Meet Alisha Pomells, a Young Gamechangers Fund Program Officer
Meet Alisha! She serves as a Program Officer on GFC’s Europe & Eurasia team, supporting the Young Gamechangers Fund initiative in the UK.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?
I was born in London, UK, but I spent a large amount of my childhood in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, which is where my family emigrated to during the Windrush mass-migration movement. I received my bachelor’s degree in international development and international politics and have spent the last ten years working in the third sector with various charities. Most recently, my focus has been within the UK grantmaking sector.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?
My favorite childhood memory is going on my first family holiday to Alicante, Spain. I went with my mum, dad, and little sister, and it was the first time we were able to afford to go abroad all together. On our way to the airport, our car broke down on the motorway, and we almost missed our flight. A really nice man stopped and offered to drive us to the airport, and we just made it on the flight. My auntie had a villa there, and we stayed with her and my three cousins. I will never forget it as at only 11 years old, my older cousin and I were given so much freedom to just walk around and explore, and although this resulted in us getting stuck in a ditch, it was the best trip ever!
WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS LINE OF WORK AND TO GFC?
A couple of years ago, I joined a UK-based program called 2027, which was focused on trying to get more people into the grantmaking sector who identified as working-class, and who had lived experience of working within their community. While working with my host organization London Funders, I started to feel increasingly disgruntled with the treatment of certain organizations and with the way traditional funding exacerbated the disparities between certain groups and their access to funding. I then started doing research into alternative methods of funding and took a particular interest in participatory grantmaking.
I went on to work for Islington Giving and their Young Grant Makers program, which was designed to hand over decision-making to the young people within the community that was benefiting from the funding. This then led me to work on a similar project with a UK-based funder, and when I saw the role to work for GFC on a similar project, I knew this is exactly where I wanted to be.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB? WHAT WILL BE THE MOST SATISFYING?
I think the most challenging part of my job will be working within certain constraints and parameters that are out of my control and learning to maneuver those in a way that is most beneficial to those I am here to help. The most satisfying part of my job will be working with new and amazing people and groups, seeing the remarkable and life-changing work that they are doing, and being a part of that process.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE GFC’S WORK IS IMPORTANT?
I personally don’t think there are enough organizations in the UK specifically that offer flexible funding, fund individuals, have funds that are truly co-designed with young people that are not tokenistic, and work around a participatory model. GFC is very trust-based and has a very human-centered approach, which I find awe-inspiring. GFC works globally and has quite a small team for the amount of work they do and the regions they work in. I just think the impact GFC has, in consideration of all I have just mentioned, makes me so proud to say I work for them.
#FunFacts About Alisha
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY GROWING UP?
My Sega Master console and also my Bratz dolls.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
The next Beyoncé.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?
I enjoy reading Stephen King novels, going to the cinema, binge watching Netflix series, and spending time with family and friends.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
Unfortunately, no.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Invisibility.