Our Story

In 2002, a group of six friends who had fled conflict in Afghanistan persuaded a local school in Edgware to let them use their school on a Saturday. They set up a place for local refugee parents and children to learn more about their new home.

While the other founding members moved on with their lives, one person consistently worked hard to develop and expand Paiwand – Farid Mall. He stayed with us for 16 years, dedicating all this time to changing one small classroom into an organisation that serves over 2,000 people coming from all over the world in North-West London.

At the end of 2017, we said goodbye to our beloved leader, Farid. The whole community wishes him the best in his joyful future venture. Here at Paiwand, we continue in our mission to help and support refugees and vulnerable asylum seekers to settle and thrive in a different environment.

A Trusted Community Organisation Serving Refugees in North West London.

Empowering Refugees

Our Values

With a dedicated team of expert staff and volunteers, we support the refugee community across North-West London. Our key values are:

• Friendship – We stand in solidarity and friendship alongside all refugees and migrants.
• Belief – No matter how ordinary or extraordinary a person’s dreams are, we have an unwavering belief in their ability to realise them.
• Courage – We are inspired by the courage we see every day in the people we help.
• Peace – We wholeheartedly and peacefully respect everyone, regardless of nationality, spiritual belief or politics.
    

Our Services

Paiwand provides a variety of services for adults and children in the community, including a Saturday school where classes range from Pashto and Dari to maths and English. We also provide support for teenagers who are living alone in the UK and adults who have a range of issues, including:
 

• Housing and Benefits
• Mental Health
• Employment
• Immigration
• Learning English
    

ICO Reg No: ZB338429

OISC Reg No: N201000017

Paiwand is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA).
  

Fahima Zaheen

Chief Executive Officer

Fahima gained higher qualifications in Media and Sociology from the London South Bank University, and in Politics and Social Sciences from Birkbeck, University of London in 2014. Fahima has been involved in charity and community work since 2006, advocating for refugees and asylum seekers for in different capacities. In addition to her freelance work, she has had posts at the Embassy of the Republic of Afghanistan in London, the Danish Refugee Council and the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO). Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Afghan Association Paiwand, supporting refugees and asylum seekers with similar experiences to her own since the 1990s.

Masumah Mojaddedi

Education Project Manager

With experience working in education across all year groups from primary to secondary, Masomah joined Paiwand as a volunteer . At present, Masumah is managing Paiwand's Education Services that have been immensely successful and enjoyable for students.

Masumah's office hours are:

Monday: 9:00–17:00
Wednesday: 9:00–17:00

Saturday: 9:00–17:00

Ramzia Akbari (MBACP)

Senior Counsellor and Afghan Refugee Project Manager 

Ramzia is trained in therapeutic counselling of the Islamic Counselling model. She works as a senior counsellor currently managing the Afghan response at Paiwand, providing faith and culturally sensitive one-to-one counselling sessions as well as seasonal group work, psychoeducation workshops, parenting sessions and training for professionals around refugee and migrant mental health. She has extensive experience of working with refugee and migrant mental health and presently works with issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, stress, relationship issues, grief, bereavement, postnatal depression, low self-esteem, etc. Ramzia conducts these sessions in Dari/Farsi and English. Ramzia is also trained in post cult counselling and understands the unhealthy dynamics of power and control in personal and group settings as presented in unhealthy relationships and high demand groups/cults.  

Ramzia is a registered member of the BACP and adheres to their ethical framework. 

Ramzia's office hours are:
Monday to Thursday: 9:00–17:30

Mohammad Iqbal

Operations Manager

Iqbal's office hours are:
Monday to Friday: 10:00–18:00

Zubair Yosufi

Housing Project Manager 

As project manager Zubair is managing safe and structured accommodation for young refugees at Paiwand. 

Zubair's office hours are:

Monday to Friday: 10:00–18:00

Georgia Gojkovic

Youth Project Manager

Mansoor Kamrazai

Immigration Project Manager

Mansoor's office hours are:

Monday: 10:00–18:00

Tuesday: 10:00–18:00

Wednesday: 10:00–18:00

Sanaz Mohebpour

Mental Health Counsellor

Sanaz office hours are:
Wednesday: 10:00–18:00
Thursday: 10:00–18:00

Friday: 10:00–18:00

Vidya Mulane

Administrative Officer

Vidya achieved a joint honours degree in Commerce & Computer Science; she is a multifaceted office professional with an extensive background in accounting & IT. Here at Paiwand, Vidya is a hardworking and versatile Administrative Officer with proven organisational skills and a thorough knowledge of corporate policies and procedures as well as excellent communication and people skills. 

Vidya's office hours are:
Monday to Friday: 10:00–16:00

If you have any media-related queries, get in touch at media@paiwand.com

Mohammad Ajmal

Accounts Manager

Mohammad's office hours are:

Christine Bacon

Immigration Projects Adviser

Christine's office hours are:

Monday: 09:00–18:00

Wednesday: 09:00–18:00

Mr Saboor Sirat

Mental Health Counsellor 

Mr Saboor gained two Master's degrees, first in History and second in Psychology and Counselling. He can speak seven languages: Arabic, Dutch, Urdu, English, Dari, Persian and Pashto. He is also the author of two published books – first book in Farsi about women's psychology and second one in English about stress, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Mr Saboor has eight years' experiences in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Hehas  worked in different organisations as a  counsellor, psychotherapist hypnotherapist, counselling advisor, translator, interpreter, and language trainer. He has been collaborating and cooperating with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a mental health expert for many years. He has always been active in fighting for women's empowerment and his homeland's cultural, political, and economical issues.

Mr Saboor's perspective on counselling:

"Sometimes you want to be heard, truly heard, to have someone to talk to about whatever is on your mind; to be listened to, without being judged or told what to do. If you are feeling unheard, upset, stressed or depressed, we are here to listen and help you to explore your feelings to better understand them and feel more in control. Effective therapy requires a good professional and a confidential relationship between the therapist and the client. Client confidentiality is an essential condition of a successful therapist."

Mr Saboor's office hours are:

Monday: 10:00–16:00
Tuesday: 10:00–16:00

Wednesday: 10:00–16:00

Abdul Latif Matin

Senior Community Advocate

Asya Tawqeer

Senior Community Advocate

Salma

Mental Health Advocate

Victoria Ahmadi

Receptionist/Administrative Volunteer at Stag Lane Saturday School; Advocate Volunteer for the Afghan Resettlement Project

Victoria holds a BA in International Management from Middlesex university and joined Paiwand in 2017. She works at Stag Lane Saturday School as an receptionist/administrator, while also working as an advocate for the Afghan Resettlement Project.

Erfan

Housing/Supported Accommodation Volunteer

Shams Sadat

Immigration Volunteer

Immigration Volunteer

Immigration Volunteer

Immigration Volunteer

Volunteer Director Assistant

Zumara Khan

Volunteer Director Assistant