Shifa Community Engagement Project Report - Surrey and Borders ...

PROFILES OF THE SHIFA RESEARCHERS
The following were involved in the development and delivery of this research
project:
Ghazala Waheed – the lead researcher for Shifa as well as the coordinator of
this project. She is the funder of Shifa, a support group for Asian women with
mild mental health problems and emotional health issues. She has been working
in the community for the last eight years initially as the Chairperson for WAWA
(Woking Asian Women Association) and later on worked in the CMHT
(community mental health team) as an ethnic link worker for the Asian clients.
She also worked as a project coordinator for Explore Club which was an after
school club for ethnic minority children and families.
Siu Wan Thomas – a researcher for Shifa, covering Chinese community in
Woking. She is a Chinese language teacher and a professional interpreter and
translator. She has been an active volunteer for over ten years and has gained
vast experiences working with local Chinese community. She was a former
Chairperson of the Chinese Association of Woking and the headteacher of the
Woking Chinese School. She was also a former nurse and a midwife. Her
experiences have led her to her present involvement. She recently completed
Postgraduate Certificate in Management & Leadership of Voluntary Organisation.
Mariam Altaf – 28 years old. She has been working as a link worker for Shifa
since 2004, providing outreach support to women in Woking. She will be using
her position in the community to conduct research with the Pakistani Community
in Woking. Previous research experience includes research conducted while
doing degree in Early Childhood studies which looks at psychological
perspectives of child development. This provided her with an educated insight
while she worked in various infant schools. As part of her role in this project,
she has been involved in developing the questionnaire with the team,
interviewing respondents as well as providing administrative support.
Rohit Kumar Gurung – 44 years old, a Shifa researcher for the mental health
research of Nepalese people of 50 plus. He is the current Chairman of Greater
Rushmoor Nepalese Community. His work focuses on social harmony of the
Nepalese and others in the Rushmoor Borough Council and part of Surrey and
Berkshire areas. His objectives include engaging a social cohesion society
through cultural, educational and social activities and, integration with the locals
by conducting and participating in sports, social and volunteer activities. Rohit
has a Law and Science degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He was the
President for the society of Medical Sales Representative of Nepal for 5 years.
Ishrat Jahan Ahmed – a researcher for the Bengali and Indian community. She
has been a support worker for women information centre, LIAISE (Local
Information, Advice and Support Exchange) since 1997. Within this role she
supports women and coordinates all the activities including counselling, ESOL
and mental health related workshops. She is also the school liaison officer and
bilingual staff for Surrey County Council’s ELMA (Ethnic and Language Minority
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