The ARDC Team
The ARDC is managed and run by a core team of nine dedicated staff members who fill both paid and voluntary positions. All of our programs are heavily dependent upon our volunteers, currently numbered at 120, who come from Israel, abroad and the refugee and asylum seeker community itself. We are united by a common commitment to advance the cause of refugees and asylum seekers in Israel.
ARDC Board of Directors
The ARDC’s activities and policies are directed by our Board of Directors which is comprised of seven members from the Israeli and refugee community. However, refugees and asylum seekers represent a majority of the board.
- Jean Michel Bolima, Congo (Chairperson)
- Rami Adut, Israel (Treasurer)
- Albino Fernandez, Guinea-Bissau
- Hadas Yaron, Israel
- Lili Molla, Ethiopia
- Mike Tshiuma, Congo
- Randy Crohn, Israel
ARDC Staff
Yohannes Lemma Bayu, Director
Contact:
yohannes
ardc-israel.org
Yohannes Bayu, a recognized refugee, received his undergraudate degree in Social Sciences from the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing on HIV/AIDS prevention and counseling. Before he was forced to leave Ethopia in 1997 because of political persecution and government harassment, he worked for various non-governmental organizations in HIV/AIDS counseling and prevention programs. He also worked two years for Doctors without Borders as a special advisor on a HIV/AIDS prevention project in Addis Ababa. Mr Bayu was only granted political asylum in Israel, however, some five years after his arrival following a 23-day hunger strike on the steps of the Refugee Commissioner’s office and an order of Israel’s Supreme Court. Driven by such experiences, Bayu resolved to help the thousands of other asylum seekers escaping to Israel and founded the African Refugee Development Center (ARDC) the following year in 2004.
Joanna Mantello, Program Manager
Contact:
joannaardc-israel.org
Joanna Mantello, a native of Washington, D.C., is a graduate of the University of Toronto's Peace and Conflict Studies Program. She has done development work in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America and conflict research in the Palestinian Territories. Ms. Mantello has participated in numerous exploratory trips to the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. She joined ARDC in May 2009 as a volunteer and became Program Manager in August.
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Hadas Yaron, Legal Aid Project Coordinator
Contact:
hadasardc-israel.org
Hadas Yaron, social anthropologist, was awarded a PhD degree from Cambridge University in 2006 and is currently a lecturer at the Academic College Tel Aviv Yafo since 2007. Ms Yaron held the position of Refugee Coordinator for Amnesty International the Israel Section from 2007 until 2009 and continues her work today with Amnesty as part of the office's educational section.
Benjamin Hassan, Psychotherapy Project Coordinator
Contact:
benjaminardc-israel.org
Benjamin Hassan, BSC, MA, ADIP has a bachelor degree in Counselling and Therapeutic studies, a Masters degree in Psychotherapy and an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy. All of his counselling and psychotherapy training was completed in London at Regents College School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology. He has significant clinical experience of working with a range of human difficulties with individuals and groups of all ages and diverse backgrounds. His areas of interest are surrounding issues of loss, transition, torture, disfiguration, national tragedy and trauma.
Diddy Mymin, Counselling Psychotherapy Project Clinical Coordinator
Contact:
diddymyminardc-israel.org
Diddy Mymin Kahn has a BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Education, Social Anthropology and Psychology and qualified as a Clinical Psychologist at Bar Ilan University in Israel. She has additional specialist training in the UK in systemic psychotherapy, group analysis, compassionate mind training, mindfulness training and EMDR. She is currently working on a doctorate through the Tavistock Clinic and Essex University in the UK. Ms Mymin has 18 years clinical experience working as a therapist, supervisor, trainer and consultant. She has experience in treating people with a wide range of difficulties and has particular interest and expertise in working with survivors of trauma in general, but particularly, in the context of rape, childhood abuse, and political violence.
Joanna Packer, Education Team Coordinator
Contact:
joannapackerardc-israel.org
Joanna Packer graduated from Brown University in the United States with a BA in Education Studies. She is currently a New Israel Fund Social Justice Fellow and most recently worked as an Avodah Fellow, providing academic support and college counseling to English Language Learners at a New York City public high school.
Karen Douglas, Resource Development Coordinator
Contact:
kdouglasardc-israel.org
Karen Douglas a has a Master of Laws degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and focused her studies on human rights and international humanitarian law. Prior to arriving in Israel in 2008, she worked as land rights lawyer for four years for non-profit organisations representing the remote Indigenous communities on Cape York Peninsula and central Queensland in Australia. She joined the ARDC in July 2009 and became the Resource Development Coordinator in December 2009.
Nic Schlagman, Shelter Manager
Contact:
nicardc-israel.org
Nic Schlagman graduated from Sussex University with a degree in Philosophy. Since arriving in Israel in 2004, Mr Schlagman has worked in education and tour guiding. He has volunteered with the ARDC since early 2009 in various capacities including organising volunteers, planning events, supporting the humanitarian projects, running activities for the children living our hostels and fundraising.
ARDC Working Group
All projects are designed and implemented in close consultation with the ARDC Working Group which meets on a fortnightly basis. Its members are drawn from nine African refugee communities found in Israel, namely Sudan, Eritrea, DRC, Ethiopia, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Congo Brazzaville and Central African Republic. The ARDC Working Group members are either elected by their community as its leaders or are active and influential community members. The Working Group recognizes that if united as one voice, the various refugee communities can strengthen their influence to effect policy change. The body serves as a conduit between the ARDC and the communities so that we understand events as they are developing on the ground and the communities can help us formulate an appropriate response. Working Group members also volunteer in all aspects of our projects and frequently assist with translation. The Working Group is also responsible for arranging activities to raise public awareness at special events such as on International Refugee Day and other activities as part of our Giving Back with Love project.
