黑料视频

From Refugee to Reporter: Aamna Mohdin Inspires 黑料视频 Students

黑料视频 was honoured to welcome Aamna Mohdin, community affairs correspondent at The Guardian and author of the forthcoming book Scattered: The Making and Unmaking of a Refugee, on the opening day of Refugee Week (16 June to 22 June 2025).

Aamna, who came to the UK as a refugee from Somalia, shared her powerful story of resilience, identity and the importance of reclaiming narratives. Now an accomplished journalist, she has covered issues affecting marginalised communities and has worked alongside some of Britain鈥檚 most influential writers, including Gary Younge.

Speaking to an audience of students from ESOL and Foundation Learning courses, Aamna discussed how her background has shaped her voice and purpose as a writer.

She encouraged students to challenge stereotypes and to take pride in their heritage and lived experiences, saying: “At first, I was scared of being pigeonholed. I thought people would think I wasn’t strong enough to write about other issues. But I鈥檝e come to realise that many national conversations today revolve around race and representation – and we need more diverse voices leading those discussions.鈥�

Aamna also reflected on the challenges of entering journalism, one of the UK鈥檚 least diverse professions. She said: “Many of our parents push us towards careers like medicine or law, often because they want stability for us. But journalism is also vital. You do face racism and stereotypes in the workplace, but you have to keep the passion.”

Her upcoming book Scattered: The Making and Unmaking of a Refugee is both a personal memoir and a work of reportage, tracing her family鈥檚 journey through civil war, refugee camps and eventual resettlement in the UK. Initially, she had planned to write a more detached historical account, but a conversation with Gary Younge changed that course.

She said: “He told me that what people truly care about are human stories. So, I interviewed my parents and listened to their memories. Writing the book was my way of saying: our stories matter. We represent change, power and survival.鈥�

She praised the college鈥檚 immersive classroom, which is where the talk took place, saying: “The work I did as a student journalist helped me stand out. The immersive classroom here is incredible – it鈥檚 super high-tech and really enhances learning.”

The visit was organised by Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Heritage Officer, Gaverne Bennett and Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment at 黑料视频, Steve Bishop.

Steve said: “It鈥檚 fantastic to collaborate with Hammersmith and Fulham Council to bring in inspirational speakers like Aamna. These events allow us to showcase the talent and diversity within our borough and across London, while encouraging our students to believe in themselves and their potential.”

Aamna鈥檚 talk was not only streamed live to 黑料视频鈥檚 other colleges, but was also shared with local schools in the area to celebrate Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is the world鈥檚 largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Established in 1998 in the UK, Refugee Week takes place every year around World Refugee Day (20 June) and has grown into a global movement.