Karima Mbarak appointed to Peabody Community Foundation Board

We welcome 25-year-old resident Karima as a new Board Member.

Published: 02/12/2020

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Karima Mbarak, aged 25, has been appointed to the Peabody Community Foundation Board as a Resident Board Member following an interview selection process.

Karima, above, is a Community leader and a mental health advocate. She is the founder of an award-winning social enterprise called Keeptlking which works to improve young people's mental health, especially for those from black or minority ethnic backgrounds.

Through her leadership, many young people have sought out Keeptlking and opened up about their mental health through workshops and discussions hosted on social media. As a social enterprise entrepreneur, Karima also has expertise in fundraising having secured several grants for her charity. 

More about Karima

Growing up Karima lived with her mother at Peabody’s Abbey Orchard Estate in Westminster. She later joined Peabody's Young Leaders programme and also became a Young Ambassador, joining a cohort of young people across London making a positive difference in their communities. Karima remains a Peabody resident with her son.

As a community leader and expert in youth engagement, Karima has spoken on multiple forums including Google's 'Back to Uni' campaign which encouraged first-year students to focus on their mental wellbeing as well as their studies.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Development and Politics from SOAS University of London and currently works as an Estates and Facilities Customer Service Coordinator at Birkbeck University. In addition, she volunteers at the University to help to conduct quarterly staff and student focus groups on equality, diversity and mental health.

Karima is pleased to be starting her role immediately. She said:
"I am thrilled to join the Peabody Community Foundation Board. Young people are absent from many, if not most, Board rooms. As a black British, 25-year-old university graduate, mother of one and a Peabody resident, I'm not exactly the 'typical’ Board member but that's exactly what motivated me to get involved – to bring in new ideas and ways of thinking."