Reem Assil – Co-Founder/ Co-Director
Reem is the Co-Founder of Makani Cambridge CIC, where she designs, facilitates, and co-leads programmes that centre collective care, justice, and joy. A leadership development facilitator, consultant, and certified transformational coach, she works with organisations and individuals on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and social justice—bringing a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and power-aware approach to everything she does. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, she has delivered over 2,000 hours of facilitation globally across sectors and generations.
A British Syrian, born in London and raised in Damascus, Reem holds an MSc in Biotechnology and has worked across academia, science, and social change. Her career has spanned roles as a university lecturer in immunology in Syria, Chief Biomedical Technician at the University of Cambridge, and senior leadership positions in leadership development organisations. She undertook doctoral research in Immunology in France, and later in identity studies and peacebuilding at the University of Winchester, before choosing to change career direction. She also holds multiple certifications in somatic practice, social justice, and conflict transformation.
Reem is a Trustee at the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, and a member of the One Strong Voice coalition and the Community Scrutiny Panel with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police. She is a founding member of the Syrian Nonviolence Movement, co-founder of the Free Syrian Translators, and former Chair of the Syrian Platform for Peace–UK. Her writing has appeared in Arabic and English media outlets, and she is a co-author of The Arab Spring, Five Years On. A sought-after public speaker and experienced blogger, she is also a single mother, social activist, and lifelong learner—bringing to Makani a deep commitment to justice, collective care, and creating spaces where people can heal, thrive, and lead.
Find out more about Reem Here
Azzam Al Kassir – Co-Founder/ Co-Director
Azzam is the Co-Founder of Makani Cambridge CIC, where he co-facilitates all cultural activities and lends his robust academic expertise to the organisation’s participatory research. A political scientist and researcher based in London, he holds a PhD in Politics from Birkbeck, University of London, and a Master’s degree with Distinction in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter. His research spans modern political Islamic thought and the complex geopolitics of the Middle East, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the ideological, geopolitical, and operational forces that drive both state and non-state actors.
In addition to his academic work, Azzam offers consultancy in geopolitical analysis, security risk assessments, social justice, civic engagement, and political literacy. He also provides consultancy on community leadership, with an approach that emphasises ownership and agency. Alongside this, he brings technical expertise in archiving, digitisation, and data organisation, as well as an interest in exploring the applications and future potential of artificial intelligence within the social sciences and community research.
He has contributed to numerous archival projects, including his role with the Aga Khan Library’s Special Collections Unit, where he catalogued and preserved culturally significant materials. This work, along with his personal collection of 19th-century Levantine books, reflects his dedication to preserving and amplifying community narratives. At Makani, he is also known for sharing the Middle Eastern rhythms he grew up playing, bringing joy and connection to the community through drumming circles.
Azzam serves as Treasurer and Trustee of the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum and is a founding member of the Syrian Academics and Researchers Network (SARN-UK). His contributions to prominent think tanks such as the Atlantic Council, OpenDemocracy, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, along with frequent media appearances, reflect his commitment to public scholarship and the amplification of underrepresented voices.
Find out more about Azzam Here
Zayd Assil – Volunteer
Zayd was born in Damascus to a British mother and moved to France at the age of two, before settling in Cambridge at five, where he grew up. He completed a BTEC in Business at Cambridge Regioanl College (CRC) and is currently taking a gap year to explore his passions, which include law, marketing, fashion, music composition, and sketching.
As a volunteer with Makani, Zayd designs marketing materials for our events and plays a key role in helping them run smoothly. He is also learning to drum and dance Dabkeh in Makani spaces, adding his own energy and creativity to our cultural celebrations.
Having Zayd on the team is vital in ensuring Makani’s spaces remain relevant to the younger generation, as he brings the lived experience of being a multicultural Gen Z from Cambridge. He contributes his artistic flair, openness to learning, and collaborative spirit — all of which make our community spaces more vibrant and welcoming.
Tahmeed Khaleel Muhammad – Volunteer
Tahmeed was born in Cambridge in 2006 and has spent his life in the city. In September 2025, he began his undergraduate degree in Law (LLB) at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.
As a Makani volunteer, Tahmeed is at the heart of making our events possible — from setting up spaces and welcoming people as they arrive, to supporting community members and helping everything run smoothly. He also lends his creativity to our Instagram account, helping to bring Makani’s spirit to life online.
What Tahmeed loves most about Makani are the vibes — the joy, warmth, and sense of belonging that flow through our gatherings. His enthusiasm, reliability, and generous spirit shine in every event, making his presence a true gift that strengthens Makani and beats at the heart of our community.
Dhoyazan Azazi – Community Development Council Member
Known to most as Yazan (except to his colleagues and his mum), Dhoyazan is a research scientist based in Cambridge with deep roots in Yemen. He holds a PhD in Computational Biology from the University of Cambridge and a Master’s in Human Genetics from University College London.
He is a research associate at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, where he studies blood cancers and explores how big data in genomics can help uncover new therapeutic possibilities.
Before stepping into research, Yazan’s path was anything but linear, he has been a receptionist, librarian, IT technician, English tutor, university lecturer, translator, administrator, and even an amateur tour guide, proudly carrying on the tradition of being a jack of many trades. Outside the lab, he finds joy in cooking, mainly for his better half, though friends are often lucky beneficiaries.
Yazan brings to Makani a spirit of curiosity, a love for exploring out-of-the-box ideas, a deep belief in the power of diverse experiences to strengthen community, and a breadth of perspectives shaped by his avid reading and eclectic approach to learning — all of which enrich our work and community spaces.
Mahasin Abdu-Allah – Community Development Council Member
Mahasin is a physician and health project coordinator based in Cambridge. She studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Science, University of Taiz, and holds postgraduate diplomas in Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesia.
Her career began in Yemen, where she worked in some of the country’s largest hospitals and for the National AIDS Programme. Since moving to the UK, Mahasin has focused her work on tackling health inequalities affecting minority communities. She volunteered as a Health Champion in a project led by Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum (CECF) and the Integrated Care Partnership, raising health awareness and connecting people to mental health support. She also worked on the Vaccine Access Health project with CECF and Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services (CCVS), increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake and addressing misinformation. She is currently the project coordinator for Healthier Futures, an NHS-funded programme delivered by CECF.
Before coming to the UK, Mahasin co-founded Ar-Raseef, a volunteer-led cultural initiative in her home city of Taiz, Yemen, which hosted book clubs, film screenings, poetry recitals, and discussions with writers and intellectuals — until its work was halted by the Yemeni Civil War.
Mahasin brings to Makani her expertise in addressing health inequalities, her deep experience in community engagement, and her commitment to creating healthier, more connected futures. She also has an enduring love of chocolate — among other things, but mostly chocolate.