Forced To Flee is a Non-Profit Organisation, advocating for refugees, human rights, and equality. At Forced To Flee, all people are accepted for who they are and are embraced into a one-world community
Aim: We at Forced To Flee have the aim and vision of seeing the world be a better, safer, and cleaner place for everyone. We aim to educate people about issues facing our society and engage young people to make a difference!
What we do: Forced To Flee interviews many people that are closely connected to the refugee crisis and humanitarian aid. From peace activists and authors to the Chief Operating Officer of Unicef UK, UNHCR Representative to the UK and Former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. We conduct these interviews to give people an understanding of global issues from different perspectives. We spread awareness of these issues and the various perspectives through our active social media platforms, and other features.
Background: Coming from a family of migrants who fled from Uganda when Idi Amin was in power, Aryan heard many stories from his grandparents growing up. Inspired by his own family’s refugee story, Forced To Flee was founded by Aryan in 2018. He started the organization to raise awareness and show refugees that people care and want their voices to be heard. Forced To Flee began with Aryan wanting to shine a spotlight on the injustices in our world, and it has now grown into a group of young advocates for refugees that are dedicated to making a difference.
Aim: We at Forced To Flee have the aim and vision of seeing the world be a better, safer, and cleaner place for everyone. We aim to educate people about issues facing our society and engage young people to make a difference!
What we do: Forced To Flee interviews many people that are closely connected to the refugee crisis and humanitarian aid. From peace activists and authors to the Chief Operating Officer of Unicef UK, UNHCR Representative to the UK and Former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. We conduct these interviews to give people an understanding of global issues from different perspectives. We spread awareness of these issues and the various perspectives through our active social media platforms, and other features.
Background: Coming from a family of migrants who fled from Uganda when Idi Amin was in power, Aryan heard many stories from his grandparents growing up. Inspired by his own family’s refugee story, Forced To Flee was founded by Aryan in 2018. He started the organization to raise awareness and show refugees that people care and want their voices to be heard. Forced To Flee began with Aryan wanting to shine a spotlight on the injustices in our world, and it has now grown into a group of young advocates for refugees that are dedicated to making a difference.
Our Team
Dedicated to making a difference
Department of Management & Advocacy
Aryan Sanghrajka (17)Founder & Managing DirectorHi, my name is Aryan and I'm a UNHCR Global Young Champion for Refugees. Coming from a family of refugees from Uganda who fled persecution from the Idi Amin regime, I was inspired by their story to set up Forced To Flee. I read many news articles and listened to countless stories by refugees, which made me certain that I wanted to bring attention to the issue. I want to use my voice, (and encourage others to use there’s) to help people across the globe facing hardship and tough times.
I currently study in a school in Aldenham, working towards a career in International Relations & Diplomacy. My goal is for people around the world to come together and work towards positive change, on social issues such as climate change, human rights and refugees. |
Jessica Treves (18)Assistant Director & Advocacy LeadHi, my name is Jessica. I currently study in Cheltenham, although before this I’ve attended various international schools. Having grown up on the move, I was introduced to an international community of refugees. Getting to know this community has been a humbling experience; I've listened to hundreds of stories about refugees' plights, and these stories have inspired me to get involved and do what I can to help displaced people.
After asking some refugees I know well about how best I could help, I decided that an important first step was to educate the youth on the refugee crisis. |
Julien Boret (17)Director of ProjectsHi, my name is Julien. Over the years, as I have grown older and become more aware of the world as a whole, I have become aware of mass injustice and infringement of human rights perpetrated across the world. As this occurred, I have become drawn to educating myself and doing the best I can to give back to society and my best to improve it. This drive is what caused me to involve myself with organizations and causes such as Forced to Flee.
I live in London and study in Hertfordshire. My key interests are in Economics and History and these are subjects in which I would like to continue in further education. I am interested in the causes of social inequality and the effects they have on the world around us. I look forward to using the skills that I learn to continue making positive change for as long as I can. |
Ana Assefolmedo (20)Legal Adviser & Fundraising LeadHi, my name is Ana and I am the Legal Adviser and Fundraising Lead for Forced to Flee. Coming from a family of migrants, migrants rights and the development of immigration law has always been important to me. My family came to the UK back in 2001 when I was only 6 months old and we have always had to deal with hardships that frequently affect migrant families, this includes things like, homelessness, lack of mental health support, lack of financial support when experiencing financial difficulties and being vulnerable to different forms of abuse. Seeing my family and others experience these hardships has made me passionate about helping vulnerable migrants by further educating young people about these issues, as unless people are exposed to these topics, they tend to be completely ignorant of them.
I would also like to change the negative narrative we currently have regarding migrants in the UK, as it makes migrants more vulnerable to abuse by the public and also makes it easier for laws to be changed in a way that will further perpetuate the hardships I described. |
Department of Youth & Outreach
Juliette Pieters (18)Director of YouthHi, my name is Juliette. Over the years my interest in human rights and especially children’s rights has grown, to the point where I felt the need to become more involved. My school has allowed me to do so, through various classes about human rights and the EU. Last year, I became a member of UNICEF Netherland's Youth Panel. This opportunity has motivated me even more to join organisations, such as Forced To Flee, to spark change.
I was born in Switzerland and moved to the Netherlands when I was 12. This coming year I will have my final exams at my secondary school and I wish to study International Relations (political sciences). I hope this study will allow me to keep on helping others through my work in the future. |
Bente Kooistra (17)Youth Engagement ManagerHi, my name is Bente. I joined Forced to Flee because I think it’s important for our generation to speak up about things that we care about. I think spreading awareness is the first step to make a change in this world.
I’ve also been involved in the Unicef youth panel for the last two years. Because of that, I know for sure that I want to develop myself in that area and learn more about NGOs and about what I can do. Besides that, I love meeting new people and learn about different countries and cultures around the world. I hope to encourage more (young) people to stand up for what they believe in. Because I think that this generation is able to make a big difference in this world. |
Department of Content & Creativity
Gaby Chanen (18)Director of ContentHi, my name is Gaby. Living overseas my whole life, I’ve been exposed to many people and their unique situations, whether in more, or less developed countries. In addition to this, the schools I’ve attended have allowed for me to learn about human rights and the refugee crisis in unique ways. In fact, my interest in this area sparked through a play I watched and one that I later performed in, as well as books I've read and even one that I wrote.
I currently live in Hanoi, but previously lived in Vientiane, Mumbai, and Warsaw. I enjoy helping others and making a difference in what are often small ways such as teaching young Vietnamese children to swim, and I am very passionate about literature and theatre and raising awareness in unconventional ways through these subjects. |
Lina Stenman (18)Social Media ManagerHi my name is Lina. As someone who has lived abroad for my whole life I have become involved in various communities around the world. I have been exposed to the inner workings of UN organizations due to my parents jobs. This allowed me to get involved and help refugees who were seeking asylum in countries that I have lived in such as Serbia. I have also managed to link my interest in refugees to school projects such as writing a novella about the journeys of two young female refugees.
I have lived in Phnom Penh, Belgrade, Geneva and Hanoi and I’m interested in studying English Literature and pursuing a career in journalism. I am also very passionate in communicating meaningful themes such as refugee rights through my artwork as this is an important medium to freely express our opinions. |
