Personnel
L. D., Albania Director
L. D. began working with trafficking survivors in 2016 with the URAT (United Response Against Trafficking) network and later with our on-ground partner organization in Tirana D & E (Different & Equal). She received a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Tirana and developed her practice in the pediatrics division of Mother Teresa Hospital. She has worked with the disabled and refugees as part of the Afghan Response project and is the co-founder of the Better Together platform created during the COVID pandemic to assist vulnerable populations. For security reasons her name is not publicized.
Amy L. Sebes, Founder
Amy has been a high school English and Psychology teacher for the past three decades in six U.S. states and six countries. She drafted the national anti-trafficking curriculum that has been used in selected Albanian middle and high schools for many years. She has served as an editor of numerous English language teaching materials and taught English on TV as part of the Educational Broadcasting Service in Korea. In addition to her social work with sex trafficking survivors in Albania, she has also worked with former political prisoners in Burma, orphans in India’s largest slum, and at-risk high school students in Arlington, Virginia.
D. F., Past President and Lead Consultant
D.F. is a sex trafficking survivor and one of the founding members of AAGW. She is is passionate about helping those vulnerable to exploitation of any kind and serves as a mentor to our younger members. She is fluent in three languages, has worked as an associate in the telecommunications industry, and is currently the mother of two and co-founder/sales manager of an innovative startup. She believes strongly in the equality of all people, the beauty of life, and the importance of resiliency and hope. For security reasons, her name is not publicized.
Alison McGann, Technology Support
Alison met AAGW founder Amy Sebes while at Stanford University and has been a volunteer with AAGW since its founding. After earning her MA, Alison spent 10+ years as a researcher at NASA investigating aviation safety and automation issues. She has held several volunteer positions in her local community and is currently a Research Analyst at West Valley College in Saratoga, California.
Aida Abedini, Volunteer Coordinator
Aida has been an AAGW Board member since 2018, is originally from Albania, and works for the federal government in Washington, D.C. Aida has a passion for volunteering, and in addition to supporting sex trafficking survivors, volunteers with the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project.
Ardiana Brahja, Secretary
Ardiana was born and raised in Tirana, Albania and currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her three children and husband. She worked for Peace Corps Albania for fifteen years promoting health, education, and economic development and is currently a Finance Specialist at the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI). Ardiana is committed to justice and being of service to those who are overlooked.
Linda Reid, Communications Coordinator
Linda has been an AAGW volunteer since its founding. She spent twenty years working in college and Olympic sports publicity and now is a college and grad school admissions essay editor. In addition to sitting on the steering committee for the non-profit John R. Wooden Award, Linda has served on the Board of Education of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District in California since 2014.
D. Sh., Consultant
D. Sh. served as AAGW’s Albania Director for nineteen years. She has worked with survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking for the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and D & E since 1998. She has also served as a social worker, health educator, and community developer for Kinderhaus, Caritas Switzerland, and Caritas Germany. For security reasons her name is not publicized.