Honorary MBE for the Chair of the Liverpool Arabic Centre

Liverpool Arabic Centre's staff, volunteers and Board of Directors would like to congratulate the Chair of the organisation, Taher Ali Qassim for recently receiving his MBE. Taher will be presented the honorary MBE from Ed Balls, Secretary of State for the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 15th January 2008.

As Chair of the Liverpool Arabic Centre (LAC) as well as the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival and the Liverpool Black and Racial Minority Network (BRM) Taher will be presented this award for his outstanding contribution to the community and his continued commitment, dedication and leadership.

Taher began his education at the age of 11, going on to become a trained health worker and later qualified as a public health practitioner in 1991 from the School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool University. In 1995 he permanently settled in Liverpool where he became an active member of the Yemeni community and continued his training and employment as a public health practitioner with Liverpool City Council, and the local health authority. He also continued undertaking regular service contracts with development agencies in Yemen and internationally.

He was instrumental in establishing the Liverpool Arabic Centre which was responsible for a number of community initiatives focussed on welfare and advice, health promotion, youth work, education, and promoting Arabic Culture. In partnership with the Bluecoat and other arts organisations the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival was established. Now in its sixth year the Festival is one of the highlights of the City’s celebrations as the European capital of culture 2008. It has blossomed into the largest Arabic cultural event in the UK, running for several weeks in July at multiple venues across Liverpool, drawing in audiences from across the country.

Please click here to read the press release in English!

Please click here to read the press release in Arabic!