Nominees for the ECHO Award WO:
Majd Arab: He is pursuing a Master's in Medicine and assists newcomers in the Netherlands through his foundation "Op Weg naar Werk" (On the Way to Work) by helping them find suitable employment or the right education. Arab leverages his personal and professional experience gained since arriving in the Netherlands as a refugee from Syria in 2015. The foundation has grown into a successful non-profit organization that meets a clear need with 900 participants. Additionally, he is a dedicated student with a passion for his field: during his bachelor's, he started as a nursing assistant in the pediatric department of Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, and continued as a student assistant and student researcher in the radiology department and the Alzheimer's center.
Sheeney Magdalena: She is also pursuing a Master's in Medicine and is committed to diversity and inclusion through various projects and administrative roles within VU Amsterdam and beyond, focusing particularly on better representation, education, and support for Dutch-Caribbean students in the Dutch education system. Sheeney played a crucial role in the Faculty of Medicine in establishing a buddy and information system for this student group. Outside VU Amsterdam, through her board positions with the Dutch Association for Medical Education, the Association of Medical Professionals of the Antilles, and the Medical Student Association, Sheeney advocates for diversity and inclusion through lectures, symposiums, and research.
Jumana Tuama: She is about to complete her Master's in Work and Organizational Psychology and has actively advocated for diversity and inclusion within VU Amsterdam in various ways during her studies. Tuama has been involved in different roles with the VU Pre-University College, the Better Prepared program, the student association Family of Academic Minds, and the student organization IFMSA-VU. She focused on connecting students from different religious and ethnic backgrounds and providing guidance and support to first-generation students and students with a refugee background.
Nominee for the ECHO Award Bèta-Techniek:
Hayley Chung: She is pursuing a Master's in Science, Business & Innovation and, as a project manager and vice-chair for the Women in STEM VU initiative, addresses the obstacles faced by women of color in the STEM fields. Outside VU Amsterdam, Chung collaborates with the organization Asian Raisins to combat the stereotypes associated with the Model Minority Myth, which also affect the Dutch education system. Additionally, as a talented student assistant, Chung acts as a mentor for her fellow students and as a support for the teachers in her program.
ECHO Award 2024
Every year ECHO, Center for Diversity Policy, invites colleges and universities to nominate socially active students who make a difference in the field of Diversity & Inclusion for the ECHO Award 2024. The ECHO Award calls attention to the specific experiences that students with a non-Western background* carry with them and the way they manage to turn these experiences into a constructive contribution to society.
Students who are eligible for an ECHO Award are students with a non-western background who are actively engaged in society and stand out because of innovation in thinking and acting, organizational ability, social impact and their role as ‘critical friend’.
Last year the finalists were Asmaa Elhassan en Oumaima El Ghoulbzouri.