We Belong

For the episode #48 of We Belong, we interviewed Stefano Manservisi, former Director-General at the European Commission. Prior to that, he was the Head of the Private Office of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs. In 2014, Mr. Manservisi was the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey. He held different positions at the Commission, including as Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, and Director-General for Development and Relations with African, Caribbean, and Pacific States. He has also headed the Private Offices of the Commission’s President Romano Prodi and Commissioner Mario Monti. In conversation with Mr Manservisi, we discussed his approach to serve as an inclusive leader: he shared concrete examples of dialogue and intercultural understanding through his European career and he explained why we need a Commissioner from immigration backgrounds for the next European Commission's mandate. Ahead of the European Elections, Mr Manservisi reflects on the urgency of involving youth and immigrant descents in public debates and the importance of promoting peace as the core mission of the European project. Episode recorded with the support of Silversquare.

For the episode #47 of We Belong, we were at the European Parliament to meet the MEP Salima Yenbou. Born in Seine-Saint-Denis, she worked as a school administrator before her election in 2019. MEP Yenbou is one of only 24 eurodeputies who are people of color out of 705 (cf. ENAR). In conversation with MEP Yenbou, we discussed her commitment for representation in Europe, why she decided to become an elected official and her approach to foster equal opportunities in French suburbs.

For the episode #46 of We Belong, we met the inspirational Amal Tahir. Multitalented, Amal is a renowned feminist author, speaker, sexologist and advocate for women's health and empowerment. With a background in gynecology and obstetrics, she has dedicated her career to promoting a positive and inclusive dialogue surrounding topics such as mental health, body positivity, and sexuality. Through her writings and content shared to more than 100.000 followers, Amal seeks to challenge societal norms and empower individuals to embrace their bodies and identities unapologetically. She is celebrated for her compassionate approach and commitment to promoting understanding, acceptance and belonging in all aspects of life. In conversation with Amal, she shared valuable advice to spot red flags in any type of relationships, she shared her European journey from Italy, Belgium til France, and she gave valuable advice to our young audience. Amal's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/amaltahir/ Her podcast Garce Therapy: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YQ5Yuzt8nuPY1s76T261Y Her books: https://www.fnac.com/ia9410911/Amal-Tahir

For the #45 episode, we introduce you to Nadia Kendall, Head of Hidden Disabilities at We Belong Europe.  Nadia has a law and politics background, she is both American and Luxembourg, with Iranian and Caribbean backgrounds. Since a young age, Nadia experienced gastrointestinal pain and she was misdiagnosed til her later teenage years. In conversation, with Nadia, we discussed the struggle that people with hidden disabilities face to get properly diagnosed and the impact of being invalidated. We also discussed our brand new program NeuroEquity, that she coordinates, where we will support affected individuals with workshops, research and advocacy campaigns. https://www.webelongeurope.com/hiddendisabilitiesprogram With the support of André Losch Foundation.

For the #44 episode of We Belong, we met Daniela Ragni, the Director of the André Losch Foundation. Since 2023, the André Losch Foundation supports We Belong Europe through our PowHer Leadership Program. The Foundation has independently supported projects dedicated to young people in Luxembourg, in the fields of education, social inclusion and health. Daniela leads the Foundation on strategic and operational development since 2019. During her career, Daniela has worked for around twenty years within non-governmental organisations active in the social and International Cooperation in Luxembourg, by occupying several management positions, notably at Fairtrade asbl and the Caritas Foundation.  In conversation with Daniela, we discussed her inspiring journey from Italy to Luxembourg, what motivated the Foundation to support We Belong and why they believe in our program PowHer. Episode produced by Cecilia Said Vieira. With the support of André Losch Foundation.

For the #43 episode of We Belong, we were in Berlin to meet Mina Saidze, the Author of FairTech, Founder of Inclusive Tech and a Forbes 30 Under 30. Mina’s mission is to democratise Big Data and Artificial Intelligence by creating a bridge between tech and business. She decided to found Inclusive Tech to challenge the status-quo in the tech industry. Today, Inclusive Tech is Europe’s first advocacy and consulting organisation for Diversity in Tech and AI Ethics. In conversation with Mina, we discussed her family story, her mission to make Tech and AI accessible to everyone and her aspirations for the next years through her business venture. She is the daughter of political activists from Afghanistan that fled the country to offer their children a better life. Her family story inspired her throughout her whole life and she is the first woman in her family to graduate university.

For the #42 episode of We Belong, we met Adeola Naomi Aderemi, a multilingual, multilocal, AfroGreek, and multi-format artist, scholar, curator, and healer.  Adeola has been working as a curator, yoga therapist, and editor in chief of Distinguished Diva. Her debut documentary film “I am Afro-Greek” covers the lives and lived experiences of Greeks of African descent. She utilises the integration of holistic healing practices in policy places and modalities of care available on issues around Black women’s liberation, gender justice, women’s health, and equal representation for voices of women of African descent in global media. Her work in various mediums has been featured in publications such as Women Under Siege, New York Times, Ms. Magazine, New Museum New York, Forbes, E-flux, Elle, and Vogue. In conversation with Adeola, we discussed her experience living in Greece (and around the world), her volunteer work for refugees and migrants coming to Greece and her commitment to foster diversity in the media and creative industries through her documentary I am Afro-Greek.

For the #41 episode of We Belong, we met Kristina Lunz, an entrepreneur, author, and activist. She is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, she was named among the "30 under 30" by Forbes and she was the German face of Giorgio Armani's Female Empowerment campaign "Crossroads" in 2022. Kristina served as an external advisor for the German Foreign Office and UNDP, among others. In her work from New York to Bogotá, from Germany to Myanmar, she became aware of a stubborn unwillingness to think past the status quo and to embrace new, innovative voices from marginalized groups. She also saw that the tradition of feminist activism combined brilliantly with diplomacy: both require grim tenacity, boundless creativity and a solutions-oriented approach. In conversation with Kristina, we discussed her bestseller "The Future of Foreign Policy is Feminist" that promotes an inclusive, visionary policy where genders are equally represented. Episode recorded at INNSiDE by Melia Luxembourg. With the Support of André Losch Foundation.

For the episode #40 of We Belong, we met the inspiring Cecilia Said Vieira. She is a Social Entrepreneur, Marketing & Communication Expert and Founder of the podcast 'Ceci, Do You Love Me?'. Cecilia is a Luxembourger with a Brazilian background and during her studies in Berlin she noticed that many Luxembourgers live in a "bubble" from which many don't dare to venture out. She wanted to change this through her successful podcast that deconstructs prejudice and sparkles meaningful conversations across Luxembourg. In conversation with Cecilia, we discussed her target audience and the ways she engages and reaches the Gen Z. As a culture enthusiast, she also hosts and produces the culture podcast "Kulturpur" by culture.lu to provide a platform for Luxembourgish artists. With the support of André Losch Foundation.

For the #39 episode of We Belong, we met Sarah Zitouni, the mind behind the 150k followers Instagram account “PowHer Ta Carriere”! Based in Sweden, Sarah spends 80% of her time working as a Director of Strategy in the automotive sector and 20% of her time coaching women to gain confidence and advance their careers. After years thriving to find her place in a male-dominant sector, today she shares her lessons learned with more than 150k women via social media, she coaches them and she just published a book called PowHer Ta Carriere.  In conversation with Sarah, we discussed how she overcame her impostor syndrome as a female engineer and how crucial self-branding is to get promoted and recognised in the workplace.

For the #38 episode of We Belong, Co-Founders Yasmine & Jana did a Q&A to introduce our new leadership program: PowHer!  PowHer is a journey towards transformation, growth, and making a positive impact. For 10 months, a cohort of young women will benefit from workshops and individual coaching sessions to develop their leadership skills. Our Co-founders discussed what motivated them to launch PowHer and their goal to equip young women with the essential skills and unwavering confidence needed to drive meaningful change in society. PowHer is a program developed with the support of André Losh Foundation. Find more here: https://www.webelongeurope.com/powher-project

For the #37 episode of We Belong, we were in Luxembourg for a discussion with Aymeric Kabore, an activist and a Diversity & Inclusion professional. Aymeric shared his experience arriving to Luxembourg at a young age and how he found an armony in self-defining as an Afro-European. We also spoke about gender identity and how intersectionality make us unique in our lived experiences. This episode is part of a project in collaboration with Soul of Nations.

For the #36 episode of We Belong, we were in Luxembourg for a discussion with Maimuna Djalo, who works as an Educator. Maimuna opened up on her experience as she faced several episodes of discrimination by peers and teachers when she was a child. These difficult moments prompted her to become a teacher and she shared with us the importance to bring more representation into the educational sector. This episode is part of a project in collaboration with Soul of Nations.

For the #35 episode of We Belong, we were in Luxembourg for a discussion with Igor Tchappi, a Research Associate at the University of Luxembourg. Igor shared his passion for computer science and how the lack of data can lead to biases. He is currently working on a research at the intersection of AI and Social Inclusion and we discussed the need for more scholarships for people with diverse backgrounds to pursue a PhD. This episode is part of a project in collaboration with Soul of Nations.

For the #34 episode of We Belong, we were in Germany for a discussion with Oumou Aidara, an photographer, a director and a committed environmentalist. We discussed their passion for photography, sports and film. Their work explores issues of identity, belonging, psychology, nature and society. Oumou also opened up on their experience living in Berlin and how language can influence individuals. This episode is part of a project in collaboration with Soul of Nations.

For the #33 episode of We Belong, we had an intimate discussion with our Co-Founder Jana Degrott, that also counts as one of the youngest elected politicians in Luxembourg and in Europe. Since the age of 16, Jana has been active in politics and by the age on 21 she was elected as a Local Councilor in Luxembourg. Recognised Obama Leader by the Obama Foundation, Responsible Leader by the BMW Foundation and Goalkeeper by the Gates Foundation, she is a role model for many aspiring female leaders. In conversation with Jana, she recalled her first elections compared to the current elections she is campaigning for. She also opened up on the mental health struggles she faced due to her political work and how she found her sense of belonging. Episode in partnership with Get the Trolls Out.

For the #32 episode of We Belong, we traveled to Paris to meet Salwa Rajaa, a Model with Moroccan backgrounds who advocates for inclusivity in the fashion industry. In the past few months, Salwa’s story was covered by several French media where she shared her experience as an Arab model. One day, she found herself having her name changed to “Sylvie” during a casting. For a long time Salwa felt ashamed of her identity, but today she is confident about who she is and bold to speak up to call for inclusion. In conversation with Rajaa, she shared with us the meeting that changed her career and prompted her to become a model, but also the difficulties she faced in the industry and what motivated her to speak up in order to foster change.

For the #31 episode of We Belong, we traveled to Paris to meet Élisabeth Moreno, a French-Cape Verdean businesswoman and politician. Mrs Moreno served as Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities at the French Prime Minister's Office. Previous to that, Mrs Moreno worked for giant tech companies as Dell, France Telecom and she was the Managing Director for HP Africa before receiving a call from the French Prime Minister’s office that changed her destiny. Under Moreno's leadership, the French government successfully introduced a bill intended to protect victims of domestic violence, allowing doctors to break patient confidentiality if they believe a life is "in immediate danger". In conversation with Mrs Moreno, we discussed her journey moving from Cape Verde to France with her family in the late 1970s, her management style as a Female Executive in Tech and her ambitions to bridge the gap between public and private sectors. Her key advice to our listeners is: Dare to try!

For the #30 episode of We Belong, we met Sawsan Chebli, a Palestinian-German Politician who worked in the highest spheres of power in Germany. Sawsan was born to Palestinian asylum seekers in Germany and grew up with her parents and twelve siblings in Berlin. Between 2010 and 2014, Chebli was the first spokesperson for intercultural affairs of Berlin's State Minister of the Interior and Sport. In 2014, she served as deputy spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office, she was the first Muslim person to hold that post. From 2016 until 2021, Sawsan served as State Secretary for Federal Affairs in the state government of the Governing Mayor of Berlin. In conversation with Sawsan, she shared the challenges she faced as a female politician, the hate she faced as a muslim outspoken woman and what motivates her to keep going despite threats and criticisms. Episode produced in collaboration with Get The Trolls Out.

For the #29 episode of We Belong, we met Nesrine Slaoui, a Franco-Moroccan independent journalist and author. After graduating from Sciences Po in 2018, she has worked for national TV channels such as reporter for ITélé (Canal+) and as host for France Télévisions. She was also the face of the online media Loopsider, carrying out several investigations on domestic violence, police violence and student precariousness. In January 2021, Nesrine published her first novel "Illegitimate" to tell her story and her family immigration journey coming from Morocco and to growing up in a small rural city in France. A book committed to equal opportunities and against all forms of sexist or racist discrimination. Ahead of her upcoming second book “Seule” (Alone), out on January 4, we discussed with her about the struggles she faced at school, her experience in journalism and how she found a way to express herself through writing.