Welcome to my little corner
Activist & Academic
I'm a lecturer in Childhood Studies and Children's Rights, with a deep commitment to advocating for street-connected children in Cairo, Egypt. Since 2011, I’ve been teaching at UCL, where I’ve led modules including Children’s Rights, Sociology of Childhood, Education in an Age of Globalisation, and Educating Minorities, Migrants, and Refugees. I also co-lead the Sociology Dissertation module at the Social Research Institute, and over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supervising many brilliant undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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My academic journey began with a BA in Philosophy, followed by a Master of Laws in International Law and Human Rights under the guidance of Professor Bill Bowring. I went on to complete a PhD in Human Geography and International Development at Birkbeck, University of London, where I carried out an in-depth ethnographic study into the everyday violence experienced by street-connected girls in Cairo.
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My research centres on street connected children, violence, gender, social justice, human rights, and recognition. I’m especially interested in how marginalised children navigate resilience and vulnerability in the face of systemic violence. At the heart of my work is a desire to make space for their stories and challenge the structures that silence them.
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Alongside my work at UCL, I’ve taught and lectured at universities across the UK—including Manchester, Leeds, Roehampton, and Anglia Ruskin—as well as internationally in Morocco, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt, Dubai, and the USA.
Photographer
Photography is where my activism and healing meet. I’m drawn to capturing people, places, and moments that speak to connection, resistance, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
Much of my work focuses on stories of protest and resilience—those powerful, often fleeting moments where people stand against injustice. My lens seeks out their strength, determination, and humanity in ways that words sometimes can’t.
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After years of working with street-connected children and witnessing unimaginable hardship, photography became a deeply personal outlet—a way to process, reflect, and honour. I especially love photographing children within their families, capturing moments of joy, love, and belonging that reveal the transformative power of care.
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Street photography and animals also hold a special place in my heart. Whether it’s the texture of a worn pavement, the eyes of a cat on a rooftop, or a shared glance between strangers, I find beauty in the overlooked. It’s these tiny, quiet details—expressions, gestures, fragments of light—that tell the richest stories.
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I also adore portrait photography. There’s something incredibly moving about helping people see themselves with kindness. Hearing someone—especially a teenager—say, “Oh, I look nice,” and watching them glow with confidence is one of my greatest joys.
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For me, photography isn’t just about taking a picture. It’s about connection, empathy, and storytelling. Every image I take is part of a larger narrative—one that celebrates resilience, tenderness, and the layered beauty of life.
