Zahra Beshir
Rome
Summary
Dynamic linguist and multilingual cultural mediator with over four years of experience facilitating communication between refugees, authorities, and various social and administrative entities. Strong background in humanitarian organizations and asylum procedures enhances the ability to navigate high-pressure situations with calmness and objectivity, ensuring clarity and understanding in diverse environments. Recognized for providing emotional support and problem-solving skills, consistently achieving favorable outcomes through negotiation and collaboration. Committed to leveraging expertise to contribute to impactful solutions that foster a better world.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cultural Mediator
Territorial Commission - (CIES)
11.2025 - Current
- Support migrant children’s school integration through language assistance and researching & producing adapted learning materials
- Simplify lesson content and vocabulary to match students’ linguistic levels
- Facilitate communication between students, teachers, and families
- Provide linguistic and cultural mediation in reception centres, administrative offices, airports, and ports
- Assist with refugee entry procedures, registration, and communication with authorities as required
- Provided support to immigrants and refugees with language barriers, ensuring access to essential services.
- Empowered individuals from diverse backgrounds by providing them with tools and resources needed to navigate social, educational, or professional settings with confidence.
EUAA Cultural Mediator
ITM
02.2025 - 08.2025
- Provide linguistic and cultural mediation for newly arrived migrants
- Support EUAA teams during registration, screening, and vulnerability assessments
- Facilitate communication between beneficiaries and operational staff
- Assist in high-pressure reception contexts with professionalism and cultural sensitivity
- Established rapport with clients to foster trust and encourage open communication during sessions.
- Applied deep understanding of relevant laws and policies to reach agreements.
- Conducted individual meetings between parties, utilizing empathetic listening skills and documenting relevant conserns
Cultural Mediator & Interpreter
Commissione Territoriale - Freelance on Call - Language Academy
07.2024 - Current
- Providing accurate, precise interpretation in Arabic and Tigrinya, Tigre and English to and from Italian during asylum seeker interviews.
- Briefing asylum seekers on procedures, regulations, types of permits, and eligibility criteria in line with EU asylum definitions.
- Ensuring culturally sensitive and protection-focused communication, often times for vulnerable applicants
- Interpreting for asylum request assessments by ensuring clear, neutral, and confidential communication between applicants and Commission officers.
Interpreter & Cultural Mediator
EUAA - ITM
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Interpreting in Arabic, Tigrinya, and Tigre to and from English for unaccompanied minors across multiple Fedasil centres.
- Supporting social service interpreting during intakes, vulnerability screenings, psychosocial sessions, and daily casework.
- Providing medical interpretation for health checks, vaccinations, and medical consultations.
- Interpreting EUAA briefings for new arrivals on asylum procedures, centre rules, rights, responsibilities, and available services.
- Working with multidisciplinary teams to ensure protection-sensitive, child-friendly, and culturally appropriate communication.
- Promoting a safe, inclusive, and trust-based environment aligned with AAP principles.
Cultural & Linguistic Mediator
EUAA
10.2023 - 12.2023
- Delivered expert mediation for refugees during landing and registration, enhancing their understanding of asylum procedures.
- Streamlined briefings to improve comprehension and integration for new arrivals.
- Facilitated smooth refugee registration while ensuring compliance with all requirements.
- Collaborated with experts to provide urgent linguistic support for vulnerable cases.
Cultural & Linguistic Mediator
Territorial Commission
02.2023 - 10.2023
- Facilitated effective communication with applicants in Tigrinia, Tigre, Arabic, and English.
- Educated applicants on asylum procedures and rights for informed participation.
- Provided accurate interpretation to ensure clarity and understanding during interviews.
- Reviewed and corrected interview reports to enhance application accuracy and integrity.
Linguistic & Cultural Mediator
DIRE (Fighting GBV, women's association)
07.2022 - 12.2022
- Supported vulnerable female asylum seekers at a start up project by Dire, a project in Lampedusa. under UNHCR.
- Facilitated partner NGO referrals, ensuring critical service access for refugees.
- Enhanced trust through sensitive interpretation and effective collaboration with NGOs.
Linguistic & Cultural Mediator
Commissione Territoriale
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Facilitated effective communication with applicants in Tigrinia, Tigre, Arabic, and English.
- Educated applicants on asylum procedures and rights for informed participation.
- Provided accurate interpretation to ensure clarity and understanding during interviews.
- Reviewed and corrected interview reports to enhance application accuracy and integrity.
Freelance Real Estate Agent & Marketing Partner
Anka Invest
01.2011 - 01.2018
- Advised clients on profitable property investments in Turkey and the GCC.
- Developed tailored investment drafts to align with client objectives.
- Guided clients through selective project evaluations and decision-making.
- Fostered strong relationships, resulting in high client satisfaction and loyalty.
Real Estate Marketing & Sales Manager
Cayan, Real estate investment and development
10.2007 - 05.2010
- Engaged clients with compelling investment project presentations.
- Developed impactful PowerPoint presentations for sales strategies.
- Trained and mentored new sales staff to boost performance.
- Promoted brand visibility at events, enhancing client engagement.
Human Resource Training Manager & Acting
GENERALIST HRM
06.2006 - 07.2007
- Spearheaded HR training initiatives in collaboration with the training department, ensuring effective program planning and execution.
- Contributed as Acting HR Generalist Manager by streamlining Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for hiring and supporting critical departmental projects.
- Developed and drafted comprehensive HR management mapping for the organization, enhancing operational efficiency.
Instructor
International Italian school
09.1997 - 06.2006
- Enhanced student engagement through dynamic English and Italian lessons.
- Fostered cultural appreciation, boosting student interest and retention.
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Applied Linguistics, English Literature
KAAU - King Abdul Aziz University
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia01.2006
Skills
- Culturally aware communication skills
- Understanding asylum procedures
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Empathy enhancement
- Skilled negotiator
- Effective negotiation techniques
- Cultural adaptability
- Multilingual communication
- Data confidentiality
- Trust building
- Collaborative teamwork
- Effective problem resolution
- Detail-oriented approach
- Dependability
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Microsoft office
- Professional ethics
- Self motivation
- Interpersonal communication
- Continuous improvement
- Multilingual communication skills
- Proofreading
- Compliance with ethical standards
- Medical language translation
- Courtroom procedures
- Experience with fist landing protocols
- working in extremely challenging contexts
- consecutive interpretation
LANGUAGES
Arabic
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Italian
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Tigre
Advanced (C1)
Tigrinia
Advanced (C1)
Amharic
Elementary (A2)
Certification
- EU-WEBPSI (AGENTSCHAP) - Integratie & Inburgering) (Bruxelles - Present) public service interpreters
- EUAA, Mar 2024 - Mar 2024 interpreting in the reception context
- EUAA & ITM Jan 2024 - Jan 2024 refresh training session for interpreters to support EUAA operations in Europe
- ASGI Feb 2023 - Dec 2023 Domanda di Protezione Internazionale, Tutela Richiedenti Asilo e tiTitolari di Protezione quali sfide e quali strumenti per gli operatori. (management of asylum applications and refugees: what the challenges and management tools for operators
- ASGI Sep 2022 - Sep 2022 domanda di protezione internazionale tutela di richiedenti asilo e titolari di protezione.
- UNICEF Oct 2022 - Oct 2022 PSAS/PSEA (prevention of sexual harassment)
Additional Information
- RED CROSS - Cuveglio - Spring, 2019
Volunteer language instructor - Teaching Italian language
- CPIA - Varese - Summer, 2019
Volunteer language instructor - Teaching Italian language
- Various individual Initiative - Varese & Besozzo
Volunteer cultural mediation and interpretation for vulnerable refugees for Arabic, Italian, English, Tigrinia and Tigre interpretations, as needed, to different administrative and medical context
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Cultural Mediator
Territorial Commission - (CIES)
11.2025 - Current
EUAA Cultural Mediator
ITM
02.2025 - 08.2025
Cultural Mediator & Interpreter
Commissione Territoriale - Freelance on Call - Language Academy
07.2024 - Current
Interpreter & Cultural Mediator
EUAA - ITM
01.2024 - 06.2024
Cultural & Linguistic Mediator
EUAA
10.2023 - 12.2023
Cultural & Linguistic Mediator
Territorial Commission
02.2023 - 10.2023
Linguistic & Cultural Mediator
DIRE (Fighting GBV, women's association)
07.2022 - 12.2022
Linguistic & Cultural Mediator
Commissione Territoriale
02.2022 - 07.2022
Freelance Real Estate Agent & Marketing Partner
Anka Invest
01.2011 - 01.2018
Real Estate Marketing & Sales Manager
Cayan, Real estate investment and development
10.2007 - 05.2010
Human Resource Training Manager & Acting
GENERALIST HRM
06.2006 - 07.2007
Instructor
International Italian school
09.1997 - 06.2006
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Applied Linguistics, English Literature
KAAU - King Abdul Aziz University