Moniheli’s Autumn General Assembly will take place on Saturday, 21 November 2026. The Chair and Board members will be elected for a two-year term covering 2027–2028. Deputy members will be elected for 2027.
Vaalitoimikunta ehdottaa puheenjohtajaksi Tariq Omaria, varsinaisiksi jäseniksi Harshwardhan Sainia, Kinchit Reddhimania ja David Delahuntya sekä varajäseneksi Zabi Yawaria. Valinnoista päättää syyskokous.
Continuing on the Board in 2027 are Nora Dadi, Kristina Kemi, Hawa Sesay, Nagendra Singh and Sandra Tutah. You can read their introductions here.
Proposed Chairperson
Tariq Omar
Tariq Omar has served as Chair of Moniheli’s Board since 2025, having previously served as a Board member and Vice Chair. He is the Executive Director of SAMHA ry, an association working on mental health and substance use issues. He also serves as a deputy member of the national Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations and participates in the working group preparing the Government’s resolution on mental health.
Tariq’s main areas of expertise include association funding, advocacy, employer responsibilities and financial management. He has practical experience in STEA and EU funding, staff management and organisational development. As Moniheli’s Chair, he has contributed to developing the new strategy, a staff pay model and plans for future funding.
Tariq sees Moniheli as a source of support for small associations, a shared voice in decision-making and a partner connecting communities with public authorities. He also emphasises the role of association activities in learning democratic participation. During the next term, he wants to safeguard Moniheli’s core activities and diversify its funding so that the network can continue to support its smallest members in particular.
Proposed Board members
Harshwardhan Saini
Harshwardhan Saini is a current member of Moniheli’s Board and the founder and Chair of Kansanhuuto ry. He also works as Network Manager at United Vision ry and serves on the Party Council of the Greens. In addition, he holds positions of trust with the City of Espoo and the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
Harshwardhan is a doctoral researcher studying human behaviour at the University of Helsinki. His expertise combines research, policy advocacy, association governance, funding and digital solutions. He has prepared EU funding applications and developed associations’ data protection and operational structures. At Moniheli, he particularly wants to contribute his expertise in turning member associations’ experiences into evidence that can inform decision-making.
Harshwardhan sees Moniheli as a representative of its member associations and a provider of shared support that helps them operate. He wants to develop lasting structures for migrants’ democratic participation and defend associations’ independence and ability to influence policy as funding decreases.
Kinchit Reddhiman
Kinchit Reddhiman has diverse experience in legal advice, teaching, training and civil society work. Kinchit serves on the Board of Mielensilta ry and has previously served on the Board of the Finnish Women Lawyers Association. Kinchit has also worked with organisations including All Our Children, Familia ry, Nicehearts ry and the Finnish Refugee Council.
Kinchit’s main areas of expertise include human rights, strategic leadership, integration and cross-sector cooperation. Kinchit has supported migrants and intercultural families through advice and mentoring, and has worked as a culture and Finnish language teacher for the City of Espoo. At Moniheli, Kinchit wants to contribute legal and governance expertise and strengthen training, mentoring and partnerships.
Kinchit sees Moniheli as a shared advocate for its member associations and a facilitator of cooperation. Kinchit wants to strengthen communities’ opportunities to participate in decision-making and support member associations’ skills and collaboration.
David Delahunty
David Delahunty is an expert in integration, employment, education and advocacy. He co-chairs JHL’s migrant network in the Oulu region. His board experience also includes the Student Union of the University of Oulu, where he was the first international student elected to the Board, and the Finnish Refugee Council.
At the University of Oulu, David has developed courses and workshops for international students, staff and spouses on Finnish society, working life and integration. He wants to bring Moniheli’s Board his experience in advocacy, trade union activities and cooperation between different actors, together with an understanding of the barriers migrants face in employment and participation.
David emphasises that migrants must be involved in planning and making decisions about matters that affect them. He sees Moniheli as a strong advocate for equity and participation that can also challenge Finnish institutions to better recognise people’s skills and experience.
Proposed deputy members
Zabi Yawari
Zabi Yawari has been active in Afghan associations since 2014 and has held several board positions, most recently as Secretary of Kanun ry. He has also served on the Board of Koivukylän demarit ry and stood as a candidate in municipal elections.
Zabi has ten years of work experience in social services and extensive experience as an interpreter. His strengths include communication, understanding different perspectives and building trust. He has worked with people from diverse backgrounds at Moninet and in child protection services. At Moniheli, he wants to contribute his knowledge of communities and his networks among associations and decision-makers.
Zabi wants to strengthen the role of multicultural associations in society. He considers it particularly important for Moniheli to help small associations participate and influence decisions, enabling people from different backgrounds to take an active role in shaping society.