The Diaspora Group for Global Citizenship (DGGC) is a group of influential diaspora community leaders, academics, and activists of colour who are committed to global citizenship and to making Scotland and the world a fairer place for everyone to live in.
The group’s mission is to strengthen the voice and influence of Scotland’s diverse communities of colour in how Scotland engages with the world and supports its global communities at home. It focusses on supporting underrepresented communities in Scotland and around the world by advocating for fairer policies in development, education, and equality, and encouraging anti-racism in all areas.
The group’s vision is a Scotland where diverse cultural communities of colour are meaningfully shaping the nation’s global role, championing equity, inclusion, and justice at home and abroad. It envisions a Scotland and a world where fair and inclusive policies in development, education, and equality empower all communities, and anti-racism is embedded across society.
The group represents diaspora communities and networks from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Each of our members brings strong connections, significant influence, and valuable insights into their communities, both in Scotland and around the world. The group’s work is hosted and supported by SIDA. Its members are passionate and highly committed to this work, but can’t do it alone. They believe it is everyone’s responsibility, so please be in touch if you would like to collaborate with them or support their work.
hannah@intdevalliance.scot
Group members
Mya Chemonges-Murzynowska
Mya Chemonges-Murzynowska is the co-founder of the African Caribbean Asian and Mixed Heritage Association (ACAMHA) in Scotland and serves as Chair of Kenyans in the Highlands and surrounding areas. She is a prominent figure across various diaspora networks in Scotland, advocating for inclusivity and community empowerment. Mya’s mission is to work alongside the community to offer safe spaces to discuss and share cultural, traditional and heritage differences and how to incorporate them for the benefit of the community. ACAMHA collaborates with the Highland Council on education initiatives, partners with local churches to provide youth activities, and creates safe spaces for discussing cultural integration. A dynamic speaker and skilled event organiser, Mya brings passion and commitment to her role as a community advocate, fostering a supportive environment where people and communities feel encouraged to share and celebrate their unique heritage and shared humanity.
Johannes Gonani
Born and bred in Zimbabwe and currently living and working in Scotland since 2005. Johannes is a ‘Christian, husband and father’. His passion is working with diverse ethnic communities, and he is the Co-founder and Operations Manager of Pachedu charity.
Pachedu was set up in 2016 to help ethnically diverse groups in the West of Scotland be more visible and pro-active in shaping their communities. Johannes also works part-time as Project Coordinator at West of Scotland Regional Equality Council; he is an appointed church Elder at Zion Christian Church and sits on the Board of Directors for Engage Renfrewshire and West End Community Growing Growers Association (WEGGA).
Edeo Kalo
Edeo Kalo is a professional economist who focuses particularly on contemporary economics, development, the environment, and the water economy. Currently, he is lecturer at Glasgow University’s GIC College while pursuing a PhD at the University of Strathclyde.
He is enthusiastic about humanitarian and human rights concerns in Oromia, Ethiopia. Edeo has a long-standing interest in environmental protection, sustainable development, and the eradication of poverty. He has been serving as a trustee for the Oromo Relief Association (ORA) charity for several years, and he has successfully linked the ORA with the Scottish International Development Alliance.
He is also the chairman of Oromo Community Scotland, a successful organisation that supports refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.
Dr Kingsley Oturu
Dr Kingsley Oturu is the Chief Executive of the African Scottish Development Organisation (www.asdoonline.org.uk), which he founded in 2007. He is passionate about charity, which led to his winning the extraordinary achievers charity award in work involving NHS Scotland, Strathclyde University, Scottish Government Global Citizenship program and other wide variety of stakeholders in sending Medical Equipment for research and aid to Nigeria, Africa.
He is a Medical Doctor with a PhD in International Health and Development (Queen Margaret university, Edinburgh, Scotland UK). He is currently involved in influencing sustainability policies and practices in the Scottish health care sector and supporting SMEs to achieve Net Zero. Dr Kingsley Oturu serves on the Scottish Government Global Citizenship Board, the Climate Change Board of the Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians, and the Global Citizenship Group of the Scottish International Development Alliance.
Uuganaa Ramsay
Uuganaa Ramsay is the founder and director of Mongol Identity SCIO. She is an award-winning author, campaigner and advocate. Uuganaa won the Scottish Asian Women’s Award for Achievement Against All Odds in 2014. Her memoir Mongol won the Janetta Bowie Chalice Non-Fiction Book Award from the Scottish Association of Writers and following Mongol’s publication, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service produced a documentary, The Meaning of Mongol.
Follow Uuganaa on Twitter.
Carolina Wani
Carolina has a public health, health promotion and digital health systems background. She is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Computer & Information Sciences at the University of Strathclyde. Her research critically examines the factors influencing the advancement of digital mental health interventions for adolescents in low-and middle-income countries. Her research contributes to Goal 3 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages).
Her current study aims to co-design a digital mental health intervention to address the needs of adolescents in South Sudan. The solution will be responsive to the technological and health systems infrastructure in that context.
Bertha D. Yakubu
Bertha is a social justice activist and founder of African Women’s Group Scotland (AWGS) and Nigerian Open Educational Resources (NOER). She is passionate about women’s rights and increasing the inclusion of diverse communities in Scotland. She holds an MPhil in Public Health and an M.Ed. in Science Education. She has previously worked for Aberdeen City Council, was an educationist, school administrator and ICT analyst. In 2022, Bertha received an MBE, and has been the recipient of a variety of other awards including three from Aberdeen City Council – in 2016 for making a difference in other women’s lives, in 2001 for being one of the 100 most influential women in Aberdeen, and won Aberdeen Woman of the Year Award in 1995. Bertha also won the Scottish Unsung Heroine award in 2001.
Bertha is influential in a wide range of African and Caribbean diaspora networks including Mama Africa, African and Caribbean Christian Fellowship Aberdeen, Grampian Racial Equality Council, African and Caribbean Elders Scotland, African Council, African and Caribbean Womens’ Association, African Churches in Aberdeen and African Youth Group.
Rezaur Rahman
MD Rezaur Rahman, known as MD, was born and raised in Bangladesh and has called Scotland home since 2009. With a global outlook, he considers himself a citizen of the world, committed to building an inclusive society with equal access to community, well-being, and essential resources.
Currently pursuing a PhD at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, MD’s research—partnered with Police Scotland—focuses on the impact of social mixing activities in fostering meaningful interactions between migrant and non-migrant communities.
MD chairs the West Lothian Community Race Forum, a registered charity promoting racial awareness and equality, and celebrating cultural integration in West Lothian. Recently named a Lifetime Ambassador for West Lothian College, he works with the college to support students and staff while receiving their backing for his community efforts.
He also serves as a board director of Theiya Arts, an organization creating inclusive spaces for diverse communities through activities like dance, yoga, and mindfulness to enhance well-being.
With his lived experience as a migrant and expertise in research, policy, and community engagement, MD brings valuable insight into social relationships and integration, having demonstrated skills in conflict resolution, problem-solving, and best practices for community support.
Aneel Singh Bhopal
After completing an LLB (Honours) and MSc in Criminal Justice, Aneel has been involved in the third sector for over a decade supporting various causes in both paid and voluntary roles. Previously, Aneel has worked for the Central Scotland Equality Council (CSREC) managing a large scale environmental and equalities project which supported people from BAME communities in the Forth Valley area. With the Scottish Refugee Council, Aneel has also coordinated regional support for refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants, across the South West of Scotland, through engagement with community organisations, local authorities and public sector agencies. Aneel currently works as Deputy Director of the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC), an equalities and human rights organisation, based in Glasgow.
Aneel is a regular contributor to BBC Scotland’s ‘Thought for the Day’ and currently sits on Refugee Action’s ‘Insight Advisory Hub’.
He has experience of volunteering with Interfaith Glasgow, SEVA Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland.