Who are we?

Refugees Welcome’s development is largely due to the passion and commitment of our Head of Organisation, Michala Clante Bendixen, who has gradually built up the organisation since 2007, and was the first person ever to receive the Human Rights Award from the Danish Council for Human Rights in 2014. Michala is active in the media, is editor of our website, and has overall responsibility for advice work and our association as a whole.

At any one time, we have around 6-8 volunteer advisors. They all have a relevant educational background and/or experience, but this alone is rarely enough for the demands of the role. Most have a background in law, refugee or migration studies, or social work. We have compiled eight manuals on asylum and immigration law for their use, and new advisors follow more experienced ones until they are ready to take on their own cases. Most stay with us for several years, and many work in the refugee field or go on to do so afterwards.

The advisors and the board of the organisation are unpaid. Michala is the only full-time employee, and we also have two part-time employees (who both work 10-14 hours per week): Helene Brain, who takes care of memberships, and Nazanin Molaaghaei, who is the coordinator for our advisory service. In addition, we receive pro bono help from several interpreters, translators and lawyers.

The board of the organisation:
Michala C. Bendixen (Head of Organisation)
Morten Hededal (Treasurer)
Yurdal Cicek
Linda Menghisteab
Elna Søndergaard 
Nicola Witcombe (stand-in)