Previous Team Members
Funmilola Ajala
(he/ him)
Funmi is a digital journalist and corporate communications expert. He is vast in content development for both conventional and new media, with close to a decade of work experience. He holds an MA degree in Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations from Hochschule Furtwangen University Germany alongside an M.Sc. degree in Political Science earlier bagged in his native Nigeria. Moreover, he participated in the Professional Diploma Course on ‘Culture and Diplomacy’ at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) Berlin in 2018 and was a media delegate at the ‘Smart Africa Summit’ in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, the same year. Funmi is also a freelance op-ed writer who explores challenges with liberal democracy such as electioneering, corruption, poverty, populism, and irregular migration.
Victor Hernandez
(he/ him)
Mr. Hernandez is a digital journalist, social media strategist, and bilingual content creator. He is a well-rounded journalist with a B.Sc. in communications, a second major in international relations, and an academic certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Victor is also a United States Army veteran with project management and operations experience. Originally from Venezuela, he spent most of his life in the U.S. and has recently relocated to southern Germany. In working for Homa Reto, he created content for brand identity while curating a social media strategy and expanding Homa Reto’s community partner networks.
Amany El Beltagy
(she/ her)
Amany El Beltagy is a Communication and visibility expert with extensive experience in waste management and climate change programs. Amany has worked for 6 years in international development organizations, where sustainable development is the core business. She is highly skilled in research, reporting, and translation. Born and raised in Egypt. She graduated from Cairo University, where she studied Political Science and Public Administration. During her career life, she was involved in waste management, resource management and climate change projects with governmental and local entities. She joined Homa Reto as a Public Relations Officer in December 2021.
Sebastian Gschrey (he/him)
Originally from the south of Germany, Sebastian Gschrey is now working for Homa Reto in Berlin since July 2022. During his career, Sebastian gained experience in various important public institutions, political parties, and networks. Sebastian is a graduate of a double-degree Master’s program at the Universities of Twente and Münster in European Studies and Comparative Public Governance. With his focus on public cross-border crisis management, Sebastian can apply his extensive knowledge of crisis management processes and crisis networks to support Homa Reto.
Julia Elisabeth Stölben
(she/ her)
Julia Stölben was born and raised in a rural region in Germany before moving to the Netherlands to study. She is now in her final year of the Global Studies Bachelor at Maastricht University, an interdisciplinary exploration of complex Global issues. Ms. Stölben is involved in several local organizations working towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Her study program as well as becoming an intern at Homa Reto are both motivated by her dedication to sustainability, equality, quality education, and valuing of community knowledge.
Julian Schneider (he/him)
Julian Schneider is a German M.Sc. student of Geography at the Free University Berlin. His background includes a B.Sc. in Environmental Science at Maastricht University and an M.Sc. in Public Policy and Human Development, specializing in Risk and Vulnerability at Maastricht University and United Nations University MERIT. Passionate about Cartography, Risk Governance, and Environmental Policy, contributing to Homa Reto is a perfect opportunity to dive into Risk Governance from a grassroots NGO perspective. He joined Homa Reto in December ’21 as a Technical Development Advisor.
Alexandra Lopez Simpson (she/her)
Alexandra Lopez was born in Mexico to Spanish and Colombian parents and lived in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. She graduated from the European Law School at Maastricht University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Bocconi University, focusing on European Business and Digital Law. Throughout her university career, she was heavily involved in projects working towards the Sustainable Development Goals including gender equality, climate action, and quality education. She joined the Homa Reto team in September as a legal advisor and continues to promote its mission.
Prince Agyemang-Badu
(he/ him)
Prince Agyemang-Badu is a social scientist expert with a strong focus on human relations and social media. He previously worked as a marketing analyst and social media manager in a marketing agency in Berlin and is a master’s student in International Social Science at Theologische Hochschule Friedensau in Germany, specializing in the movement of people and disaster management. Prior to his master’s, he received a Degree in Geography and Rural Development at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, his native country. Before moving to Berlin, he spent six months in a migrant center in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, investigating and writing on the risks involved in “illegally” crossing into the European Union through the Balkan route. Prince worked in multiple settings as a communications and marketing officer and applies his expertise in international development and social justice in the Homa Reto Team. Prince enjoys cooking, traveling, and meeting new people.
Raja Saqib Ali (he/him)
A UI/UX designer who loves to take ideas from concepts to wireframes to prototypes to design. Saqib Ali has always enjoyed engaging both the creative and analytical parts of his brain, and loves the diversity of his role as a UI/UX designer at Homa Reto. In his work, he leverages his prior experience as a UI designer to bring an inclusive and innovative visual design and attention to detail that’s critical to making intuitive user experiences.
Hannah Holste
(she/ her)
Hannah Holste was born and raised in Germany. Currently, she lives in the Netherlands following her Bachelor’s degree in European Studies from Maastricht University, where she focuses on migration. Besides her studies, Ms. Holste is involved in several local and international organizations working towards the Sustainable Development Goals promoting refugee integration, quality education, climate action, and gender equality. Ms. Holste continues to advocate for human rights and work in the humanitarian aid field. She joined the Homa Reto team in January 2022 as a researcher investigating the successful inclusion of migrants in the project.
