Maya was born in Beirut and is of Palestinian-Lebanese descent. She has spent most of her life living between France, Brazil and the UK, where she currently resides. She has spent much time in Gaza and the West Bank and endeavours to promote cross cultural understanding and versatility in thinking through challenges faced by the people she encounters. “I am very much looking forward to participating in this year’s Refugee Week, and sharing knowledge and experience with others coming from all corners of the globe. The aim for me is to help create a global community of solution oriented thinkers, who through creative and fresh ideas can make a real difference to resolving the problems that surround us. Here comes a brave young world!” – Maya Sanbar Jamo

Maya has been making feature films and documentaries for almost 10 years. She is passionate about crossing communication boundaries using stories and images. She is both a Director and a Producer specialising in independent films, most of which have premiered at the Cannes, Sundance or Berlin International Film Festivals before making their way through festivals around the world. As a graduate of International Law and Diplomacy, Maya is fluent in six languages. After an initial career in law, Maya became the Head of Worldwide Advertising for HSBC Global before later joining Three, a UK based video telecommunications giant, as their Director of Partnership Development. She was appointed Director of Mobile Marketing to Tony Blair’s Cabinet Office for a year before embarking on a full-time film career in 2004. She has always specialised in startups, be it setting up a new company, or a new section within a larger group, and is always enthusiastic about being a motor for positive change. Having filmed in many different places with various cultural inclinations, she is used to adjusting to an ever changing environment. Her work with UNESCO and Mother Theresa has enabled her to experience firsthand people’s ability to make the most of their lives with a little help. Her current work with the Madrinha Trust helps educate underprivileged bright children in both Africa and the Middle East, a region she is passionate about. https://www.chasingthelightstudio.com

RAW (Refugee Art Works)

RAW is a new multinational collective of female refugee artists & craft makers, drawn together for mutual support & creative development. Through RAW, Karmabank provides micro grants to help displaced artists fleeing war and other abuses re-establish themselves. Karmabank helps people in need through inspiring creative projects, food & wellbeing support, advocacy, emergency response, & working collaboratively with partners for maximum social impact.  Amongst the RAW artists you’ll find Sumayyah, a Saudi asylum seeker who, with the guidance of Karmabank, has been accepted to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. Samira is an Afghan artist developing her life in the UK as a settled refugee. Specialising in miniaturist and calligraphy art, Samira has been honoured by King Charles, John Kerry, and has exhibited work at the V&A and the Smithsonian. Mariia is a Ukranian psychologist and artist who fled the Ukraine War with her child and mother. An integral part of Karmabank is to provide a community led by its members: Mariia exemplifies this by coordinating the RAW art shows, and offering therapy workshops to fellow refugees and the public – despite facing her own challenges in rebuilding her life and avoiding homelessness when the Homes for Ukraine scheme ended.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/project/widening-participation/karmabank-and-slade-short-courses/