. We hope that you will find his story inspiring and informative, but until then please listen to this snippet, follow us, and share with others.

Instagram: @TeachingBeyondBordersPod