Directors

Tariq Anthony Khan (UK), Founder & Managing Director (BSc Hons)

Tariq has represented a wide range of groups including youth, minorities and the disadvantaged worldwide at United Nations forums including UNESCAP and UNAIDS.  He also possess over a decade of experience of delivering capacity building support to NGO’s and developing ‘glocal’ partnerships as well as designing and delivering a range of intercultural learning and development programmes.

Tariq had long wanted to develop an organisation that would give people worldwide opportunity whilst aiming to transform conflict – a dream given form with the development of the Common Ground Foundation.

Tariq is a European qualified trainer in the Youth In Action programme, holds a First Class Honors Degree in Politics and International Relations and is currently completing CIPD Diploma in Learning and Development.  He will also shortly begin a PhD relating to violent extremism.

Jayanta Chowdhury (Canada/India): Director (BA Hons)

Born and raised in the City of Mother Teresa, Calcutta , Jay Chowdhury began his career as an Youth intern with the International Students and Youth Movement of United Nations based in Geneva- Switzerland and later as a Director of Youth Programs for the Diocese of Calcutta. From 1995- 2000, he was appointed as Information and Press Officer  and later as Program Manager of ECPAT International- an International NGO based in Bangkok- Thailand  to Combat Children in Prostitution, child trafficking and Child Pornography. In 2000-2001 Jay worked as a Liason Officer between Ministryof Foreign Affairs- Government of Japan and ECPAT International. Jay also served as a Program Manager for South Asia for World Assembly of Youth (WAY) based in Kuala Lumpur- Malaysia.

From 2001-2004 he was the Director of Youth Programs- Asia Pacific Region working for Habitat for Humanity International- an international NGO working to combat poverty housing.  Jay moved to Canada in 2004 and currently working as an Executive Director of Crosspointe International- a regional organisation aims to build an awareness of the global situation of young people, as well as promote their rights and aspirations. The Programme also works towards greater participation of young people in decision-making as a means of achieving the agenda forwarded for Children and youth living in difficult circumstances.

Jay has traveled to 51 countries with a mission and vision serving youth in development at large. He gained a Bachelors in economics from the University of Calcutta and then acquired his Certificate in Non-profit Management from the Mount Royal University in Calgary, Canada

Zashain Zainal (Malaysia): Director

Zashnain has been a social activist for 19 years. He is the founder of Straten Malaysia, a community-based activist group. Previously he served as the head of communications of an oil and gas company. Zashnain was also a project consultant with UNICEF, developing and implementing tri-sector partnerships with the government, businesses and civil society. Prior to that he was attached with Pink Triangle and the Malaysian Sociological Research Institute. Zashnain has served on numerous boards representing community issues, primarily on relief aid, HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, disability and indigenous groups.

Sheila Mykoo (UK/Mauritius): Director

Sheila brings with her many years’ experience of working with young people, youth workers, police and UK and foreign ministers as well as senior professionals. Her expertise includes considerable number of years organising, managing and leading large international exchange of thematic delegations within the UK and overseas. She has extensive experience in project management; conference and event management; and organisational, administrative and customer care skills.

Ten years ago she began working with major partners to develop and manage bilateral exchange programmes on youth issues with China, Japan, Malaysia and Mauritius. Two years ago, she became the project manager for the ‘UK-China 400: An Exchange of Future Leaders’, a programme agreed between UK and Chinese Foreign Secretaries to exchange 400 young leaders each way. As such, she led and hosted delegations of 100 young leaders on each visit.

Sheila has worked with many countries in the Far East, Middle East, Africa including Israel, Palestine and Europe and has built an extensive network of local and overseas contacts in the fields of education, law and youth justice, conflict transformation, social inclusion, poverty alleviation and climate change.

She is motivated, enthusiastic and a team player who enjoys networking and meeting new challenges.