Our work is only possible with the guidance of people we have met on our journey. Friendships beyond borders have given rise to an exchange of insight, ideas, knowledge and wisdom which power our collective work and individual lives.

In gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey - from the moment we first met in Calais in the winter of 2015 - and to every star who has appeared to light the way.

Emma’s vision has taken her and her family on a voyage of discovery, connecting stars and celebrating culture. As a graduate in Law who was told she asked too many questions, Emma has been a committed advocate and activist for systems change for over two decades. She was co-founder and programme lead for the first Social Innovation Lab in UK government with aspirations to “change the system”. Despite significant successes, notably The Dementia Diaries, after ten years Emma concluded that marginalised voices would always be silenced by government systems, process and procedure. 

Volunteering in Refugee camps on the borders of Northern France in the winter of 2015 compelled a radical professional change. By August 2017, Emma had done the unthinkable and quit her secure role in government to become a full-time family activist, setting up humanKINDER Limited as a vehicle to continue her work for systems change.

Emma lived and worked on the road with her family for a year, travelling with The Welcome Tent, a 1956 army catering tent repurposed for peace, preparing, cooking and sharing “Recipes of HOPE” with families who had been forcibly displaced from their homelands. Food was the universal language, a catalyst for conversations about love, life and survival. 

In 2018, the 16,000 mile journey ended in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Emma was invited to deliver a keynote speech entitled “Decolonising Design” to a global audience at the European Academy of Design about her family’s journey. Later that year Recipes of HOPE was awarded an international design prize by Design Indaba and European Academy of Design.

The global pandemic, a house move and another baby has meant a project hiatus, but now work has started afresh to curate the hopes, dreams and recipes shared during the epic journey into a book.

Music is Emma's first love - as an Alto Sax player with a passion for The Blues and Lead Singer in Celtic Breton Rock Band Arvester. Emma and husband Chef Spark are currently renovating a chalet and peace garden in the Alps in the spirit of The Welcome Tent.

“Hi there! I’m Sophie and welcome to my portfolio. My background is in bioinformatics, public health and policy, and aging. Currently, I use the written word to inform readers about inclusion and representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), issues about aging, the effects of health technology on our wellbeing and mental health, and anything science! My insights and bylines have appeared on Salon and PBS Next Avenue, among other outlets. I am also a Forbes Contributor focusing on the scientific, health, and social aspects of technology.

In 2014, I founded Global Health Aging, an award-nominated publication site dedicated to bringing the latest news on longevity and healthy aging from all over the world: from integrating alternative medicine with geriatric care in Australia to Hong Kong’s plans for its aging population. Because of my contributions to the field, I have been elected to the New York Academy of Medicine and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. I was also named a TEDMED 2020 Research Scholar for my expertise in aging and public health.

My passions include diversity and inclusion in STEM, technology innovation in healthy aging, and storytelling. I have an Master of Public Health in Gerontology and Healthcare Research and a Batchelor of Science in Bioinformatics with Research Honors. In my free time, I enjoy museums, improv, biographies, sports, and plant-based recipes. Connect with me on Twitter and my website.”

Website: https://globalhealthaging.org/about/

Chef Spark has developed his culinary skills working in fine dining restaurants internationally in the UK, Dubai, France, the Caribbean and London. He has travelled extensively around India, Sri-Lanka, Spain, Italy, Morocco and France learning about food.

After a career spanning 20 years, he took a break from cooking to study and train in organic and biodynamic agriculture. He led the design and set up of a market garden to supply produce for community allotment box schemes in Kent.

As founder of Source2Sauce he worked in partnership with Kent Farmers Market Association to deliver “Ready, Steady, Cook” food demonstrations only using produce from the markets. He co-designed and delivered cooking workshops with vulnerable groups teaching food skills to a diverse range of people.

As Head Chef at an organic dairy farm in trust for education, he developed and oversaw a diverse culinary programme using produce from the farm to cater for retreats, professional residential stays and events. He designed and led food education for all ages and abilities including successfully supporting his apprentice who was registered blind to gain a level 3 NVQ in hotel and catering.

As partner at humanKINDER Ltd he has taken a lead on all things financial and is our Chef in residence, advising on all aspects of the food system, notably as a tool for research and community building. Sparky was previously Head Chef at Osmose Cuisine, Food Lab and Kitchen Cooperative in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and is now freelance while he sets up his own production garden.

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“I am a fully qualified anthropologist, having reached doctorate level, with a wide experience of community based research. My work upholds anthropological protocols and ethical guidelines proposed by the Association of Social Anthropologists in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth (ASA) for Good Research Practice. I specialise in innovative and participative research adopting a ‘quant-qual’ methods approach in order to triangulate data and strengthen findings. My approach encourages participants to share their views and stories in a personable way. I am accomplished in statistical and comparative analyses, using SPSS 17.0, NVivo 10 as well as observer impression, participant observation, semi-structured and structured interviews, participant-led group discussions and workshops, focus group work, all-occurrence sampling and creative methods using role-play, film and music.

During my research degree I adapted a unique method known as Participatory Video whereby the researcher facilitates participants to plan, film and edit their own short films, allowing the ‘subjects’ to become the researcher, and producing results conceived through the eyes of the researched. Films can be shared with other community groups to provoke discussion and ideas-sharing between cultures and across generations. They have been proven to be high impact when shown to potential funders, politicians and decision makers, and can be used as a tool for advocacy, giving unheard peoples a voice in the global arena.

I have published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented papers at national and international conferences. My work has supported recommendations for: i) the involvement of local people in the design and implementation of community based decision-making and policies; ii) the use of a transparent and accessible non-specialist language when discussing and writing community issues; iii) the recognition of alternative world-views among different cultures and their incorporation into community planning and iv) the championing of a holistic approach to fieldwork which acknowledges the links between social and biological science for the development of cutting-edge research.”

“I am a Syrian guy based in Aarhus Denmark. I live with my wife and three lovely kids. We have collaborated with The Welcome Tent in Aarhus in September 2017 and we think it was a super interesting experience. 

I am a Master’s Degree Student in International Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark, and hold a degree in Law from Damascus University specializing in Children’s Rights. I am passionate and active in bridging different cultures together and creating better living conditions for my community.  

In Denmark I am working on starting two initiatives with refugees from different backgrounds called Den Nye Havn (The New Harbour) and Anaobaba.TV (Me and Daddy TV), both focusing on welcoming refugees, involving them in volunteer work, and helping and supporting each other.  in addition, that I am part of many initiatives and projects in Denmark and Europe.

Previously, I worked in Syria as a volunteer coordinator, supporting youth, the poor, people with special needs, orphans, juvenile delinquents and refugees. I also worked for the United Nations Development Program as a field coordinator before and during the Syrian war.”

Further reading: Alsmaeel, A., Case Report: Aarhus, Denmark, Refugees in Towns, 22/11/20

“I was born in Sudan. I am one of those who borrow heart from the nomadic birds who don’t recognise borders. Currently, I live in London, United Kingdom. I am a highly focused Social Science student, taking a Politics and International Relations degree at the University of East London- Dockland campus. This has been significant to me in developing my observations about the world – my awareness and knowledge about global governance, and how systems are operating around the world.

I have always taken a keen interest in creative writing, prayers and reflections, helping others, organising humanitarian events, and volunteering in my parishes. Similarly, I am very enthusiastic about helping people around me, and very interested in fighting scarcity, conspiracy and prejudice around the world by supporting non-state actors to develop further and to achieve the high level of my own education. I am always wanting to know what was happening in the world, so studying politics and international relations has a real attraction for me.”

Website: AKA The Dream

Debalina completed an MSc in Design for Business at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at the University of Dundee. Her final placement in the summer of 2019 was with humanKINDER as Digital and Social Media Strategist.

An inquisitive individual driven by an honest passion to enhance her own learning experiences in a creative working environment. Dedicated and strong aptitude for social and systems innovation, leadership, causes and problem solving skills.

Believer in the transformative power of design to create a diverse and equal world for all to peacefully coexist.

Looking to explore the sustainable business values of conscious creativity through design to help make our everyday lives better and the planet greener.

Further reading: Designing a brighter future for businesses, University of Dundee, Scotland

Kyla grew-up in the Middle East, Japan and Hong Kong before moving to the UK as an adult and this varied upbringing gave her a lifelong fascination with both cultural anthropology and the natural world.

She is a postgraduate of Archaeology with a BSc in Geography and has taught English in various countries.

After a decade working in publishing, copywriting, editing and graphic design, Kyla chose to redirect her career into education and went on to teach a wide variety of subjects to marginalised young people at a school in East London for five years.

She has also worked with the UNHCR to develop creative learning resources to support teachers and families with the experiences of refugee children integrating into education systems across Europe. Kyla is currently working towards QTS so that she can broaden her impact as a frontline educator.