Invitation Event
Aiming Higher

• Photo exhibition by photographer Antoine Tardy who has portrayed refugee students in numerous countries in light of UNHCR’s Scholarship Programme.  
• Welcome & introduction by UNHCR and IMC.  
• Update from UNHCR and how the private sector can contribute to solutions by Sandrine Flavier, Global Head of Corporate & Shared-Value Partnerships (UNHCR).  
• Keynote speech by Carolien Vos, our dedicated partner, addressing the importance of refugee education and UNHCR’s Scholarship Programme.  
• Discussion on higher education for refugees and the transition to employment by Arash Bordbar – Associate Education Officer (UNHCR), Antoine Tardy – Photographer (UNHCR), and UNHCR scholarship alumnus Ann. 
• Drinks & bites in the Skybar, hosted by IMC Charitable Foundation.

Carolien Vos is the driving force behind the philanthropic activities of the Vos family. Carolien has a background as a teacher and is passionate about empowering girls. Since 2020, The Vos family and their company CTP have been one of UNHCR’s most generous donors in Europe. They have made significant impact in the lives of the people UNHCR serves, enabling thousands of refugee children to go to and to stay in school in Uganda and enabling 70 young talented refugee students to study at university through the UNHCR scholarship programme. 

Sandrine Flavier is the Global Head of Corporate and Shared Value Partnerships at UNHCR. Here she leads efforts to leverage the private sector to generate sustainable income for UNHCR and drive partnerships with business for refugees worldwide. This includes collaborating with companies and multi-stakeholders platforms to actively engage in advocacy and communication with and for people forced to flee. Sandrine has worked with the UN for the last 15 years in various capacities and has previous experience working in the private sector. 

Ann is a Master’s student in Film, Television, and Digital Narratives at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. Originally from South Sudan, she pursued her studies in Uganda through a UNHCR scholarship. Ann has volunteered and worked with various humanitarian organizations in Uganda, focusing on supporting refugees. She is also the co-founder of Women Advocacy Media, a community-based organization in the Kiryandongo refugee camp.

Arash Bordbar is an Associate Education Officer specializing in higher education at UNHCR. With over a decade of experience in refugee protection, Arash brings expertise in higher education, advocacy, youth engagement, and humanitarian-development planning. His current work focuses on expanding access to higher education for refugees and building the capacity of refugee youth, particularly young women and men. Arash is dedicated to facilitating education, transitions to employment and protection, as well as leveraging social media and campaigning to promote refugee education initiatives.

Antoine Tardy is a freelance documentary photographer based in Geneva, Switzerland, specialising in reportage and portraiture for the not-for-profit and public sectors. He works locally, nationally and internationally for clients such as UN agencies, NGOs, foundations and more. Since February 2017, he has documented for UNHCR the higher education journeys of over 300 students and alumni in 15 countries around the world. 

By bike, metro and tram (Amstelveenseweg) or car. When you arrive at IMC, we will welcome you at the reception on the ground floor.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.  

We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Today, UNHCR works in 137 countries. We provide life-saving assistance, including shelter, food, water and medical care for people forced to flee conflict and persecution, many of whom have nobody left to turn to. We defend their right to reach safety and help them find a place to call home so they can rebuild their lives. Long term, we work with countries to improve and monitor refugee and asylum laws and policies, ensuring human rights are upheld. In everything we do UNHCR considers refugees and those forced to flee as partners, putting those most affected at the centre of planning and decision-making.