A third-year IR and Development student on the Thailand Model UN, the Chinese University of Hong Kong summer school, and hearing a Tashkent academic ask if DEN could come home with him
Fatimata Sidi Mamadu, third-year BA International Relations and Development, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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 discovered DEN through Dr Farhang, who spoke about it during one of the lectures he gave during my first year at university. He invited us to come to the weekly meetings to plan a trip to New York, to the United Nations headquarters. I felt safe after attending a couple of the meetings, and I decided to stay for the rest of my university journey.
Which DEN activities have you taken part in?
As a DEN member, I have participated in several events and workshops. The 2025 and 2026 Annual DEN Conferences. A Model UN in Thailand, in collaboration with Kasetsart University in Bangkok. And a summer school programme for students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I have been an active participant in the planning and delivery of these programmes.
Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?
During the 2025 DEN Annual Conference, which was my first DEN conference, the academic leader for students from Tashkent, Uzbekistan said in his closing speech that he would like to collaborate with us, and to learn from us, in order to recreate a DEN at his own university. He believed this kind of network was important for students. At that point, I felt truly fulfilled. Being part of DEN is one of the biggest things I can be proud of as a student at Westminster.
What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?
Meeting a lot of people through DEN, and seeing them become friends, has had the biggest impact on me. These friends have different visions and come from different backgrounds, and I learn from them every day, both socially and academically.
How has DEN helped you develop personally?
It has helped me in my character building and in my general knowledge. Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds, and collaborating with them, is not always easy. There is resistance when it comes to certain opinions. But it takes tolerance, and it takes being able to understand that people are not the same.
Has DEN helped you with employability or professional development?
The tradition of writing and reviewing blogs at the DEN weekly meetings has helped me most with my writing, my communication, and my analytical skills for my academic work. An example can be seen in the most recent DEN book, in which I featured as a writer.
What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?
DEN has given me the golden opportunity to believe that I can dream of being who I want to be, and to keep believing in that dream. As someone who wants to work with international bodies such as the United Nations, DEN made me a participant in the Model UN in Thailand, which I would never otherwise have taken part in. That opportunity made me realise, even more clearly, who I want to be in the future.
What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?
Take on any responsibility that is offered to you, and do not be scared to try new things. It will open you to opportunities you have probably never thought of. And do not be scared to make mistakes either. That is normal.
What would you say to a colleague at another university?
DEN is a safe space where you can freely express yourself as a young adult, without being judged. It is a place where you meet people of different minds, but with one shared goal: to make the world a better place.
Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?
As we move forward, I would encourage DEN to participate in international academic or social competitions. That will help with recognition, and with building more partnerships, so that students can have even more opportunities to explore the world.
Anything else you would like us to know?
I am honoured to feature in this interview, and I am looking forward to more projects with DEN.
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Photo caption: “My future begins now.”
