How DEN turned a curious second-year into a society president
Negena Mahmoud, second-year Politics and International Relations student, University of Westminster, London (Afghan heritage)
Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.
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How did you first come into contact with DEN?
I first came into contact with DEN through a guest lecture Farhang gave in my first year. He briefly introduced DEN, and it intrigued me. However, I only joined later, in March 2025, because of timing clashes between DEN’s weekly meetings and my other commitments.
What brought me in was the welcoming environment DEN students create. I felt embraced and safe in a new space where I only knew a handful of people from my lectures and seminars. Being able to sit in and listen to what the DEN students were discussing and planning was a real treat.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
I have taken part in DEN’s Summer Schools and Conferences in 2025 and 2026. I also studied the Democratic Engagement in an International Context module this year, which Farhang leads and which is integrated within DEN’s framework. In March 2026, I co-led a panel at a workshop on student leadership and collaboration for students visiting from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
One piece of feedback constantly plays in my head. It is something Farhang said to me personally, and later to the whole team, during our field trip to Thailand. He said: “As much as it is important to speak, it is also very important to listen.” I found that very powerful. Ever since, I have applied it in DEN and in my personal life.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
The friendships I have made. Whether it is the DEN members who come together every Wednesday for our weekly meetings, or the international guests from our partner universities in Uzbekistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Poland and Turkey. DEN has helped me academically with my writing and presentation skills, but the people I have met through this initiative are priceless. I treasure them all in their own special way.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
DEN has made me a much more adventurous person. I have become open and welcoming to new ideas, people, traditions and cultures, and I really love that. DEN has made me enjoy this chapter of my life far more than I had anticipated, and it is something I will never forget as I progress in life. It has shaped who I am today, and I reflect on it proudly, knowing I have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the world in positive ways, one of which is through DEN.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
Yes. DEN has been the perfect place to practise public speaking and build confidence. I have always been someone who could give a speech in front of a crowd, but I would get extremely nervous beforehand. Through my engagement in DEN over the past two years, I have become more natural at public speaking, and it has almost become second nature.
The most recent example is my election as President of the Global Diplomacy Initiative society at the university for the next academic year. Had it not been for DEN, I probably would not have put myself forward as a candidate, let alone believed I could win. It is an honour to be part of the creative minds at DEN, to use the skills I have gained and honed, and to take this as another opportunity to progress in my career.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
DEN has given me an environment to improve and flourish, both personally and professionally, outside the academic area. It is a celebratory, encouraging and supportive space for the work you choose to pursue, whether that is writing and reviewing blogs, contributing articles to the annual DEN book, presenting at the annual conference, or contributing to discussions in the weekly meetings. This is the place to bring your ideas forward and, through guidance and feedback from Farhang and the rest of the DEN team, make them a reality. It is a unique space for collaboration and development that is not commonly found anywhere else.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Do it. It might just be the best thing that happens to you in your university journey. I can guarantee that no matter how scary or anxious you might feel walking into a space you are new and unfamiliar with, DEN will welcome you with open arms. The more new faces we see, the happier it makes us, because it reflects the connections we are building and the influential community outreach we can have within the university, let alone across the world.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
DEN is a student-led initiative in which students are the main focus of all its activities. It is a place where students, academics, members of the public, and anyone interested in democratic education, collaboration and sustainability come together to discuss current issues. It also provides an open space to share personal stories and dialogue, in order to educate one another on topics that may not receive much media attention or are unique to daily life. DEN is heavily worth investing in, because its impact is beyond comprehension.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
I think DEN should try to create even more international connections through our partner universities and beyond. DEN has significant potential to become a much larger initiative, and one brilliant way to do so is to deepen the link between students at Westminster and students in other countries. Intercultural exchange is a fundamental aspect of DEN’s successful operations, and we should continue to maintain it and grow the network sustainably into something even bigger and better.
Anything else you would like us to know?
DEN has sincerely been a blessing in my life in numerous ways. Every single person I have met through this initiative has left a remarkable impact on me, and I am so grateful to have been, and to continue to be, part of this community. I will forever be grateful to Farhang Morady for creating DEN and for believing in us. Your commitment to DEN and your students is incredible, and I hope this initiative thrives for a long time to come. Here is to DEN!
Bridging Borders, One Trip At A Time