Alexandra Chen (A.B., A.M., Ed.M., PhD. Candidate, Harvard University) is a child protection and mental health specialist from Hong Kong working with refugees in conflict and post-conflict zones. Over the last decade, Alexandra has been working with vulnerable and displaced communities in and from Israel-Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Africa, Senegal, Myanmar, and most recently as advisor to UN agencies on the Syria crisis. She is currently serving Syrian and other refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Greece, focused on providing early childhood education and therapy for victims of sexual violence and torture. Alexandra is also completing her PhD at Harvard University, studying the impact of trauma and toxic stress on children’s cognitive functioning and mental health. She speaks 10 languages, including Chinese, Arabic and French.

For those interested, Alexandra encourages support for the following non-profits and their programmes:

• Jusoor Early Childhood Education: https://jusoorsyria.com/early-childhood-education/ (Earmark: ECE)
• ULYP “HAPPY” Early Childhood Programme
  https://www.unitelebanonyouth.org/projects/view/19 (Earmark: Mental Health) and
• WarChild Holland’s Caregiver Support Intervention (CSI) (Earmark: Fathers)

Alexandra can be reached at alexandra.chen@post.harvard.edu