dr. M (Malika) Ouacha

Biography

I'm an assistant professor on cross-border diaspora and bi-cultural philanthropy affiliated at the Zakat Foundation Institute, Lily School of Philanthropy, Indianapolis University, USA, the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and UIN Syarif Hidayadatullah, Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Through my topic on cross-border diaspora and bi-cultural volunteering and philanthropy in the country of origin yet done by diaspora and bi-cultural citizens, volunteers and philanthropists who live in the country of residence, my aim is to contribute to the intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue in international academia and the civil society. I mainly focus on philanthropic and voluntary behavior of diaspora and bi-cultural philanthropists and volunteers (think of refugees, economical immigrants, and those who are raised in two (or more) ethnical environments) and their nonprofit organisations. My research is done in international contexts in which diaspora and bi-cultural nonprofit organisations are active, their organizational and personal motives (intergenerational philanthropic traditions, interpersonal layers of philanthropic mechanisms and the search for a sense of belonging). Along with the possible effects of diaspora and bi-cultural philanthropy and volunteering (in both the country of residence and the country of origin). One may think of the effects of (what may seem as) neo/post-colonial behavior, philanthropic activism, de-colonialization of philanthropy and the development diasporic aid and engagements in crises in the homeland.

I am the project-lead of the Erasmus+ projects 'MARVI' and 'FRIIV', the chair of the board of the expertise centre HuCom, the advisor and board-member of the World Opera Lab Netherlands, and ambassador of Yep Africa Foundation. I teach courses on Humanitarian Leadership Practices, Diaspora Nonprofit, Diaspora philanthropy and volunteering, Diaspora engagement, Effects of Migration on Diaspora, and the process of decolonization (in e.g. nonprofit organisations) through Diaspora Nonprofit at several universities worldwide.