From 1995 - 2000, Roisin volunteered with Women’s Aid Help line. Since 2001 she has been a Volunteer Counsellor with Cruse Bereavement Care, Belfast.

Roisin has worked for NICEM since March 2001, initially as the Administrator for the Asylum Advice & Support Team. In June 2002 she started working as one of the Asylum Advice & Support Workers.

Gabrielle Doherty

Gabrielle is currently the Co-ordinator of Capacity Building at NICEM. She joined NICEM in April 1997 as the Community Development Support worker and at that time was also responsible for the administration and finance within the organisation. Two years after joining NICEM Gabrielle became the Development Worker in the Capacity Building Project and following an increase in staff numbers within the team, became Co-ordinator of Capacity Building in 2002.

Gabrielle studied Social Anthropology at Queen’s University Belfast, graduating with a BA Hons in 1994. She then completed a Diploma in Community Worker - again at Queen’s University - in 1999. Before working for NICEM, Gabrielle worked at the One World Centre (NI) a Development Education Centre based in Belfast.

Maxim Petrushkin

"Choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without."

Maxim Petrushkin is working for the EQUAL ASSET UK programme at NICEM that advises Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland on training and education opportunities. He was born in USSR and later moved to America, where he completed his education. Since leaving University in 1999 with BSc in Conflict Analysis and Transformation (catchy title isn’t it?), Max has worked with people all over the world and is sill enjoying it. He is a short-term volunteer with Corrymeela. Max used to play and still enjoys watching Ice Hockey (he supports the Detroit Redwings), he likes music and prefers Pepsi to Coke…….

Marie Keating

"Think eternally and live lovingly."

Marie has been working with NICEM on the Racial Harassment Advice and Advocacy Project since August 2002. She has found this work both interesting and challenging.

Marie was born in Dublin on a snowy day in January but she give any clues as to when.
She moved to Belfast at the age of 18 to go to Queen’s University and never really looked back except at Michael, her boyfriend of seven years and husband of three.

She graduated from Queens in 1995 with a degree in Biomedical Science. But the world of science wasn’t what she had thought it would be and she decided to take a year out to find herself. Marie described this year as follows:

“During that year I worked with the people with cerebral palsy and then with the deaf community. I also did a myriad of courses in counselling, computer technology, sign language and health care issues and applied ethics. That year being up I decided to go back and study law in Queen’s University. As if that wasn’t enough to be getting on with I also did a Diploma in Organizational Counselling at night and lived in Victoria College as a Boarding Mistress, which was a wonderful experience”.

Marie has been involved in various voluntary activities over the years, including: as a classroom assistant in Fleming Fulton and the RVH Children’s Hospital School; a youth club leader in Ballygomartin and a listener on a confidential telephone line.

Marie went back to University to study law. She then worked with the both the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the Training and Employment Agency for a year before starting solicitor training for two years, again in Queen’s University.

SharonDillon

"Carpe Diem"

SharonDillon has been working for NICEM since October 1997, originally, in post as Immigration Advice Worker, she became Co-ordinator of Immigration, Asylum & Refugee Services in April 2000. Sharon is the eldest of 3 sisters and proud aunt to the most wonderful nephew in the world. She hails from the beautiful ‘Island of Coal’ in County Tyrone. Sharon graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with a degree in law and practiced in London for several years, following which, she worked and travelled in the USA. She returned to her home town of Coalisland in 1997 and worked for several months as a volunteer advisor with Dungannon Citizen’s Advice Bureau before joining NICEM. Sharon’s ‘pass times’ include walking, music, trying to improve her skills as an Irish language speaker, as well as doing the ‘odd’ bit of singing.

Lumturi Podrimaj

Lumturi was born in Kosova and has lived in Belfast since September 1994. She studied Physics at Prishtina University and taught Physics and Maths for two years in the further education sector in Prizren, a city in Kosova.

After coming to Belfast, Lumturi studied English at the TEFL Centre at Queens University. She also completed a Diploma in IT (Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education) and a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Computers in Education (Ulster University, Jordanstown). She is working on her final Dissertation for a Masters Degree in Educational Technology,.

Lumturi has been with NICEM since September 2001 and works as the Refugee Integration and Resettlement Worker.

Felice Kiel

"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Felice is a Training Officer at NICEM as well as the City Co-ordinator for the trans national Anti-discrimination and Diversity project. She has lived and worked in USA, Australia and several European countries and has extensive experience as a trainer and facilitator in the arias of equality, anti-racism, diversity, human rights, citizenship and cross-cultural communication skills. Felice has a diploma in Social Studies (Ruskin College Oxford), a BA Honours in Politics and International studies (University of Warwick) and a Certificate in Community Work (Queens University). She is a Dual National (French /American) and has worked in the Community and Voluntary sector in Belfast since 1997.

Ronald Tinofirei Vellem

"We can use our diversity to make a better world"

Ronald is a Development Worker responsible for the Interpreter Training Project at NICEM. He is from Zimbabwe and was a primary school teacher for nine years before coming to Northern Ireland. Whilst in Zimbabwe, Ronald was a volunteer Youth Worker and developed projects around child safety, health and sport. He was also a Trade Union Activist.

He holds a Diploma in Education from the University of Zimbabwe and also part 3 of a 4 part BA in English and Communication Studies from Zimbabwe Open University.

Moira Mc Combe

" Do unto others as you would have done unto you"

Moira was born in England, but moved to Northern Ireland when she was seven years old. Since she was eighteen, she has moved back and forward, finally settling (she hopes) back in Northern Ireland in 2000. During her periods in England, she has lived in Birmingham, Essex, London, Manchester and Preston.

As a late starter (mature student), Moira completed a BSc (Hons) in Sociology at the University of Ulster. This was followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Community Youth Work from Westhill College, Birmingham. As a part-time student she completed an MA in Cultural Studies at Thames Valley University and a Diploma in Counseling (Psychodynamic) from West Thames College.

Between the age of 18 and 30 she had about 30 different jobs, (in both Northern Ireland and England). After completing training in Community Youth Work she moved to London to work in a Further Education College where her last role was Counsellor and Student Advisor.

In 2000 moved back to Northern Ireland for family reasons and, by lucky co-incidence, NICEM were recruiting new staff. She traveled over for the interview on the same day the removal lorry was booked. Moira worked as an Asylum Advice and Support Worker for nearly two years before starting her current post, that of Asylum Advice and Guidance Worker. She is also a volunteer counselor with Contact Youth.

Therese Fitzgerald

"The centrality of the dignity of the human person"

Therese has completed a B.A. (Theology); an M.Phil (Peace Studies); a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Therese has had six years experience teaching in a secondary school. She has also worked as the Development Worker and Volunteer Co-ordinator with Irish Community Care in Manchester. In her various roles she has worked with refugees and asylum seekers and also deaf people.

As well as working in Britain, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, she has also done short stints of work in Israel, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Patricia Leong

"Equality for all"

Patricia is a Singaporean Chinese. She is the latest to appear in NICEM, as one of the Asylum Advice and Support Workers in June 2003. Coming from a multi-racial background, she feels at home in this multi-cultural workplace.

Whilst in Singapore, Patricia qualified as a Stock Broker. Since coming to Northern Ireland she has completed a BA (Hons) in Management and Business Studies at Queen’s University and also a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She has also completed training in teaching adults.

Patricia said that she made Belfast her home because she likes the people and the pace of life here. She even likes the cold, but hates getting wet. She is married and has just become a new mother. She enjoys creative crafts, reading, travelling, eating, shopping ……

Sean Kelly

"Bert & Ernie were the driving force behind the success of the 80’s Children’s Television Workshop."

Sean currently works in NICEM as the Active Community Development Worker, where he is responsible for developing new approaches to volunteering.

Since leaving University in 1999 with a BSc in Psychology he has worked for various charities including work with issues of homelessness, drugs & alcohol addiction, trauma, and youth work. Sean joined NICEM from the Princes Trust in August 2002

Whilst Sean is frequently mistaken for Kylie Minouge, he holds no recording contracts and to date he has not appeared in any Hollywood movies.

Nikolay Shumkov

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what it essential is invisible to the eyes."

This page has been designed by NIKOLAY SHUMKOV, (one of our many dedicated volunteers) a professional journalist since 1986. Nikolay left Plovdiv University, Bulgaria, with a degree Literature and Language in 1982. His first job was as a teacher of literature in a secondary school. Since 1986 he has been working consecutively as editor-in-chief of the District Photo Centre, Gabrovo, editor, crime-correspondent and political-correspondent to the newspapers “Trud”, “ Duma”, “Dnes plus”, “24 hours”, New Television (covering a circulation of millions). He has contributed to a wide range of newspapers, Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television.

During 1992-1993 and later in 1999-2000 Nikolay worked as the only representative of the Bulgarian mass media in Brussels, Belgium. The stories he covered were the only public source of information concerning the European Union and NATO in Bulgaria.

Nikolay has been a volunteer in NICEM since March 2003, developing the Web-site and newsletter and advising on media matters. He is also a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul. He is studying towards his European Computer Driving Licence (North City Learn Direct) and English (Belfast Institute of Further & Higher Education).

Nuala Moyna

Nuala has been working in the voluntary/community sector for 13 years and she has been with NICEM for the past 3 years.

Although she has worked as a community development worker her skills and experience are in finance, management and administration. Nuala is the lynch pin of NICEM, keeping everything running smoothly.

Eva Tenefrancia McKelvey

Eva is from the Philippines and has been in Belfast since 1987. She has one son 15 years of age. She works in NICEM as an Administrator for the Asylum Support Service. Eva is also the Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Filipino Association.

She completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce Banking & Finance in the Philippines, but, unfortunately is unable to work in her field here due to differences in the education systems. Since being here she has undertaken further training including a Cosmetic Make-up & Manicure course at Rupert Stanley College and a Certificate in Community Development in Ulster peoples College.