empowering refugees

ella Forums is proud to collaborate with the Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) in establishing two Bright Futures Forums in Wales.  These forums have been established specifically for refugees, to enable them to develop and build networks and leadership skills.  Through coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer interactions, the forums will enable members to increase their potential and support them through the early stages of building a career in the UK.

Each forum will have up to 12 members and meet monthly over the course of a 12-month period.

signing up for a Wales Bright Futures Forum

Bright Futures Forums are fully funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and membership is free.

To be eligible for membership, you must be based in Wales, have a lived experience as a refugee, be in employment, and have the approval of your employer to join.  By registering you are confirming that you meet these criteria.

If you are interested in membership, please register here, or for more information contact us at enquiries@ella-forums.org.

the benefits

Membership offers the opportunity and safe space for members to gain confidence, to develop and grow.  Through participation in a forum, members will:

  • Gain insight on key topics relevant to leadership development from expert speakers
  • Have the chance to put that insight into action and provide feedback during each monthly session
  • Be part of a likeminded group of peers, together learning to coach each other and benefit from being mentored and supported
  • Build a network of peers

membership delivers

  1. Monthly meetings where the focus is on issue management using a proven, facilitated process, that is action and results oriented.  Members have the opportunity to raise issues and leverage the group’s experience and perspectives to identify potential solutions.
  2. Expert speaker sessions – access to all ella Forums speaker sessions on relevant topics.
  3. Individual mentoring.
  4. An opportunity to attend the National Conference – meet other leaders and hear from world class speakers.

Theodore Manzambi

Chair - Wales Bright Futures Forum

I am Theodore Toko Manzambi, and since August 2020 have been a Move on Advice and Support Worker at the Welsh Refugee Council’s Swansea office. Prior to that, I worked for the Centre for African Entrepreneurship in their active inclusion project “Time to Work” and “Inform Young Refugee” from April 2019 to August 2020 while volunteering for the Welsh Refugee Council.
Before coming to the UK, I worked in the Aviation Industry for twenty years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Arriving in August 2017, by November I had moved to Swansea into dispersal accommodation, where I volunteered as a French Mentor at SCVS-Involve and at the Oxfam book shop. I also contributed to setting up the Congolese Development Project organisation in October 2018, to provide better support to newcomers in Swansea/Wales speaking French, Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.
To better improve my knowledge in the UK, I obtained a Level 4 Certificate in Skills for the workplace in 2020 at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This helped me to continue my learning for a degree in Business Leadership and Management at the same University.
I am passionate about helping people, also reading, and watching films and series when I have time.